GRE at Home is the same GRE General Test as the test-center version. You take it on your own computer with a live remote proctor, and ETS treats the scores the same.
This guide covers the shorter format (in place since September 2023), official ETS practice samples, the 2026 camera and ID rules, fees, accommodations, ScoreSelect, and test day.
Check three things before you pay: program acceptance, your score target, and your deadline. ETS treats at-home and test-center GRE scores the same, but each school still sets its own cutoffs and reporting rules.
ETS markets the GRE General Test for graduate, business, and law admissions, but each school decides if it is required, optional, or waived.
Verbal and Quant use 130-170. Analytical Writing uses 0-6 in half points. Use the school's published numbers, and do not rely on a single combined total if the program lists section floors.
Official scores usually land in your ETS account in 8-10 calendar days. Add school processing time so the report arrives before the deadline.
Request disability or health-related accommodations through ETS before you book; they cannot be added to an existing appointment.
The base fee is not the whole cost:
Since 22 September 2023, the GRE General Test runs about 1 hour 58 minutes with five scored sections:
The standard at-home administration has no break. Only an ETS-approved accommodation can alter that rule.
0-6 · half-point increments · holistic + ETS e-rater
Task
Read an opinion and its specific instructions, then take a position and support it with reasons and examples. Address the issue's complexities.
Run Equipment Check on the same computer, network, and time of day as your appointment. You test in the ETS Secure Browser with a live remote proctor.
The questions match the test center. Only the room and the proctoring setup change.
Desktop or laptop only. Tablets, Chromebooks, phones, and Surface Pro devices are not allowed.
Windows 11+ recommended; Mac OS 11+. Use a licensed OS. Chrome is used for related ETS steps.
One monitor and one keyboard only. On a laptop, use its built-in keyboard and screen. Disconnect extra displays and keyboards.
Speakers and a microphone are required. No headsets or earphones.
A movable webcam so you can show a 360° room scan and the tabletop.
A charged smartphone or tablet (iOS 12+ or Android 8+) acts as the second camera.
You need a stable connection for check-in and the full session. Wired Ethernet is safer than shared Wi-Fi when you can use it.
Only two options are allowed:
No regular paper, pen, or pencil.
Use the At Home Check-In link from your confirmation email or ETS account. Opening the Secure Browser alone will not connect you to a proctor.
For tests booked and scheduled on or after 31 March 2026, finish IDVaaS (the ETS identity verification app) at least 72 hours before the test, or right away if you booked closer.
Pass the browser, bandwidth, camera, mic, and related checks on the exact device and network you will use.
Open the At Home Check-In link 15 minutes early. ETS states two different cutoffs, so do not rely on either grace window:
Check-in itself often takes 20-30 minutes.
Show the walls, door, and desk as directed. Keep the door visible to the proctor, and sit in a standard chair, not a bed or couch.
The standard session allows no food, drink, or unscheduled break. Finish bathroom and power checks before check-in. Health-related exceptions and extra or extended breaks require advance ETS approval.
Bring an original, valid ID that meets ETS rules for your citizenship and testing location. Your full first and last names must exactly match your registration, excluding accents. A nickname or initial is not enough.
Doors closed; blinds or curtains closed. No glass-walled or public spaces.
No face mask. Keep ears visible; religious headwear is allowed if ears stay visible. Limit jewelry and hair accessories.
Clear phones and tablets from the desk except the approved second camera used for proctoring.
Wrong note materials can end the session. Erase your notes and show the proctor at the end when asked.
A live remote proctor watches through the ETS at-home system and Secure Browser. Follow on-screen and proctor instructions.
Verbal and Quant are scored 130-170 in one-point steps. Analytical Writing is scored 0-6 in half-point steps.
How each score is built:
If you answer no questions in a whole measure, it is reported as No Score (NS). When you report your scores, unofficial Verbal and Quant appear after the test. Analytical Writing appears only on the official report.
| Measure | Scale | Increments | When you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 130-170 | 1 point | Unofficial after test if you view; official in 8-10 days |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130-170 | 1 point | Unofficial after test if you view; official in 8-10 days |
| Analytical Writing | 0-6 | 0.5 point | Official report only (not shown unofficially) |
Official scores usually arrive 8-10 calendar days after the test. Plan reporting and retakes around that window and your school deadlines.
Usually 8-10 calendar days after the test, in your ETS account. ETS emails you when they are ready.
Reportable for five years from the test date.
If you report your scores, choose up to four institutions at the end of test day at no extra fee.
US$40 per recipient after test day. Processing usually takes about five business days.
For each free report, you choose one option:
Some programs still require all GRE attempts. Always check the school's policy.
At the end of the test you may report and view your scores, or cancel the entire administration.
Once every 21 days; maximum five times per rolling 12 months, even if you canceled scores.
Reschedule or cancel no later than four days before the test date, or 10 days in Mainland China.
Complete every item on the same computer and network you will use for the real appointment.
Yes. Content, format, and the on-screen experience match the test center. Only delivery and proctoring differ.
About 1 hour 58 minutes:
Verbal: 18 then 23 minutes (not two 27-minute sections). Quant: 21 then 26 minutes (not two 23-minute sections). Both measures have 27 questions total.
No scheduled break, and unscheduled breaks are not permitted at home. Only an ETS-approved accommodation can provide extra or extended breaks. Finish bathroom and setup needs before check-in.
From 5 January 2026. The second camera must be a charged phone or tablet (iOS 12+ or Android 8+) showing your computer, keyboard, mouse, hands, and side profile.
IDVaaS is the ETS identity verification app. For tests booked and scheduled on or after 31 March 2026, complete it at least 72 hours before the test, or right away if you booked later.
A live remote proctor through the ETS at-home system and Secure Browser. Check in through ETS using your confirmation email or account.
US$249 in most areas and US$231.30 in China (from 1 August 2026).
Request and receive ETS approval before you schedule; accommodations cannot be added to an existing appointment.
Use the current 2026-27 Bulletin Supplement.
8-10 calendar days after the test, in your ETS account. Unofficial Verbal and Quant can show at the end of the at-home session; Analytical Writing waits for the official report.
On test day, each free report can send:
Later, paid reports also offer Any, meaning one or more selected administrations. A selected administration is sent in full. Some schools require all attempts, so check each program.
Once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period, even if you canceled scores. Plan retakes around the 8-10 day official score wait.
Prefer current ETS pages over older blogs or PDFs. Timing, fees, and at-home rules change; re-check before you register.
Compare formats if you are still choosing a test, then book support once your timeline is clear.
Need help planning a GRE date or score target? Contact us and we will walk through your options.
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