What is a Good GRE Score? - Check GRE Score Range

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is one of the most widely recognized tests for graduate school programmes in universities abroad. The GRE is made up of three sections, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. In the GRE Verbal Section a score range between 152 and 158, a score range of 153 and 158 in the GRE Quantittve Section and an Analytical Writing Section score of 4 are considered a good GRE score. 

What is a Good GRE Score: The full form of GRE is the Graduate Record Examination, more commonly referred to as the GRE and is one of the most widely recognized tests for graduate school programmes in universities abroad. Candidates wanting to know more about the GRE test in detail can check out our GRE guide.

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What is a Good GRE Score? 

ETS - the conducting body of the GRE exam has recently published GRE scores based on percentiles from individuals who took the test between 2017 and 2020. From the below data, we can say that based on past test records a GRE Verbal Score of 157 and GRE Quantitative score of 161-162 and a GRE Analytical Writing Score of 4.5 are considered Good GRE Scores.

ETS GRE Verbal And Quantitative Reasoning Percentiles, 2017 - 2020

source: ETS

Due to the pandemic, ETS- the conducting body of the GRE exam has also launched the GRE at Home. The GRE test at Home follows an identical GRE exam pattern, with the only difference being, that the GRE at Home is held in the safety of your home. Candidates wanting to take the GRE test at home must have the prescribed system and environment settings as mentioned in our article above. In this article we are going to be discussing, what is a good GRE score.

GRE Score Range

GRE Score Range: Before we dive into what a good GRE score is all about. Let us familiarize ourselves with the GRE score chart. The GRE exam pattern is primarily made up of the GRE Verbal Reasoning Section, the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section and the GRE Analytical Writing Section.

From the GRE score chart below we can understand that the GRE Verbal Reasoning Section and the GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section are calculated on a score range of 130 to 170 in 1-point increments. The section scores are reported based on the number of correct responses provided by the test taker. This is the raw score of the candidate that tells the candidate about the total number of questions answered correctly by him. The GRE raw test score would be later converted to a scaled score called Equating. 

Similarly, the GRE Analytical Writing Section is calculated on a score range of 0–6, in half-point increments. For the Analytical Writing section, each essay would receive a score from one trained rater and an e-rater developed by ETS. If both scores are identical in nature, the average of the two scores would be used as the final score. However, if the two scores, one from the trained rater and the other from the ETS developed e-rater are not identical, a third - a human-trained rater would be brought in and the final score would be the average of the two human scores.

GRE Score Range

GRE Total Marks

GRE total marks: In this section, we will be discussing GRE total marks across the GRE exam pattern. 

GRE Percentile Chart

Before we talk about, what is a Good GRE score? In this section, we are going to be discussing the GRE percentile chart. Every GRE score (Verbal and Quant sections) would have two components - a scaled score, between 130 – 170 and a percentile rank. The percentile rank indicates how your GRE scores compare to those of other test-takers. The percentile rank is more important than the GRE score.

For example, a scaled Verbal score of 158 on the GRE translates to roughly the 78th percentile, meaning that you scored better than 78 per cent of other test takers—and worse than the other 22 per cent of test takers. Candidates can check out the most recent GRE Percentile Chart as released by ETS. Now to answer your question. 

What is a Good GRE Score?

What is a good GRE score: A good GRE score is heavily dependent on your preferred university/college. Candidates are required to find out what the GRE cut-off is for the particular course at the university. This information would be readily available on the university department website. Once you have the number, candidates should note that they have to aim higher to make their application stand out and for scores to speak for themselves. This is a good way to understand what a good GRE score is all about. 

Candidates can also use the table below for reference purposes only. Do note that the score range provided below, is not necessarily true to any particular college but to give a general sense of idea to a GRE test taker of what a good GRE score could be like.

Best GRE Score Range

These GRE scores will put you in the top 10% of all GRE test-takers

Competitive GRE Score Range

These GRE scores will put you in a highly competitive place in admissions (top 25% of all GRE test takers)

Good GRE Score

These GRE scores put you ahead of the pack (50%+), but won’t be as advantageous when applying to highly competitive programmes

Below Average GRE Score in India

These GRE scores may be enough to get into a wide variety of graduate programmes but will be below average compared to the testing population

source: The figures have been sourced from Kaplan (kaptest.com)

Candidates should note that the data provided above is for reference purposes only. The figures could change depending on the preferred university of application and their admission criteria. Candidates can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance in the admission process.

A lot of times, candidates are left with queries regarding good GRE scores. Check out our FAQs section, as we try to answer a few.

I hope we have been able to clear your doubt regarding a good GRE score. If not, do write to us in the comments below.