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The GRE is one of the most widely accepted standardised tests for admission into Master's, MBA, PhD, and specialised graduate programs worldwide. Universities in the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, and even top Indian institutions use GRE scores to evaluate a candidate's readiness for advanced study, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills.
For Indian test-takers, planning the GRE exam date and selecting the right GRE exam centre are among the most important first steps in the application process. Booking early ensures availability during peak months, helps you align with university deadlines, and gives you enough time to prepare and improve your score if a retake is needed.
The GRE General Test in India is available year-round, with exact dates and slots depending on your city and test centre. You can check live GRE exam dates and available slots on the official ETS registration portal. GRE Subject Tests have fixed windows: September 14–27, 2026, October 19–November 1, 2026, and April 19–May 2, 2027. Book early for your preferred slot, allow 8–10 days for GRE scores, and keep at least 21 days for a retake if needed.
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GRE Exam Slots Availability
| Month | Expected Slot Flexibility | Student Demand Trend | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Usually flexible, but depends on city | Often busy because many students target Fall deadlines | Early Fall applicants and retakes |
| February | Usually flexible | Can be busy for final Fall applications | Retakes and final score improvement |
| March | Moderate | Steady demand | Last-minute Fall applicants |
| April | Moderate | Medium | Early Spring intake planning |
| May | Often easier than peak months | Low to medium | Flexible test booking and practice attempts |
| June | Moderate | Low to medium | Retakes and early planning |
| July | Moderate to high | Demand starts rising | Students beginning Fall application prep |
| August | High in major cities | Often busy | Fall intake applicants |
| September | High in major cities | Often very busy | Final Fall attempts |
| October | Moderate to high | Busy due to retakes and rolling deadlines | Retakes and rolling admissions |
| November | Moderate | Steady to high | Spring intake applicants |
| December | Moderate | Medium | Early planning for the next admission cycle |
Key Insights:
- Peak booking periods may vary by city, but GRE slots can become more competitive around Fall intake planning months such as August, September, and October. January and February may also be busy for students targeting later deadlines or retakes.
- More flexible months are usually May, June, and December, but this is not guaranteed. Students should always check live availability on the ETS GRE registration portal before planning their test date.
- Book early if you want a specific test centre, date, or time slot. Also keep 8–10 days for score reporting and 21 days if you may need a retake.
Tentative dates for GRE Exams
Here are tentative updated tables for October, November, and December for selected cities (based on available data) for the GRE General Test in India.
Hyderabad
| Month | GRE Exam Dates 2026 Approx. |
|---|---|
| July | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
| August | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 |
| September | 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 |
| October | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 |
| November | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 |
| December | 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
Delhi NCR
| Month | GRE Exam Dates 2026 Approx. |
|---|---|
| July | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
| August | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 |
| September | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 |
| October | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 |
| November | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 |
| December | 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
Chennai
| Month | GRE Exam Dates 2026 Approx. |
|---|---|
| July | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
| August | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 |
| September | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 |
| October | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 |
| November | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 |
| December | 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
Please note: Actual GRE slots may change anytime. Always verify the final date, time, and test centre on the official ETS GRE registration portal before booking.
To book your exam on the available dates, make sure to check GRE Exam Registration guide. Here you will understand how to book a slot, mistakes to avoid, and how you can save on the booking.
Types of GRE Exams in India
| GRE Exam Type | Mode of Test | Test Centre Required? | Who Should Take It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRE General Test at Test Centre | Computer-delivered | Yes | Students applying for master’s, MBA, law, and PhD programes |
| GRE General Test at Home | Online from home with live proctoring | No | Students who prefer home testing and meet ETS equipment and room requirements |
| GRE Subject Test | Computer-delivered | Yes | Students applying to programes that ask for subject-specific scores in Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology |
Booking the GRE takes only a few minutes, but choosing between the GRE General Test and a GRE Subject Test depends on the test format, purpose, and scoring system explained in our GRE exam guide. Choosing the wrong test can mean paying the exam fee again.
