GRE at Home: Check the Guidelines and Requirements for Taking the Test
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GRE at Home: Check the Guidelines and Requirements for Taking the Test

Shubhankar Das logo

Shubhankar Das

Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Aug 14, 2024

Highlights:

  • Home-based test allows you to take GRE from the comfort of your home.
  • A human proctor monitors you through your computer while taking the test.
  • You need a computer, webcam, microphone, and a quiet room to take GRE home based test. 
  • The fee for GRE at home test is the same as the in-person test.

GRE at Home testing is available around 7 days a week. You can conveniently take the exam on your computer at home or in another secure location. To take GRE home test, you need to meet the equipment and environment requirements. One thing you need to remember is that if you won’t be able to meet the requirements on the test day, you won’t receive a refund or a free reschedule. The fee for taking GRE General Test at home is INR 22,550. Your home-based test is monitored by a human proctor. You cannot use a tablet, Chromebook, or mobile device you need to take GRE home based test through a desktop, laptop, or computer.

GRE_at_Home

GRE Test at Home Requirements

The exam pattern for home-based tests and test centers is the same. Candidates need to maintain GRE requirements to complete the registration process. The following equipment is necessary to avail the ETS GRE home test:

  1. PC or MAC computer;
  2. Movable camera for displaying the entire room to the proctor;
  3. Microphone;
  4. Speaker;
  5. Headsets are not required

The ambiance of the candidate’s room should adhere to the following measures for ETS GRE home requirements :

  1. No one should enter the room during the hours of the test;
  2. You cannot take the test in a park or cafe (or any other public place);
  3. The computer/keyboard should be placed on the tabletop;
  4. Unnecessary items not approved by the test-makers should be removed;
  5. Sit in a standard chair;
  6. No food or drinks allowed;
  7. Your ears should be visible throughout the exam;
  8. Dress in a sober manner and avoid pieces of jewelry;
  9. Takedown notes only on whiteboard with erasable marker or paper with a transparent sheet protector and erasable marker

GRE Test at Home Registration

GRE at home registration is slightly different from that of the test center registration. GRE general test at home is taking place in the candidate’s home and certain guidelines have to be followed.

  1. Step 1: Test-takers should ensure that the previous measures concerning equipment and environment are met, failing which they won’t be able to take the test;
  2. Step 2: Gather the ID requirements or necessarily passport. However, ETS is accepting government IDs for the time being. For further information about ID requirements, check the site;
  3. Step 3: Create an ETS account if you don’t have one;
  4. Step 4: After logging in, find the GRE test centers and dates by selecting the ‘test at home’ option. Remember, you’ll only view that option if your selected place is offering it;
  5. Step 5: Following the steps, pay for the test, and you’ll receive a mail from ETS confirming your payment;
  6. Step 6: In the last step, you’’ receive an ID and temporary password from ProctorU® which can be used to book GRE test date and time.

ETS GRE Home Test Timing: ETS allows the candidates to book GRE home test dates at any time throughout the day or night, 7 days a week. The home GRE at home experience remains the same length, so you can take the exam at your convenience time.

ProctorU GRE: A live proctor will watch all through the test. Before the test begins, the proctor will ask the candidate to hold up his/her whiteboard (a requirement for the GRE At Home) and rotate it to ensure that there is nothing written on it. The candidate will be recorded throughout the test, intending that ETS will be able to observe and prevent candidates from recording test questions on a hidden camera. This helps to avoid scams and GRE at home cheating.

GRE at Home Whiteboard: A whiteboard for GRE at home is required for candidates who need to solve problems. The proctor must be able to witness learners erase their GRE home test whiteboard. Pencils and paper are not allowed in GRE.

GRE at Home Tests and Breaks: GRE at home follows the same pattern as the general test. GRE general test at home would have been done on a regular test. After the first two test sections; GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning, the candidate can take the optional 10-minute bathroom or a snack break. Then the candidate can continue the other test sections.

GRE at Home Results: The candidate will receive their GRE scores right as the test ends. The GRE at home test allows applicants to take the test on the schedule they had planned out well before the pandemic.

