The GRE exam fee in India is the same as it is in all other countries. That means if you’re planning to take the GRE in India, the fee is $205. Other fees—cancellation, rescheduling, etc.—are also the same in India as they are elsewhere. But while the actual cost of the exam is the same, the logistics of paying the fees are different in India than elsewhere. If you have more questions about the GRE, check out our GRE FAQ as well!
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You Must Pay in Dollars
That’s right: you must pay the GRE exam fee in India using U.S. dollars, not Indian rupees. The fee is always denominated in dollars, so the fee is a constant $205 everywhere in the world (except Australia and China). That can be an inconvenience for many students, but it isn’t an insurmountable difficulty. That’s because cash payments of any kind are not acceptable, so you don’t have to actually exchange rupees for paper U.S. dollars. See below for how to pay your GRE exam fee.
Paying the GRE Exam Fee in India
According to ETS, you cannot pay your GRE exam fee in India—or anywhere else—using cash. Instead, you have to use one of the following methods:
- Credit or Debit Card (American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard or Visa)
- PayPal
- Money Order/Certified Check/Voucher
An E-Check service is also available, but ONLY if it is drawn against a U.S. account, so that option will be unavailable to Indians without a U.S. account.
Unfortunately, though ETS does have a fee reduction program, it is only available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. So, unless you are a U.S. citizen living in India and trying to pay your GRE exam fee in India, then you are ineligible for financial assistance.
GRE Fees: Remember That Registration Fees Aren’t the Only Costs
Keep in mind that taking the GRE entails more fees than just the $205 registration fee. You’ll also want to do some studying. And that isn’t (usually) free. There are many options for studying, from self-study to private tutors, with a large range of price options. Here are a few scenarios:
- If you buy only one book to study with, you could pay only about $20 US for your study materials.
- A more rigorous self-study program (like Magoosh!) will cost between $150 to $200. (For comparison, our self-study program is around $129 per month.)
- Classroom and private tutor courses vary considerably in cost, ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. If you’re hoping to go that route, be prepared to spend a large sum on your study materials. You’ll probably ultimately spend more on studying than on the actual exam registration fee!
Conclusions
The process of paying the GRE exam fee in India isn’t hugely different from other countries. The major disadvantage is that you cannot pay the fee in Indian rupees—you have to pay in U.S. dollars. Nevertheless, no matter where you are in the world, it will all pay off when you pass. Best of luck!
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