The Graduate Record Examination or GRE, as we commonly call it, is a globally accepted, standardised, multiple-choice computer or paper-based examination conducted by the Educational Test Services (ETS). This exam is taken by students and young professionals seeking admission into graduate programs. Conducted all around the year, there are over 1000 test centers situated in 160 countries. So, if you are looking to take the exam, then the first thing you need to know is the GRE exam dates in 2021 and how to schedule your test and more. Keep reading to know more!

GRE Availability 
Firstly, the available GRE slots for 2021 are 535. Secondly, the GRE general test is available throughout the year on a regular basis, while the GRE subject test is available through the months of April, October and September. There is no fixed time period to take up GRE, it can be taken at your convenience at the earliest. The test works on a first cum first serve basis, hence it takes some planning to secure your choice of test dates. 
In order to book the GRE 2021 dates, you need to be registered for the exam first. Let’s see how you can register for the GRE.
Registration Process
If you wish to take the GRE, you have to be registered with the ETS. The registration can be done online on the ETS official site. Moreover, you will need a valid passport to do so. Additionally, you will be asked to fill in some academic and personal details; make sure the details you fill in are in correspondence with the details on your passport. You can then proceed to choose the format of the examination, whichever you are comfortable with, be it computer-based or paper-based. Once the registration is over, you can choose a convenient date and the test center — preferably one in the vicinity of your neighbourhood.
GRE Test Centers 
There are over 22 test centres in around 11 cities all over India. Some of these cities include New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad,  Cochin, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Patna, Pune, Dehradun and many more. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the timings of these test centers and slots available may vary, so be sure to call the nearest test center and enquire before you book your dates for the examination.
GRE Dates for 2021
The ETS dates 2021 are available each day of the month except for designated holidays. According to the ETS website, the test dates in India are as follows: 

Month Available Dates 
July 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th ,8th ,12th ,13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
August 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th,18th,19th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st
September 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
October5th,12th, 26th
November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
December 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th

As you might notice, the months September to December have a limited number of slots, it would be advisable to plan ahead while choosing your test date. Another factor you should take into consideration would be the application deadline set by Universities you plan on applying to. A period of 10-15 days should also be allotted for the GRE scores to reach designated authorities. Hence, it is recommended to book your test date 30 days before or much ahead than your application deadline. 

Things to Keep in Mind When Scheduling GRE Exam Dates 2021:

  • Be aware of the deadlines
  • Do a rough estimate of your GRE prep time 
  • Plan and save time for reattempts 

Covid-19 and the GRE
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ETS has launched the GRE test at home. You can now take the test at the comfort of your home without having to worry about being safe. A few pointers for the GRE test at home are as follows: 

  1. The GRE test requires you to install all recent system updates, make sure to check the requirements on the ETS official site and adhere to them. 
  2. The test at home will be monitored by a program called the ProctorU and you will require a human proctor. 
  3. There are webinars available on the ETS official website to walk you through the process.
  4. Check the ETS official site on a regular basis and look out for any new updates and regulations. Non-adherence of guidelines and requirements will result in you not being allowed to take the test. 

We hope this gives you a basic idea of the GRE exam dates 2021, what to keep in mind while scheduling the exam, how to register and more. Since the fundamentals are covered, all that is left for you to do is focus on your preparation, come up with a study plan and take the exam on the date you select. 

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