GRE at Home Guidelines

The following factors should be considered before and while taking the test:

  1. Solve any issue before starting the test;
  2. Gather the required ID and have a presentable environment (as asked);
  3. Ensure you’re ready before the allotted time;
  4. The proctor will ask you to:
  5. Hold a mirror or cellphone to display the tabletop computer/laptop;
  6. Show the tabletop and room view through the computer/laptop camera;
  7. The proctor can interact with the help of chat and if they wish to interact then the blue owl will bounce

GRE at Home Rescheduling Process

GRE rescheduling process can be simply done through ETS account. To reschedule GRE exam online, login to your ProctorU account, and then select the reschedule option, and choose the test date and time preceding the appointment date and time. You can call or go to ProctorU chat in their live chat option, or mail them regarding the same.

GRE at Home Cancellation

The process of GRE at home cancellation is mostly similar to that of rescheduling. You need to contact the ETS test-taking service through the live chat option, which is available throughout the day. They can also avail of the calling facility through these numbers: 1-609-771-7670/1-866-473-4373. You must cancel the exam before 4 days of the actual test date, which will provide them with half the refund.

GRE at-home exam is of utmost help during this crisis period and there have been reviews of the at-home exam being easier than the test-center one. Therefore, candidates just need to focus on GRE online exam preparation. Solving GRE practice papers is always of big help for your higher score range.

GRE at home Preparation

You can prepare for GRE at home, by following the given tips below:

  • Try reading non-fiction, also read novels, magazines, and journals to become well-acquainted with many types of narratives and academic writing.
  • Try to follow a strict GRE study plan, you can make a 3-month or 6-month study plan accordingly
  • Take regular GRE mock tests to understand your strong and weak points
  • Keep a chart of your progress to track an overview of your score improvements and will effectively work on your study techniques.
  • Lastly, follow your gut feelings for multiple-choice questions, where you can narrow down the options to decide between two plausible answers.

GRE test at home is a convenient option for candidates are prefer to take their test at home. GRE from home is offered everywhere, based on the country of your account address. GRE home based test dates are available throughout the week, and you can simply register by visiting ETS official website. Candidates are advised to check and need to meet the equipment, and environment criteria for GRE at home.

FAQs

Ques: Is it OK to take the GRE at home?

Ans: GRE at home helps candidates to take the exam from their home. GRE home test has the same content, format, and on-screen experience as the GRE taken at the test center. GRE home based test is taken by students on their personal computers at home and is controlled by a human proctor online through ProctorU.

Ques: Is GRE at home accepted by universities?

Ans: GRE at home is accepted by most of the universities that accept the test-center-based GRE scores. Candidates can choose their convenient option to take the test from the ETS official website.

Ques: Is GRE at home available now?

Ans: GRE home edition testing is available around the clock, 7 days a week. Candidates planning to take admission are advised to take the GRE at home test two months before the application deadline.

Ques: What are the disadvantages of GRE at home? 

Ans: The only disadvantage of GRE at home is the lack of a stable internet connection. Candidates are advised to check their device, environment criteria, and internet connection before starting the test.

Ques: Is it cheaper to take GRE at home?

Ans: GRE at home and the test center exam fees are the same. Candidates need to pay GRE home test fee of INR 22,550 INR, the same as the test center fees.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

Comments


2 Comments
F
fauzia shahid
Is the exam pattern of GRE at home different?
R
rubab

The test follows the same test pattern as the GRE computer-based test. GRE at home resembles the environment of GRE taken at the center. You can expect the same three sections of the paper along with an unscored/ research section. There is no distinction between the two tests. They both have the same format, the same structure, the same duration, and the same difficulty.

A
ananya pandey
What are the advantages of GRE at Home?
R
rubab

Home-based GRE test is identical in content, format, and on-screen experience to those taken at a test center. The one major benefit is you feel you are less nervous. And the major drawback is you cannot use paper or notebook for doing rough work, for security reasons. ETS allows you to take the At Home GRE at any time during the day or night 7 days a week.


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