TL;DR: You get 4 free score reports on test day, but your ScoreSelect options are limited then. After test day, additional reports cost $40 each and you unlock the "Any" option to send only your best sitting. If you have multiple test attempts, wait until after scores are released, then use "Any" to send only your strongest result.
Sending GRE scores involves two different processes with different costs and different options depending on when you act. Understanding how ScoreSelect works before test day will save you money and give you more control over what programs see.
How the 4 Free Reports on Test Day Work
On test day, after your test is complete, ETS gives you the option to designate up to 4 institutions to receive your scores for free. These designations happen during the score reporting screen at the testing center, after you decide to keep your scores.
The free reports are locked in at this point. You cannot change them after you leave the center, and you cannot apply them to additional reports later. If you want to send to more than 4 schools, you pay $40 per additional report.
One important detail: when you send scores on test day, your ScoreSelect options are limited. You can send either "Most Recent" (the scores from that specific test date) or "All" (every score on record). You cannot select specific past test dates on test day itself. That more flexible option becomes available after test day once your official scores are released.
If you have only one test sitting, this distinction does not matter. If you have multiple sittings, it matters.
How ScoreSelect Works
ScoreSelect is ETS's system that lets you control which test dates get reported to schools. The mechanics break down by when you act.
On test day:
- "Most Recent": sends only the scores from today's test
- "All": sends scores from all test dates on record
After test day (via your ETS account):
- "Most Recent": sends your most recent test date
- "All": sends all test dates on record
- "Any": sends scores from a specific test date you choose
The "Any" option is the most useful one for test-takers who have multiple sittings. It lets you pick the date where you performed best and send only that, without sending lower scores from other sittings.
Programs cannot see how many times you took the GRE. They see only the scores from the sittings you send. If you took the test three times and send only the best sitting, the school has no visibility into the other two attempts. Cancelled scores also do not appear.
What ScoreSelect Does Not Do
ScoreSelect controls which test date sittings you send. It does not let you select individual section scores from different sittings.
When you send a sitting, schools see all three scores from that sitting: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing. If you had a strong Q score in one sitting but a weaker V score, and a stronger V in a different sitting, you cannot combine them. You must choose which full sitting to send.
Some programs state they will consider the highest section scores across all submitted sittings when evaluating candidates. This is sometimes called "superscoring," but ETS itself does not superscore. The practice, when it exists, is something the school does internally after receiving complete sitting records. You cannot send a custom combined report. Check with each program individually about how they handle multiple submitted sittings.
Sending Scores to More Schools After Test Day
Additional score reports cost $40 each and are requested through your ETS account. Processing takes approximately 5 business days.
When you order after test day, you have access to the full ScoreSelect menu, including the "Any" option to specify a test date. This is where the post-test flexibility pays off. If you tested twice and your second attempt was significantly better, you can order reports for new schools and send only the stronger sitting.
The $40 fee is per report, not per school. If you send to five additional schools, that is $200.
When to Designate Schools on Test Day
Designating schools on test day is only worth doing if you already have a target list and are confident in the score you are about to produce. Most applicants do not know their score until they see it on the screen, which is also when they decide whether to keep or cancel.
A common approach: use the 4 free slots only if your on-screen scores match or exceed your target. If you are disappointed in the result, you may want to cancel rather than designate, in which case the free slots are irrelevant.
If you cancel your scores, the free reports are not used, since there are no scores to send. Cancelled scores do not appear in your ETS account.
Timing Score Reports Around Deadlines
Official scores take 8-10 days to appear in your ETS account. Schools designated on test day receive scores 10-15 days after your test date. Additional reports sent from your account take approximately 5 business days.
For application deadline planning, assume 15 days from test date to school receipt if you designate on test day. For post-test-day reports, assume 5 business days from when you place the order, which can only happen after your official scores are released (8-10 days post-test). Total window for a post-test-day order: roughly 2 to 3 weeks from test date.
If a school has a hard deadline, plan your test date accordingly. Last-minute testing with tight deadlines is a scheduling risk. Our GRE study plan covers how to structure your timeline so score delivery does not become a crunch.
Sending Scores to MBA Programs Specifically
Most deferred MBA programs require scores to be sent directly through ETS. Self-reported scores are often accepted for the initial application, but verified scores from ETS are required for final admission.
Programs you should already know well before sending scores: their stated score requirements, the typical range of admitted students' scores, and whether they evaluate by section. For most deferred MBA programs, Quant receives more scrutiny than Verbal. A 161Q and 155V is generally received differently than 155Q and 161V.
Review the GRE score requirements for deferred MBA programs before you choose which sittings to send and which programs to target. Sending scores strategically starts with knowing what each program actually needs.
How to Organize Your Score Sending Strategy
If you have one sitting: designate 4 schools on test day if your score meets your targets, then order additional reports as needed.
If you have multiple sittings with different strengths: wait until after test day and use the "Any" option to send the best sitting to each school. You pay $40 per report but gain full control.
If you plan to retake: do not rush to send scores before you know whether you will test again. The 4 free slots are worth using on test day only if you are confident in the result. Otherwise, pay $40 per report after you have your best score and send that.
Take the GRE practice section to see where you stand before you lock in any reporting decisions.
What to Do Next
- Know your full school list before test day so you can use your 4 free sends wisely. Don't designate schools until you see your scores on screen.
- If you have multiple sittings, wait until after official scores are released, then use the "Any" ScoreSelect option to send only your best sitting.
- Account for the full timeline: 8-10 days for official scores to appear, then 5 business days for additional reports to reach schools. Build that into your deadline planning.
- Check each deferred MBA program's policy on multiple sittings before deciding which sitting to send.
The GRE course is $25 per month with a free diagnostic to find your baseline before your next attempt. For a full assessment of how your test scores fit into your overall application strategy, coaching covers the complete picture.
