GRE Score Sending: How and When to Report Your Scores

You’ve finished the GRE General Test. Now comes a decision that trips up more test takers than any geometry question: how and when to send your scores. GRE score sending is not just a bureaucratic step—it’s a strategic choice that can shape how admissions committees see your profile. This guide walks you through the ETS process, the ScoreSelect option, and the timing that keeps your application on track.

Understanding the GRE Score Report

When you sit for the GRE General Test, ETS generates a GRE score report that includes your scores on each measure: Analytical Writing (0–6 in half-point increments) and Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning (130–170 each). The report also lists your percentile ranks, which show how your performance compares to other test takers.

Your official GRE score report is sent electronically to the institutions you designate. It includes scores from your current test and, if you choose, scores from previous GRE attempts within the last five years. That five-year window matters: scores older than five years are no longer reportable, so if you tested long ago, you’ll need to retake the exam to have valid scores on file.

One detail that surprises many applicants: your Analytical Writing essay is not sent to schools. Only the score is reported. Admissions committees see the number, not your actual response.

What Is ScoreSelect and Why It Matters

ETS offers a feature called ScoreSelect, which gives you control over which scores schools see. You can choose to send:

• Most Recent — only your scores from the test you just completed.
• All — every GRE score you’ve earned in the past five years.
• Any — one or more specific test administrations you select.

ScoreSelect applies both on test day and afterward. If you’re confident in your performance, sending all scores can demonstrate consistency. If one attempt went poorly, selecting only your best administration keeps that weaker result out of the file. There is no additional fee to use ScoreSelect—it’s simply how ETS structures score reporting.

When to Send GRE Scores: On Test Day vs. After

You have two windows for GRE score sending, and each has trade-offs.

Option 1: Send Scores on Test Day

At the end of your exam, you’ll be asked whether you want to report or cancel your scores. If you choose to report, you can designate up to four score recipients for no extra charge. You’ll see your unofficial Verbal and Quantitative scores immediately, so you know roughly where you stand—though your Analytical Writing score arrives later.

The catch: you must decide before you leave the testing center, and you won’t yet know your official scores or your essay score. If you’re confident and your target programs are already on your list, this is the most economical route.

Option 2: Send Scores After You See Results

If you’d rather wait, you can order additional GRE score reports through your ETS account after your official scores are posted—typically 8–10 days after test day. You’ll pay a fee per recipient. This approach lets you review your full score report, including Analytical Writing, before committing.

Many applicants use a hybrid strategy: send scores to a couple of safe schools on test day, then order additional reports later once they’ve confirmed their performance. For a deeper look at how scores align with different programs, see our guide to GRE score expectations by field.

How to Send GRE Scores: Step by Step

The mechanics of sending GRE scores are straightforward, but timing matters.

• On test day: At the end of the session, select “Report Scores” and choose your recipients from the on-screen list. You can search by institution or code.
• After test day: Log into your ETS account, navigate to “Scores,” and select “Send Additional Score Reports.” Choose your recipients, apply ScoreSelect if desired, and pay the per-report fee.
• Processing time: Electronic reports typically reach institutions within 5–7 business days, though some schools take longer to log them.

Double-check each program’s requirements. Some departments want scores sent to a specific code, while others accept the institution’s general code. A misdirected report can delay your application by weeks.

Timing Your GRE Score Report for Application Deadlines

Most graduate programs set deadlines between December and February for fall admission. Work backward from those dates. If you test in early November, your official scores arrive mid-November, and reports reach schools by late November—comfortably ahead of most deadlines.

If you are still mapping out your timeline, a free GRE General Test study plan can help you build a schedule that fits your available study time.

Testing in December? You’re cutting it close. Some programs accept unofficial scores in your application and require official reports later, but not all. Confirm the policy before you rely on it. If you’re considering a retake to boost your numbers, read our advice on canceling or retaking the GRE before you finalize your timeline.

Common Mistakes in GRE Score Sending

Even strong applicants stumble on logistics. Watch for these pitfalls:

• Assuming all schools want all scores. Some programs explicitly ask for every score; others prefer ScoreSelect. Check each application’s instructions.
• Forgetting the five-year limit. Scores expire, and expired scores cannot be sent.
• Waiting until the last minute. Electronic delivery is fast, but admissions offices process thousands of documents. A report that arrives on deadline day may not be matched to your file in time.
• Overlooking department codes. Sending to the wrong code can send your scores into administrative limbo.

If you’re still in the preparation phase, focus on the sections that move your score most. Our GRE Verbal text completion strategies and coordinate geometry tips can help you target weak areas before test day.

How Score Sending Fits Into Your Overall GRE Strategy

Think of GRE score sending as the final move in a longer game. Your preparation determines your scores; your sending strategy determines how those scores are presented. Because the GRE is section-adaptive—your performance on the first Verbal and Quantitative sections determines the difficulty of the second—your final score reflects both your ability and your composure on test day.

That’s why many applicants take the exam once to establish a baseline, then retake after targeted study. With ScoreSelect, a stronger second attempt doesn’t erase your first—it simply gives you the option to highlight your best work. The key is to know your target programs’ expectations before you sit for the exam, not after.

Give your preparation its final stress test with GRE practice questions before the real exam.

A free GRE General Test readiness check can show which topic needs the most review and explain each practice question.