GRE Exam Dates Across Categories
A) GRE General Test at Test Centres
The GRE General Test at a test centre is the most common option for students in India. It is taken on a computer and is accepted by many graduate, business, and law schools across the world.
There is no fixed GRE exam date for all of India. You have to visit the ETS website, choose the GRE test, and enter your city or postal code. Then you can see the available test centres and dates.
This means GRE dates can change based on:
- Your city
- Your test centre
- Available seats
- The time when you book
GRE test-centre dates are usually available on most days of the week. Big cities may have more options than smaller cities. During busy admission months, slots may get booked faster.
Best tip:
Book your GRE slot early if you want a specific date, time, or test centre. GRE scores usually come 8–10 days after the test, so do not book too close to your university deadline.
B) GRE General Test – At-Home Edition
The GRE General Test at Home is the same GRE exam, but you take it from your home on your own computer. A live human proctor watches your test online.
The test format, questions, and scoring are the same as the test-centre GRE. ETS says the GRE at Home is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This makes it a flexible option for students who cannot travel to a test centre.
Before choosing GRE at Home, check if your computer and room meet ETS rules. You will need:
- A laptop or desktop
- A webcam
- A microphone
- A speaker
- Stable internet
- A quiet private room
ETS also checks your ID, room setup, and camera view before the test starts.
Best tip:
Choose GRE at Home only if your system, internet, and room follow ETS rules. If you are not sure, booking a test-centre slot is safer.
C) GRE Subject Test
GRE Subject Tests are different from the GRE General Test. These tests check your knowledge in one specific subject.
ETS currently offers GRE Subject Tests in:
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology
GRE Subject Tests are now computer-delivered. They are not paper-based anymore.
These tests are offered only during fixed testing windows in September, October and April. However, students should always check the live ETS schedule before planning, because the exact dates are released by ETS for each testing year.
Important Note for Indian Students: Indian students can take GRE Subject Tests at computer-delivered test centres. However, GRE Subject Tests at Home are not available in India. So, if you need a GRE Subject Test, you should plan for a test-centre appointment.
GRE Subject Tests are not required for most master’s, MBA or professional courses. They are usually needed only when a university or department specifically asks for them.
Quick GRE Booking Tips
• Check live GRE dates on the official ETS registration portal.
• Do not depend only on tentative date lists.
• Book early if your university deadline is close.
• Keep enough time for official score reporting.
• Keep at least 21 days if you may need to retake the GRE General Test.
• For GRE Subject Tests, check the fixed ETS testing windows before planning your application.
Why Early Booking is Important (Across All GRE Types)
| Reason | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Seats are limited at test centres | GRE slots depend on the city, test centre, and available seats. If you wait too long, your preferred date may not be available. |
| Busy admission months | More students book the GRE before university deadlines, so popular dates can fill faster. |
| University deadlines | GRE scores usually take a few days to become available, so booking too late can affect your application timeline. |
| Retake planning | You can retake the GRE General Test only once every 21 days. So, keep enough time in case you need another attempt. |
| Preferred date and time | Early booking gives you a better chance of getting a suitable date, time, and test centre. |
GRE Test Centres by Exam Type
| GRE Version | Availability in India | Where Offered |
|---|---|---|
| GRE General Test at Test Centre | Yes | Available at ETS-authorised test centres. Students must check live availability by entering their city or postal code on the ETS registration portal. |
| GRE General Test at Home | Yes | Taken online from home on your own computer. No test centre is required. |
| GRE Subject Test | Yes, but only during fixed testing windows | Taken at computer-delivered test centres. At-home GRE Subject Testing is not available in India. |
GRE Exam Test Centres in India
GRE test-centre availability in India is not fixed for every city throughout the year. ETS asks students to enter their city or postal code on the official GRE registration portal to see the latest available centres, dates, and time slots.
