{"id":25419,"date":"2019-08-21T14:18:06","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T19:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=25419"},"modified":"2025-05-07T18:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T18:50:43","slug":"5-tips-for-retaking-the-gre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/5-tips-for-retaking-the-gre\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Retaking the GRE"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you didn\u2019t get the GRE score you were hoping for, you\u2019re not alone\u2013and you still have plenty of options. Many students choose to retake the GRE to raise their scores, and with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gre\/free\/free-gre-practice-test\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the right preparation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can improve your performance the next time around. While every applicant is unique and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/the-grad-school-application-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">every grad school program has its own particular guidelines and preferences<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there are a number of general factors to consider before deciding to test again and shoot for a higher GRE score. <\/span><br \/>\n<strong>[ RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/top-8-tips-to-ace-the-gre\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Top 8 Tips to Ace the GRE<\/a>\u00a0<strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How often can you take the GRE?<\/span><\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can retake the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous 12-month period, according to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the official GRE test maker.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no lifetime limit on the number of times you can take the GRE. However, the five-per-year cap applies even if you cancel your scores, so it\u2019s important to plan your retakes carefully. For the most up-to-date details, check the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ets.org\/gre\/test-takers\/general-test\/register.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official ETS GRE retake policy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top 5 tips for retaking the GRE to raise your score<\/span><\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re wondering whether retaking the GRE is worth it, here\u2019s the good news: you can take the GRE multiple times, and doing so will not hurt your chances of admission. Thanks to ETS\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ets.org\/gre\/subject\/about\/scoreselect\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ScoreSelect<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> feature, you can decide which GRE scores you send to schools\u2013meaning if you take the GRE three times, you can choose to send only your best set of scores to each program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retaking the GRE isn\u2019t just about sitting for the test again\u2013it\u2019s about approaching it strategically. Here\u2019s how to maximize your chances of improving your GRE score:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_sidebar '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue812' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Only retake the GRE if you\u2019re confident you\u2019ll improve.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retaking the GRE costs money (around $205), requires time and energy (think of all those study hours), and can be stressful on test day. Don\u2019t go into a retake just hoping for a better result\u2013instead, build a solid prep plan and take multiple practice tests to track your progress. Your official GRE score will likely align closely with your practice test scores, so make sure you\u2019re consistently scoring higher before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/how-do-i-register-for-the-gre\/\">registering<\/a> for another attempt.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue882' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Know how your current score compares to program requirements<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you jump into another GRE attempt, ask: Do you really need a higher score? For example, if a graduate program requires minimum scores of 150 on the verbal and quantitative sections, and you\u2019re already scoring in the mid-150s, retaking the GRE might not significantly improve your application. Many programs weigh other factors, such as research experience, letters of recommendation, and your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/how-to-write-a-graduate-school-personal-statement\/\">personal statement<\/a>, just as heavily as test scores.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/whats-a-good-gre-score\/' title='Consider scholarships and funding opportunities.' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8d7' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/a><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/whats-a-good-gre-score\/' title='Consider scholarships and funding opportunities.' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Consider scholarships and funding opportunities.<\/a><\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some graduate programs or scholarships reward applicants with exceptionally high GRE scores. If you\u2019re aiming for one of these awards, raising your GRE score through a retake could be worthwhile. However, if your current score already meets or slightly exceeds the program\u2019s baseline requirements, your time might be better spent strengthening other parts of your application, like your research portfolio or personal essay. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8c9' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Focus on both GRE sections.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While ETS\u2019s ScoreSelect feature lets you choose which test dates\u2019 scores to send, you cannot mix and match your best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/whats-on-the-gre-gre-verbal-section\/\">verbal<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/whats-on-the-gre-gre-quantitative-section\/\">quantitative<\/a> scores from different test sittings. For example, if you aced quantitative the first time but struggled with verbal, you can\u2019t just focus on verbal during your next attempt and ignore quantitative altogether. Schools will see the full set of scores from each test date, so it\u2019s crucial to prepare thoroughly for both sections every time you take the GRE.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Plan your test timeline strategically.<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When scheduling your GRE, work backward from application deadlines to ensure you have time for retakes and score reporting (usually 10-15 days). Make sure to build in enough study time between attempts to improve your performance, rather than rushing into another test too soon\u2013this helps avoid burnout and maximizes your chance of a higher score. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<strong>[ NEXT:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/gre\/how-is-the-gre-scored\/\">How is the GRE Scored?<\/a>\u00a0<strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"animation row group-text aos-init aos-animate\" data-aos-duration=\"1500\" data-aos=\"fade-up\">\n<div class=\"columns small-12 large-10 large-offset-1\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns small-12 text-entry  \">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retaking the GRE can be an effective way to raise your score\u2013but only if you approach it with a clear, focused strategy. Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gre\/practice\/gre-prep-practice-test\">practice tests<\/a> to gauge your progress, understand program requirements, and make sure you\u2019re fully prepared before scheduling another attempt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking for expert help to boost your GRE score? Kaplan offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gre\/gre-practice\">GRE prep courses<\/a>, practice materials, and more to help you achieve your target score on your next try.<\/span><\/p>\n<div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-last '><div id=\"text-70\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_text\">\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span data-sumome-listbuilder-embed-id=\"a78fe19e226d385662749ccaadcdccd7ecdcab651c77e3b874bfcb76a80605a7\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"text-71\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_text\">\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span data-sumome-listbuilder-embed-id=\"185e834399a9fdd414ded52f3f51a4735f464b8c612f006f44ffba835a649b4f\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<article data-wio-id=\"WOZGNCsAAJc6275e\"><\/article>\n<div class=\"row\"><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you didn\u2019t get the GRE score you were hoping for, you\u2019re not alone\u2013and you still have plenty of options. Many students choose to retake the GRE to raise their scores, and with the right preparation, you can improve your performance the next time around. While every applicant is unique and every grad school program [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26941,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[68],"tags":[69],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25419"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25419"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48390,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25419\/revisions\/48390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}