To meet the needs of students who are unable to take the GRE^® General Test at a test center due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, ETS is temporarily offering a GRE General Test at-home option in selected areas.

As of April 3, 2020, the at-home GRE is being offered worldwide (with the exception of mainland China and Iran).

Are you eligible?

To qualify to take the GRE at home, you must have computer equipment that meets the requirements for the test and a room that provides an acceptable environment for the test.

You can learn more about these requirements HERE.

ETS is working toward making these at-home solutions available in additional locations in the coming weeks.

“It was imperative for us to create a timely, flexible and reliable solution to allow students the opportunity to take these tests, so that they can complete time-sensitive applications that will allow them to continue on their educational journeys,” said Alberto Acereda, executive director of the Global Higher Education Division at ETS in a statement. “Test takers can expect the same valid and reliable tests that are administered in test centers from the comfort of home.”

The testing experience

While the at-home exam is identical to the one you would take at a test center, the testing experience is quite different, obviously. You can read the full details of the at-home GRE testing experience, but here are a few of the most important points:

• During the test, a human proctor will monitor you (via video camera) and your computer screen to ensure you follow all testing procedures.
• Make sure you can be seen on camera by the proctor. Suspicious movements could invalidate your test.
• Do not use any unauthorized materials, including mobile devices, prewritten notes or textbooks.
• Do not communicate with anyone else.There are six sections with a 10-minute break following the third section and one-minute breaks between the remaining sections. You are required to remain in your seat for the one-minute breaks. You are allowed to leave your seat during the 10-minute break. If you do not return on time, your test will be canceled and your fee will not be refunded. Unscheduled breaks during the at home test are not allowed.

Test takers are also not allowed to take notes on regular paper, though the ETS is allowing students to take notes on a whiteboard with an erasable marker or on paper with a “transparent sheet protector and erasable marker.”

Additional information

Still have questions about the at-home GRE? Visit the ETS’s FAQ page here: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/at-home/faq/

To register for the GRE and get started, create your free account with ETS here: www.ets.org/mygre

For more advice on preparing for the GRE amid the COVID-19 uncertainty, listen to our recent podcast episode on this important topic here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-preparing-for-your-test-and-future-amid-covid-19/id1478908477?i=1000469344474