The GRE at Home test is available nearly seven days a week, allowing you to take the exam from the comfort of your home or another secure location. To be eligible, you must meet all equipment and environment requirements. If you fail to meet these requirements on test day, you will not qualify for a refund or free rescheduling. The test is monitored online by a human proctor and must be taken on a desktop or laptop. Tablets, Chromebooks, and mobile devices are not permitted. The fee for the GRE General Test at Home is INR 22,550.
GRE Test at Home Requirements
The exam pattern for the GRE remains the same for both home-based and test center formats. However, candidates must fulfill all GRE requirements to complete the registration process for the home-based test.
Required Equipment:
To take the ETS GRE Home Test, you will need:
- A PC or Mac computer
- A movable camera to show the proctor a 360° view of your room
- Microphone
- Speaker (headsets are not permitted)
Room & Environment Requirements:
Your test environment must strictly follow these guidelines:
- No one should enter the room during the test
- The test cannot be taken in public places such as parks, cafés, or libraries
- Place your computer and keyboard on a tabletop
- Remove all unapproved or unnecessary items from your workspace
- Sit in a standard chair (not on a bed or couch)
- No food or drinks are allowed
- Your ears must remain visible throughout the test
- Dress modestly and avoid wearing jewelry
- Take notes only on:
- A whiteboard with an erasable marker, or
- Paper inside a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker
GRE Test at Home Registration & Guidelines
The registration process for the GRE General Test at Home is slightly different from that of a test center. Since the test is taken from your home, you must follow specific guidelines.
Step-by-Step Registration Process:
Step 1: Ensure all equipment and environment requirements (mentioned earlier) are met. If not, you won’t be able to take the test.
Step 2: Gather your valid ID, preferably a passport. ETS is currently accepting government-issued IDs as well. Check the ETS website for the latest ID requirements.
Step 3: Create an ETS account if you don’t already have one.
Step 4: After logging in, select ‘Test at Home’ when searching for GRE test centers and GRE test dates. This option will appear only if the test is available in your location.
Step 5: Complete the registration and make your payment. You will receive a confirmation email from ETS.
Step 6: You’ll get an ID and temporary password from ProctorU® to book your GRE test date and time.
Test Timing:
ETS allows you to schedule the GRE at Home anytime—day or night—7 days a week. The duration of the test remains the same as the standard GRE, offering flexibility to choose a time that suits you best.
ProctorU Monitoring
A live human proctor will monitor your test from start to finish. Before beginning, you will be asked to:
- Show your whiteboard and rotate it to ensure it is blank.
- Allow the proctor to verify your test environment.
You will be recorded throughout the session to prevent unauthorized recording of test questions or cheating.
Whiteboard Policy:
For problem-solving, you must use:
- A whiteboard with an erasable marker, or
- Paper inside a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker.
Pencils and plain paper are not allowed. You must erase your whiteboard given the proctor.
Breaks:
The pattern is the same as the regular GRE:
- After the first two sections (Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning), you may take an optional 10-minute break for the bathroom or a snack.
- Then, continue with the remaining sections.
Results:
Scores are available immediately after the test. The GRE at Home enables you to take the test on your schedule, offering the same experience as before the pandemic.
GRE at Home Guidelines
Before and during the test, keep the following points in mind:
- Resolve any technical or personal issues before the test begins.
- Keep your required ID ready and ensure your environment is neat and meets the specified requirements.
- Be prepared and logged in before your scheduled time.
During the test, the proctor may:
- Ask you to use a mirror or a cellphone to show the tabletop and your computer/laptop.
- Request a view of your tabletop and the entire room through your device’s camera.
- Communicate with you via chat; if they initiate interaction, the blue owl icon will bounce.
GRE at Home Rescheduling Process
The GRE Reschedule is a straightforward process through your ETS account. To reschedule online, log in to your ProctorU account, select the “Reschedule” option, and choose a new test date and time before your current appointment. You can also contact ProctorU via phone, live chat, or email to request rescheduling.
GRE at Home Cancellation
The GRE at-home cancellation process is largely the same as rescheduling. You can cancel by contacting ETS through their 24/7 live chat service or by calling 1-609-771-7670 or 1-866-473-4373. Cancellations must be made at least 4 days before the test date to receive a 50% refund.
The GRE at-home test has proven highly beneficial, especially during the current circumstances, with some test-takers finding it easier than the test-center version. To maximize your score potential, focus on thorough online GRE preparation and regularly practice with GRE sample papers.
GRE at Home Preparation
You can effectively prepare for the GRE at home by following these tips:
- Read extensively, including non-fiction, novels, magazines, and journals to familiarize yourself with diverse writing styles and academic language.
- Follow a structured GRE study plan, choose a 3-month or 6-month plan based on your preparation time.
- Take regular GRE mock tests to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Maintain a progress chart to track score improvements and refine your study strategies.
- For multiple-choice questions, trust your instincts when you’ve narrowed options down to two likely answers.
The GRE at-home test is a convenient choice for candidates who prefer testing from home. It is available worldwide, depending on your ETS account address. Test dates are offered throughout the week, and registration can be done via the ETS official website. Ensure that you meet all equipment and environment requirements before booking your GRE at-home exam.
FAQs
Ques. Is it okay to take the GRE at home?
Ans. Yes. The GRE at-home test allows candidates to take the exam from their own home. It has the same content, format, and on-screen experience as the test-center version. The exam is taken on a personal computer and monitored in real time by a human proctor via ProctorU.
Ques. Do universities accept the GRE at-home test?
Ans. Yes. Most universities that accept GRE scores from test centers also accept GRE at-home scores. Candidates can choose their preferred testing option while registering through the ETS official website.
Ques. Is the GRE at-home test available now?
Ans. Yes. The GRE Home Edition is available 24/7, seven days a week. Applicants are advised to schedule their test at least two months before the application deadline.
Ques. What are the disadvantages of taking the GRE at home?
Ans. The primary drawback is the dependency on a stable internet connection. Candidates should check their device, environment setup, and internet speed before starting the test.
Ques. Is the GRE at-home test cheaper?
Ans. No. The GRE at-home fee is the same as the test-center fee of INR 22,550.
*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
Found 2 Comments
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.
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.