How Much Does It Cost to Take the GRE? | Full Breakdown of GRE Exam Fees

Published on:
May 13, 2025
Read time:
12 minutes

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Introduction:

Full Breakdown of GRE Exam Fees

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a crucial stepping stone for many students aiming for postgraduate education in the United States, Canada, and other countries. Preparing for it requires not just academic readiness but also smart financial planning.

In this article, we explore the complete cost for GRE exam, provide detailed insights into graduate record examination costs, and demonstrate how additional fees can impact your overall budget, all while keeping it clear (and a little bit fun).We’ll also show how EverTutor can support your GRE preparation with powerful tools and smart strategies.

01. GRE Exam Price: How Much Does It Cost to Take the GRE?

As of 2025, the GRE General Test registration fee is $220 in the United States and most countries.

The GRE tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing, much like an academic Olympic decathlon.

GRE Test Fees

Test Type Fee (in USD)
GRE General Test $220
GRE Subject Test $150

For official updates, refer to the ETS GRE General Test Fees page.

02. GRE Test Fees Across Different Countries

The GRE fee may vary slightly depending on your location:

GRE Test Fees

Location GRE General Test Fee
United States $220
China $231.30
India $228
Other Countries $220–$250

Always confirm your local fee on the official ETS website before booking.

03. Additional GRE Costs: Hidden Charges to Know About

03. Additional GRE Costs: Hidden Charges to Know About

Besides the registration fee, candidates may encounter:

Service Fees

Service Fee (in USD)
Rescheduling Exam $50
Test Center Change $50
Additional Score Reports (each) $30
Score Review $60

Candidates can send GRE scores to four institutions for free.
Each extra report costs $40. Full service details are listed here.

04. Total Cost of the GRE in Practical Scenarios

While the base GRE exam price is officially set at $220, this figure often represents just the starting point.

In practice, various real-world factors such as rescheduling needs, additional score report requests, or unexpected cancellations can cause the total cost to rise significantly.

To illustrate how these extra expenses can affect different candidates, let's walk through a few hypothetical scenarios showing how GRE costs can vary based on personal circumstances.

Case 1: Alex- The Smooth Operator

Alex is the embodiment of planning. He registers early, shows up on time, and applies to three schools. No extra reports, no rescheduling, just perfection.

  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Additional Fees: $0
    Total: $220

Case 2: Priya- Minor Bumps on the Road

Priya carefully prepares but needs to reschedule due to an unexpected work conference. She also applies to five universities, requiring one extra score report.

  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Rescheduling Fee: $55
  • One Additional Score Report: $40
    Total: $315

Case 3: Jordan- When Murphy’s Law Strikes

Jordan becomes ill days before the exam. He cancels, receives a partial refund, and reschedules. He’s ambitious, applying to seven universities (three extra score reports).

  • Initial Registration Fee: $220
  • Cancellation Refund: –$110
  • New Registration Fee: $220
  • Three Additional Score Reports: $120
    Total: $450

GRE Cost Breakdown

Expense Item Alex (Smooth) Priya (Bumps) Jordan (Murphy's Law)
Registration Fee $220 $220 $220
Rescheduling Fee $0 $55 $0
Cancellation Refund $0 $0 -$110
Second Registration Fee $0 $0 $220
Additional Score Reports $0 $40 $120
Total GRE Cost $220 $315 $450

05. How to Save Money on GRE Fees

Success on the GRE requires preparation and smart financial decisions.
Here’s how you can optimize your costs:

1. Plan Test Dates Carefully

Choosing your test date thoughtfully helps you avoid $55 rescheduling fees.
Flexible schedules can also explore at-home testing.

Tip: Use EverTutor’s personalized study planners to match your prep timeline to your ideal test date and reduce last-minute panic.

2. Finalize Target Universities Early

Shortlisting your schools before test day saves $40 per additional score report.

Bonus: With EverTutor’s UniSuggest feature, you can get personalized university suggestions based on your GRE score, profile, major preferences, and work experience, saving you hours of research!

  • Personalized university matches
  • Filters for majors, terms (Fall/Spring), GPA, work experience
  • Unlimited suggestions with the $20 plan

3. Leverage Free and Smart Study Resources

Maximize your GRE preparation by combining official ETS resources with smart platforms like EverTutor. Use ETS's free practice tests and sample questions to build a strong foundation.

Enhance your learning with EverTutor’s Vocab Path, which includes mnemonic-based vocabulary techniques, personalized hints such as stories and word usage for better retention, and adaptive difficulty adjustments. You can also review words sorted by difficulty, category, or recency. Additionally, EverTutor allows you to upload GRE questions and chat with its AI tutor to solve and understand complex problems in real-time, making your study sessions more efficient and targeted.

4. Apply for GRE Fee Reductions

ETS offers discounts to eligible candidates.
Additionally, EverTutor offers scholarship discounts and low-cost premium prep packages to support aspirants on a tight budget.

5. Practice All GRE Formats Smartly

The GRE includes various question types across Verbal and Quant sections:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Sentence Equivalence
  • Text Completion
  • Quantitative Comparison
  • Data Interpretation
  • Numeric Entry

With EverTutor, you can practice ALL GRE formats systematically and take 5 full-length mock tests to fully prepare.

06. In Summary: How Much to Budget for the GRE?

Planning your GRE journey involves more than just studying- understanding the costs upfront can help you budget effectively and avoid surprises. From test fees to optional services and prep expenses, knowing what to expect financially will keep you prepared every step of the way.

Below is a breakdown of typical GRE-related costs to help you plan wisely.

GRE Test Fees

Item Estimated Cost
GRE General Test Fee $220
GRE Subject Test Fee $150
Rescheduling $55
Score Review (optional) $50
Extra Score Reports $40/report
Test Prep & Travel Varies

Realistically, budget $300–$600 for a complete GRE journey.Save significantly by using EverTutor’s personalized, affordable prep options!

07. Conclusion

Cracking the GRE is not just about academic mastery- it’s also about strategic planning and optimizing your resources.

With smart scheduling, personalized preparation via platforms like EverTutor, and focused application strategies, you can minimize unnecessary expenses and maximize your success.

Stay updated on the latest exam fees via the ETS GRE Official Page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there additional costs apart from the GRE registration fee?

Yes. Additional costs can include:

  • Rescheduling Fee: $55
  • Quant and Verbal section score review: $50
  • Additional Score Reports: $40 per recipient
  • Analytical Writing Score Review: $60

Candidates are advised to plan carefully to avoid these extra charges.

How many score reports can I send for free?

On test day, you can send your GRE scores to four institutions at no additional charge. Beyond that, each extra score report costs $40.

How much should I realistically budget for the GRE journey?

While the registration fee is $220, most students should budget between $300 and $600 to account for preparation materials, travel (if needed), rescheduling possibilities, and extra services like additional score reports.

Using smart prep platforms like EverTutor can help keep your overall costs lower without compromising quality.

How can I find the right universities to apply to after taking the GRE?

Choosing suitable universities can be time-consuming, but tools like EverTutor’s UniSuggest simplify the process.
UniSuggest provides personalized university recommendations based on:

  • Your GRE scores
  • Academic background
  • Work experience
  • Preferred major, term (Fall/Spring), and other personal preferences

This feature allows you to explore programs that align with your goals without manually searching hundreds of universities.

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