The GRE test happens nearly every working day of the year. You can take it in one of the two-time slots – morning (8 am or later) and afternoon (noon or later). This is an excellent thing since it gives you a lot of options, but it can also be challenging as you now have to decide which time of the day is best to take the exam. Because of this, a lot of questions arise, such as:
- Should I take it in the morning?
- Should I take it in the afternoon?
- Should I take it on Monday or Thursday?
- Should I take it at the start or the end of the month?
Let’s answer these common queries.
Before I get started, let me give you some background on the GRE dynamics.
At 99% of the places, GRE is a computer-based exam. The paper option is not available everywhere, and mostly, it is available to applicants with specific disabilities.
The exam is nearly 5 hours long. This includes all the breaks and the formalities that you have to go through before and after the exam. The GRE is valid for five years. It is a bit costly too. Therefore, many students plan to take it only once and try to get a good score.
In this Article
Is it True that GRE is the Easiest at Certain Times of the Year?
There is a common misconception that the GRE is easier on certain days. Regardless of what time of the day or what day of the week or what month of the year you take it, the exam level is the same for all students. It’s not like GRE will ask you more straightforward questions at the start of the month, or harder questions in the morning.
Now that you know that the GRE is impartial, let’s figure out the best time of the day to take the GRE. Should you take it in the morning or afternoon?
Below are two methodologies that you should use to decide the best time slot for the GRE. The first is a straightforward method that involves your personal preference. The other one is more methodical and scientific, and the one that I prefer.
The Straightforward Method of Finding Out the Best Time Slot
The simplest way to determine whether you should take the GRE in the morning or the afternoon is to follow your routine. If you are a morning person, take it in the morning. If you are a night owl, then take it in the afternoon.
Most students preparing for the GRE are night owls, and they take their exam in the afternoon. This is also validated by ETS data since afternoon test slots book much quickly than morning slots. Moreover, if you are applying at the end of the year, you must book your afternoon time slot at least 6-8 weeks in advance. This is because the application deadlines fall from September to December, which are very popular months to take the GRE.
The Methodical Method of Finding Out the Best Time Slot
Let’s begin by comparing the benefits of taking the GRE in the morning and the afternoon.
| Benefits of Morning GRE | Benefits of Evening GRE |
| Get the exam out of the way | Get more sleep |
| Have a free afternoon | Get more time to revise |
| No additional stress of waiting till the afternoon to take the test | Leisurely eat and get ready |
Both morning and afternoon GRE slots have their benefits. If you are comfortable taking the exam at any of the two-time slots, you can use this table to make a final decision.
There is a valuable scientific study that can help you decide the best time to take the GRE Exam.
According to a study titled “Cognitive fatigue influences students’ performance on standardized tests” conducted on over 2 million students, you are at the peak of your cognitive abilities early in the morning. And on average, you would score nearly 8-10% better if you were to take an 8 am exam versus a 1 pm exam. This is because you will suffer from cognitive fatigue later in the day, which means that your brain will get tired.
Cognitive fatigue is even worse in students who do last-minute revisions before an afternoon GRE. In this case, your GRE score can drop by up to 15%. This is because your cognitive resources will deplete much faster if you spend energy on mentally draining activities such as last-minute GRE studying.
The study also indicates that cognitive fatigue has a far more damaging effect on lower-performing students. In simpler words, if you are already struggling on the GRE, then an afternoon exam coupled with last-minute revisions can have a much higher negative implication on your score (as much as up to 20% decrease in your already struggling GRE score).
Another important outcome of the study is that taking a break during the exam boosts productivity and replenishes your cognitive abilities. This means that the 10-minute break after the third GRE section is hugely crucial in improving your GRE test score. During the break, if you eat something satisfying, allow your mind to wander, or get some fresh air can boost your GRE score by up to 2%.
Final Verdict: Morning or Afternoon GRE?
GRE is all about focus and stamina. It is about maintaining a high level of concertation for a prolonged period of 5 hours. Most of this depends on your routine and exam-taking style. Based on the empirical data, you should consider taking the exam in the morning. But if you think you will be sleepy during a morning exam, you could consider the other time slot.
All that matters is that you are well-rested, and you arrive fresh for the exam. Often, people can score in the 90th percentile of the exam, but they end up scoring much lower just because they chose the wrong time slot and weren’t focused during the exam.
Regardless, I recommend that you test your focus by taking a few mock exams in the morning and a few in the afternoon. See if there is any considerable variation in your performance. Observe if your brain functions better and you feel fresher and more focused at a particular time of the day. Then prefer that time slot over the other. But I would tilt towards a morning GRE exam.