How long is a GRE score valid for an MS application in the USA?
A GRE score is valid for exactly 5 years from your test date. Once that window closes, ETS permanently deletes your record, so you cannot send official reports. Some universities require your score to still be valid on the application opening date or the first day of classes.
Your GRE score stays valid for exactly 5 years from the day you sat the test. After that window closes, the Educational Testing Service permanently deletes your record, which means you can no longer download or send official reports to any US university. Timing your test around your intended intake matters more than most students realise.
How US Universities Apply the 5-Year Rule
| Rule | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Opening date rule | Scores must be valid the day the portal opens, as at Princeton |
| Enrollment date rule | Some need validity until the first day of classes |
| Processing buffer | ETS takes about 5 business days to send reports |
| Equal evaluation | Most schools weight a 4-year-old valid score equally |
Test Validity You Should Track Together
| Test | Validity | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| GRE General or Subject | 5 years | ETS |
| TOEFL | 2 years | ETS |
| IELTS | 2 years | Cambridge / IDP |
My Advice
Do not sit the GRE too early, because your English test expires in 2 years while the GRE lasts 5, and you do not want to retake IELTS just to match a timeline. Send your official reports well before any expiry date, since the ETS processing buffer of about 5 business days has cost students admission at strict programs.
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