Skip to main content

Retaking The GRE

March 31, 2026

← Go Back↓ Read Article

Retaking the GRE: How to Improve Your Score on a GRE Retake

The last thing you probably want to do, especially after studying for months, is take the GRE again. But if your first GRE score was disappointing, a retake is probably a good idea. 

But how do you study when you already studied?? The answer is probably not as simple as just continuing to practice. A good GRE retake plan should fix ALL the reasons you didn't hit your goal.

The good news? You probably have MANY things you can improve. The bad news? Those things may take some hard work and you may have to swallow your pride and redo things you've done before, only this time, doing them better.

On this page, I’ll show you when it makes sense to retake the GRE, what ETS’s retake policy is, and how to prepare for a retake in a way that gives you a real shot at improvement.

 

Quick Answer

  • Yes, retaking the GRE often makes sense if your score is lower than what your programs need or lower than what you are capable of earning.
  • ETS lets you take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in a rolling 12-month period.
  • The best retake plans usually start with foundation, then strategies, then experience, then timed work and tests.
  • If you retake too quickly without fixing the underlying problems, your score may barely move.

 

On this page

 

Should You Retake the GRE?

Retaking the GRE usually makes sense if one or more of these is true:

  • Your score is below the range you likely need for your target programs
  • Your score is clearly lower than your better practice-test scores
  • You know you studied inefficiently the first time
  • You rushed into the test before your math, verbal, or timing skills were ready
  • You have reason to believe you can improve enough to justify the extra time and cost

Retaking may be less attractive if your score already fits your programs well, your application timeline is too tight, or you are not in a position to study differently the second time.

The key question is not just “Can I retake?” The real question is “Can I retake with a better plan?”

 

ETS GRE Retake Policy

ETS currently says you can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. That rule still applies even if you canceled scores on a previous test. ETS also says you should allow time for score reporting, since official scores are typically available 8 to 10 days after the test date. Electronic scores are delivered to schools twice a week.

In plain English, that means you usually can retake fairly soon, but “soon” is not the same thing as “wisely.” If you are applying on a deadline, make sure your retake date leaves enough time for scores to be reported and processed.

Before booking a retake, you should know both your earliest legal retake date and your latest useful retake date.

 

How to Retake the GRE and Improve

The best retake plans follow a sensible order. If you skip the order, you often waste time.

1. Start with foundation

First, build the pieces that everything else rests on. That means learning, memorizing, and drilling the GRE math concepts you are weak in, and learning a lot of GRE vocabulary. If your foundation is weak, jumping straight into more official practice usually does not solve much.

2. Learn strategies for every major part of the test

Once your base is stronger, learn verbal strategies, quant strategies, AWA strategy, and time-management strategy. Then drill those until they are familiar enough to use under pressure. Strategy helps most when it becomes a habit instead of something you vaguely remember.

3. Build lots of experience

Experience matters. You want enough high-quality practice that common question types stop feeling new and your process becomes steadier. This is where many students begin to see patterns they missed the first time around.

4. Gradually progress into timed work and tests

Timed work should come later, not first. It is usually smarter to build skill before you test that skill under strict time pressure. As your accuracy and familiarity improve, add more timed sets and then full tests.

5. Retake only after the plan has had time to work

Many students schedule the retake first and then try to force improvement into whatever time is left. That approach can work if your issues are minor, but it often leads to another score that is only slightly different from the first.

 

Why Many GRE Retakes Do Not Lead to Better Scores

  • They retake too soon
  • They do more of the same things that failed the first time
  • They practice before building foundation
  • They take timed tests before their skills are ready for timed work
  • They focus only on one weak area and ignore the rest of the test
  • They never really learn vocabulary or math concepts deeply enough
  • They do not learn better strategy for verbal, quant, writing, and time management

A good retake plan should raise your floor across the whole exam, not just give you a few lucky extra points.

 

How Long Should You Study Before Retaking?

That depends on your starting point, your goal, and how much is actually broken. In general, you should study for as long as it takes to build stronger math and vocabulary foundations, learn and drill better strategies, build experience, and then do enough timed work and tests to perform steadily under pressure.

Some people only need a short reset before retaking. Others need a much more serious rebuild. A rushed retake can be fine for a small correction. It is usually not enough for a real transformation.

If you want a more specific answer, start here: 1-month GRE study plan, 2-month GRE study plan, 3-month GRE study plan, and 4-month GRE study plan.

 

When a Personalized GRE Study Plan Makes Sense

A personalized study plan is often the best first step if you are retaking the GRE and:

  • you are not sure what to do differently this time
  • you need a clear order for your prep
  • you have limited time and cannot afford to waste weeks
  • you want a plan built around your baseline, goal, and schedule
  • you suspect your first prep plan was poorly designed

If that sounds like you, my personalized study plan is a good place to start.

When Tutoring Makes Sense on a GRE Retake

Tutoring is often worth considering if:

  • you are plateaued and not sure why
  • your quant or verbal weaknesses are stubborn
  • your score is bouncing around unpredictably
  • you need faster progress than self-study is likely to give you
  • you want help diagnosing what is actually happening in your head on test day

In those situations, tutoring can do more than just assign work. It can help you fix the specific habits and blind spots that held down your first score.

 

Useful Related GRE Pages

 

FAQ

Can you retake the GRE?
Yes. ETS allows retakes, subject to its timing and annual frequency rules.
How soon can you retake the GRE?
ETS currently says you can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days.
How many times can you retake the GRE?
ETS currently allows up to five GRE General Test attempts within any rolling 12-month period.
Should I retake the GRE if my score was disappointing?
Often yes, if the score is below your target range and you are willing to prepare differently. Retaking without changing your approach is much less useful.
What is the best way to study for a GRE retake?
Usually the best order is: build foundation first, then learn and drill strategies, then build experience, then progress into timed work and tests.
Should I get a study plan or tutoring for my GRE retake?
A study plan is often the best first step if you need a better roadmap. Tutoring makes more sense if you are plateaued, short on time, or need deeper diagnosis and coaching.
← Go Back