| City / Region | Expected Availability | Test Types to Check | Convenience Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi NCR | Usually higher availability than smaller cities | GRE General Test; check GRE Subject Test separately if required | Excellent |
| Mumbai / Navi Mumbai / Thane | Usually good availability | GRE General Test | Excellent |
| Bengaluru | Usually good availability | GRE General Test | Excellent |
| Hyderabad | Usually good availability | GRE General Test; check GRE Subject Test separately if required | Very Good |
| Chennai | Moderate to good availability | GRE General Test | Very Good |
| Pune | Moderate to good availability | GRE General Test | Very Good |
| Kolkata | Moderate availability | GRE General Test; check GRE Subject Test separately if required | Good |
| Ahmedabad | Moderate availability | GRE General Test | Good |
| Chandigarh | Limited to moderate availability | GRE General Test | Good |
| Kochi / Cochin | Limited availability | GRE General Test | Fair |
| Coimbatore | Limited availability | GRE General Test | Fair |
| Jaipur | Limited availability | GRE General Test | Fair |
| Lucknow | Limited availability | GRE General Test | Fair |
How to Find Live GRE Exam Dates & Book a Slot (Step-by-Step)
GRE booking is done online through the official ETS website. This is also the best way to check live GRE exam dates, test centres and available time slots in your city.
- Visit the official ETS GRE website and go to the GRE registration page.
- Create a new ETS account or log in to your existing ETS account.
- Enter your personal details carefully. Your name should match the ID or passport you will carry on test day.
- Select the test you want to take: GRE General Test or GRE Subject Test.
- Choose your test mode. For the GRE General Test, you can choose a test centre or the At Home option, if available in your location. For GRE Subject Tests, check the fixed ETS testing windows before booking.
- Enter your preferred city or postal code to check live GRE test locations and dates.
- Select your preferred month or date range to see available GRE slots.
- Choose the test centre, date and time slot that works best for you.
- Review your personal details, test name, test date, centre address and appointment time carefully.
- Pay the GRE exam fee online using an accepted payment method. In India, ETS lists Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, RuPay, UPI, Bharat QR and supported digital wallets as payment options.
- After payment, check your email for the GRE appointment confirmation and test-day instructions.
Note: Before booking, make sure your GRE score will reach universities before the application deadline. ETS says official GRE General Test scores are usually available 8–10 days after the test date. Also, if you may need to retake the GRE General Test, remember that ETS allows one attempt every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period.
Best Time to Take the GRE in 2026
The best time to take the GRE depends on your university deadline, target intake, and whether you may need a retake.
| Goal | Best Time to Take the GRE |
|---|---|
| Fall intake | January to June |
| Latest safe Fall attempt | August or early September |
| Spring intake | May to September |
| Latest safe Spring attempt | October or early November |
| Retake buffer | Take your first attempt at least 2–3 months before deadlines |
| Less booking pressure | May, June, or December |
Note: Try not to book the GRE too close to your deadline. GRE scores usually take 8–10 days to appear, and universities may need more time to receive or process them.
The best GRE test month depends on your university and application deadlines, so review our GRE accepted universities in the USA list before choosing a date. It covers universities and programmes that accept GRE scores, along with the score ranges they typically expect.
Tips to Get Your Preferred GRE Date
- Check live dates on the official ETS GRE registration portal.
- Book early if your deadline is close.
- Keep at least 21 days if you may need a retake.
- Compare nearby cities if your preferred centre is full.
- Avoid depending only on tentative GRE date lists.
- Choose the at-home test only if your room, computer, and internet meet ETS rules.
For more help, check our complete GRE Exam Preparation guide.
Conclusion
The GRE General Test is widely accepted by universities across several [GRE-accepting countries](https://eduvouchers.com/blogs/students-diary/gre-accepting-countries-universities-guide), making it an important exam for Indian students planning to pursue higher education abroad. Since ETS offers the GRE year-round rather than on fixed national dates, understanding how test dates are released and how availability changes month to month is essential for smart planning. Likewise, selecting the right test centre, considering factors such as location, slot frequency, and convenience, can significantly enhance your test-day experience.
