When Is the Next GRE Exam in Nigeria? Test Days, Retakes and When Scores Arrive

A lot of people search for "the next GRE exam" as if it were WAEC or JAMB, with one sitting a year that everyone writes on the same day. The GRE does not work like that, and once you understand how it does work, picking your date becomes one of the easiest decisions in your whole application.

How GRE dates work in Nigeria

Each candidate books their own appointment with ETS, the organisation that runs the GRE, either directly or through a centre like ours. You choose the day, the time and the centre, as long as a seat is free. That is why you will not find a single "GRE exam date 2026" announcement anywhere: the calendar is open all year.

If you want to see which days currently have seats at our centres, the GRE test dates and fee page keeps an up to date calendar for Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Test centre or at home?

You can sit the GRE General Test at a test centre or at home. Both versions have the same sections, the same timing (1 hour 58 minutes) and the same score scale, and universities treat them the same way.

• At a test centre you sit at a prepared computer in a quiet room, with staff handling the setup. In Nigeria there are centres in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, including our own ETS listed centre in Abuja.
• At home you need your own computer with a webcam, a private room with nothing on the walls or desk, and a stable internet connection for about two hours.

For most Nigerian candidates, the deciding factor is power and network. Two hours without a flicker of light or a dropped connection is a lot to ask in many homes, and a generator running outside the window is not a quiet room. If you have any doubt, a test centre removes that risk completely.

How to pick your GRE date

The right date is the one that leaves room for a retake before your earliest deadline. Work backwards from that deadline using three numbers:

1. 8 to 10 days for your official scores to be ready after the test.
2. A few more days for delivery, because ETS sends scores to schools in batches twice a week.
3. 21 days, the minimum gap before you can sit the GRE again if your first score falls short.

Add those up and you get a simple rule: sit your first attempt at least six to eight weeks before your earliest application deadline. That leaves enough time for one retake and for the second set of scores to reach the school.

Rough planning guide. Always check each programme's own deadline and whether it wants scores to arrive by that date or only to be sent by it.

Then count back from your test date for preparation. Most candidates need about twelve weeks of steady work, which is how long our free GRE classes run. So for a December deadline, the ideal time to start preparing is around July or August.

Can you retake the GRE?

Yes. You can take the GRE again 21 days after your last attempt, up to five times in any rolling 12 month period. A test you cancelled still counts toward the five.

Retaking is common and carries little risk, because of ScoreSelect: you choose which test dates to send to each school, so a weaker first attempt does not have to be seen. Many candidates plan for two attempts from the start, using the first as real experience of test day.

When do GRE scores come out?

At the end of the test you see your unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores on screen. Your official scores, including Analytical Writing, are ready 8 to 10 days after your test date, and ETS emails you when they are.

On test day you can choose schools to receive your scores at no extra charge. Sending scores to more schools later carries an extra ETS fee for each one. Your scores stay valid for 5 years, so a strong result this year can still serve a PhD application a few years from now.

How much does the GRE cost in Nigeria?

Through Mafit, the GRE costs ₦405,000, or ₦380,000 with code MAFIT, a saving of ₦25,000. You pay in naira, by transfer or card, and we complete your ETS booking for you.

That one fee also covers twelve weeks of GRE classes, four times a week, physical and live online, with the Quantitative lectures led by Tayo, our mathematics lecturer, plus study materials and practice tests. If you would rather spread the cost, Pay Small Small lets you start from ₦100,000 and complete the balance before you pick your date. The full breakdown is on the GRE dates and fee page.

What happens on GRE test day

The shorter GRE takes 1 hour 58 minutes and runs in a fixed order, with no scheduled break:

The order of the Verbal and Quantitative sections can vary. The second section of each adapts to how you did in the first.

Arrive early. Check in includes an ID check against your international passport, a photo and storing your phone and bag in a locker. Candidates who rush in at the last minute often start the essay already flustered, and that first 30 minutes sets the tone for the rest of the test.

Mistakes that cost candidates a date

• A name that does not match the passport. A missing middle name or a different spelling can mean being turned away on the day. Register exactly as your passport reads.
• Booking too close to the deadline. October to December is application season, and the dates people want go first. Leave yourself the six to eight weeks described above.
• Choosing at home without testing the setup. Run the ETS equipment check on the same computer, in the same room and on the same network you will use on the day.
• Forgetting the 21 day rule. If you think you might retake, book the first attempt early enough that a second one still lands before your deadline.

Ready to book?

Pick a date on our GRE registration page, fill one short form and your counsellor confirms your seat, usually within a day. Bring a valid international passport on test day, with the same name you registered with.

Common questions