ETS says anybody can take the GRE General Test and there is no specific eligibility requirement, so there is no minimum degree or GPA to sit it. What you do have to meet are the practical rules: acceptable ID that matches your registration, and the retake limit of once every 21 days, up to five times in 12 months.
GRE eligibility criteria: what ETS says
ETS India's FAQ answers the question directly: "Anybody can take the GRE General Test. There is no specific eligibility requirement." None of the other ETS pages we checked for this guide (the registration, scheduling, fees and ID pages, and the 2026–27 GRE Bulletin) adds an academic condition for registering.
In practice, that means you don't need to have finished a bachelor's degree, hold a minimum GPA, or be applying to a particular kind of programme before you book. Undergraduates, recent graduates and people years into their careers all register the same way. The test is the same for everyone: see our GRE syllabus guide and GRE format and timing for what's on it.
Is there an age limit for the GRE?
ETS doesn't publish a minimum or maximum age for the GRE General Test on the pages we checked, and its FAQ says there is no specific eligibility requirement. The only age rule we found is for one of ETS's U.S. fee-reduction schemes: the voucher for unemployed test takers requires you to be a U.S. citizen or resident alien aged 18 or older. That's a condition for the discount, not for taking the test.
If you're under 18 and unsure how ID or registration will work for you, contact ETS before booking rather than relying on third-party advice. Whatever your age, the ID rules below still apply.
GRE eligibility for Indian students
The same answer applies: ETS India's FAQ says anybody can take the GRE General Test. There's no separate Indian degree, percentage or age requirement. The things Indian students do need to plan for are:
- A passport. For Indian citizens testing in India, ETS's only acceptable primary ID is a passport with name, photograph and signature. The Aadhaar card is not accepted.
- An exact name match. Register with your full first and last name exactly as in your passport (excluding accents), or you won't be able to test and won't get a refund.
- The fee. ETS's fee table lists US$249 for all areas outside China, and the same page sends test takers in India to the ETS India website for payment details. Our GRE fee in India guide explains paying from India.
ID: the requirement everyone has to meet
While there's no academic eligibility rule, there is a strict ID rule. With few exceptions, your ID must be original, physical, government-issued, valid, and show your photo, signature and exact first and last name. If you test outside your country of citizenship, you need a passport. Requirements vary by country, so select your test location on the ETS ID page.
If you have refugee status or political asylum, or otherwise can't meet the ID requirements, ETS says you must contact its Office of Testing Integrity at least 7 days before registering and get approval. The full rules, including country examples, are in our GRE ID requirements guide.
How many times you can take the GRE
ETS's retake rule is the main limit on who can test and when: you can take the General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. The Bulletin says this applies even if you cancelled your scores on an earlier attempt, and that if the rule is broken, the invalid scores will be cancelled and the fees forfeited.
There's no lifetime cap on the ETS pages we checked. Our guide to how many times you can take the GRE covers retake strategy, and our GRE cancellation policy guide explains score cancellation and reinstatement.
Accommodations for disabilities or health needs
Test takers with disabilities or health-related needs can request accommodations, but they must be approved by ETS Disability Services before you schedule your test. ETS says review takes about 6 weeks once your request and paperwork arrive, and another 6 weeks if more documentation is needed.
- extended time (time and one-quarter, time and one-half, or double time)
- extra breaks that don't count toward testing time
- computer accommodations such as screen magnification, screen readers and ergonomic keyboards
- human readers, scribes and interpreters, and Braille or large-print formats
That list summarises ETS's accommodations page. If you need equipment, drinks or snacks in the room, the Bulletin says to follow the accommodations request process rather than asking on the day.
Where you can take it, and how long scores last
You can test at a centre or at home. The at-home test is offered everywhere the test is normally available, based on the country of your account address, with Mainland China handled through takethegre.cn. ETS has paused GRE testing within Iran under a U.S. Treasury (OFAC) regulatory change, though Iranian nationals may test outside Iran. Our GRE at home guide covers the computer and room requirements.
Scores are reportable for 5 years after your test date, so you can take the GRE well before you apply. See how long GRE scores are valid for planning examples.
Since anyone can register, the real question is whether you're ready. Try a free GRE practice test to see where you are before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the eligibility for the GRE exam?
ETS says anybody can take the GRE General Test; there is no specific eligibility requirement. You need acceptable ID and must follow the retake limit of once every 21 days, up to five times in 12 months.
Is there an age limit for the GRE?
ETS doesn't publish a minimum or maximum age for the General Test on the pages we checked, and says there's no specific eligibility requirement.
Can I take the GRE without a bachelor's degree?
Yes. ETS sets no specific eligibility requirement, so you can sit the GRE before or without a degree. The programmes you apply to set their own admission requirements.
What is the GRE eligibility for Indian students?
The same as everyone else: there's no specific requirement. Indian citizens testing in India need a passport with name, photograph and signature as ID; Aadhaar isn't accepted.
Next steps
Link to this guide
Using these figures on your site or in class? You're welcome to quote them with a link back:
<a href="https://www.keiko.study/blog/gre-eligibility">GRE Eligibility 2026: Age, Degree and Who Can Take It</a>
Try a few GRE questions
A short free quick check with worked answers. No account needed.
Sources
Every source below was accessed on the listed date. Pages — especially department admissions pages — change without notice; the links go to the live versions.
- FAQ (ETS India) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Schedule Your GRE General Test — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27 (PDF) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Identification Requirements for the GRE General Test — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- India acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, India selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- GRE Disability Accommodations — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- GRE General Test Fees — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Your At Home Testing — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Getting Your GRE General Test Scores — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
Related guides
Sources and corrections
Sources last checked 2026-10-01Every source cited on this page was checked on the date shown, and we update the page when a source changes. If something looks wrong, tell us and we'll recheck it.