Writing GRE is the strongest nightmare for most students looking to gain admission to pursue graduate studies. This is basically because of the rigors attached to the exam, from registration, down to writing and passing it.
As if that’s not enough, you’d have to experience the anxiety of having to wait for your test results. You start to ask questions like, “how long does it take to get GRE test results?” and it feels like you’re losing your mind.
The good thing is that it’s completely normal. If you’ve ever asked this question, you’d get your answer here. And if it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone.
So, how long does it really take for GRE scores to be released?
How Long Does It Take to Get GRE Test Results?
After you’ve written the tests, you’ll receive the first demo scores known as the unofficial scores. These are 2 scores out of the 3 different exam sections. Remember there are 3 different sections which comprise; Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
This is released immediately after you submit your test on your computer screen. However, the demo result is not the final official result. It takes a couple of weeks for the official GRE results to be released.
What is An Unofficial GRE Score?
An unofficial GRE score is the initial score displayed on your computer screen immediately after you submit your test. The scores released are for Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning, and they are within the range of 130 and 170.
Interestingly, the demo unofficial result is not so different from what you’ll get in the official result. This depends on your performance anyway. But if in any way there is a difference, it is usually a few points apart.
This means that whatever score you see, may likely be the same as your official GRE score when released. Recall that you only get 2 scores out of 3 for your unofficial GRE score. This is because Analytical Writing is reviewed by a GRE Expert, not an automated system.
What is An Official GRE Score?
The official GRE score is the authentic result that is sent to you by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). You receive an email saying that your results are ready and can be viewed on your My GRE account.
When released, you’d see your official score for Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning altogether. This is the first time you’ll be viewing your Analytical Reasoning score.
The scores report shows your percentile for each score so you can compare it to other test takers. It also shows your performance compared to previous GREs you’ve taken (if any). Another thing the report shows you are the list of schools you’ve chosen to send your scores to.
Diagnostic Service
There is also a feature known as the Diagnostic Service.
The Diagnostic Service is designed to give a detailed explanation of your performance in the test. It gives you a description of the types of questions you answered correctly and incorrectly, as well as the difficulty of each question and the time you spent on each question.
This information can help you determine your strengths and weaknesses on the GRE, which is especially useful if you choose to retake the exam.
Usually, you can access the GRE Diagnostic Service four days after your official scores are available on the portal, and you can access it up to six months after the date you wrote the exam.
When Will I Get My GRE Test Score If I Took the Paper-Based GRE?
Yes, you’d be asking and wondering what your fate is if you wrote the paper-based test. And it’s totally normal if you want to know how long it’s going to be.
The truth is, if you took the paper and pencil version of the GRE Subject Test, it will take longer for you to receive your scores. This is hard and sad but it is the fact.
Usually, It takes up to five weeks for you to receive your official test scores. This time also applies to the schools you requested to receive your GRE scores.
Like the computer-based GRE, you’ll receive an email telling you to check your GRE account once the scores are available. And if you choose to send your score reports to your school, they’ll arrive about five business days after you’ve sent them.
Please Note: There are no unofficial GRE scores for paper-based GREs.
While the paper version of the GRE takes longer than the other, it also limits the number of times you can sit for it. This is because the paper-based GREs and the GRE Subject Tests are only offered three times a year (in September, October, and April).
Read Our Article on How to Improve GRE Score by 50% | Sure Tips
When Will My Score Reports Be Sent To My School?
This depends on when you want to send it. You can choose to send it immediately after you receive your unofficial scores at the test center.
If you decide to send it immediately, it’d be free of charge. But if you choose to send it at a later date, you’ll have to pay a fee of $27 per score report.
How Soon will Schools Get My GRE Test Scores?
If you send your scores immediately, your school will receive them in a couple of weeks. Between 2 – 4 weeks. However, if you do otherwise, you’ll wait till you receive your official scores before you can send them.
GRE scores are valid for five years, so you can choose to send them at a later date. However, be careful to not exceed the school’s deadline.
How Long Does It Take to Get GRE Test Results?
How Long Does it Take to Get GRE Test Results? Let’s see…
You will get your unofficial scores immediately after you finish the exam, and these will likely be the same as your official scores.
You’ll receive your official GRE score about 10–15 days after your test date. The official scores will be available in your ETS Account and sent to the score recipients you designated on test day. You will receive an email notification from ETS when your official scores are available.
If you wish to have a paper copy of your official Test-taker Score Report, you may use the print functionality in your account to print a copy of your official score report. See a sample Test-taker Score Report (PDF) that can be printed in your account.
It is important to note that if you took the paper-based GRE or a GRE Subject Test, it will take up to five weeks for you and the schools you indicated to receive your official scores.
We hope all of this information helps you know when you need to take the exam to meet school application deadlines as well as helping you know when you’ll receive your scores so you can plan for the possibility of a reseat.
What is the GRE Exam Like?
The GRE exam comprises three sections – Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are section-level adaptive. The first operational section of each measure (i.e., Verbal and Quantitative) is of average difficulty. The difficulty level of the second section of each of the measures depends on your overall performance on the first section of that measure.
For example, if for the Quantitative Reasoning measure you do very well on the first section, the second section of the Quantitative Reasoning measure will be at a higher level of difficulty.
The scoring for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures takes into consideration the total number of questions answered correctly across the two sections, as well as the difficulty level of the sections.
You can take the test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days). This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously.
ETS offers a variety of free and low-cost tools to help you prepare for the GRE General Test so you can feel more confident on test day.
The GRE General Test is offered on a computer year-round at Prometric test centers and also offered on specific dates at additional testing locations outside of the Prometric test center network.
You can also get an at-home version of the test. The at-home test is identical in content, format, and on-screen experience to the GRE General Test taken at a test center.
It is taken on your own computer at home and is monitored by a human proctor
The total testing time for the GRE General Test is around three hours and 45 minutes, plus short breaks.
GREs are valid for 5 years.
You’ll receive your official GRE score about 10–15 days after your test date. The official scores will be available in your ETS Account and sent to the score recipients you designated on test day. You will receive an email notification from ETS when your official scores are available.
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