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The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is a standardized test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is often required for admission into many graduate programs regardless of field of study. As GRE scores are used by admissions officers to evaluate applicants to a wide variety of graduate programs, the GRE tests your general academic abilities of critical thinking, verbal reasoning, analytical writing, and quantitative reasoning. In this article, we’ll break down each section of the GRE, how the GRE is scored, and how to interpret your GRE scores using GRE score percentiles.
GRE Sections
The GRE was updated in September 2023 and is now shorter and more targeted. It is made up of five sections: two Verbal Reasoning, two Quantitative Reasoning, and one Analytical Writing. The test lasts 1 hour and 58 minutes in total and is taken online, either at home or at a testing center. Both the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections are computer-adaptive at the section level, meaning the computer will select an easier or harder second section based on how well you performed on the first section. A GRE score ranges from 130 to 170 for the Verbal and Quantitative sections and 0 to 6 for the Analytical Writing section.
Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning section includes reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions that test your ability to draw conclusions, distinguish major points, and understand the meaning of words, sentences, and passages. Many GRE test-takers find the text completion and sentence equivalence questions to be the most challenging. The average Verbal Reasoning score is 150.94. The first section is 18 minutes long with 12 questions, and the second is 23 minutes long with 15 questions.
Quantitative Reasoning
This section of the GRE tests your ability to use quantitative information and solve problems using arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The test provides an online calculator and does not require knowledge of higher-level mathematics such as calculus or inferential statistics. The average section score is 155.44. The first section is 21 minutes with 12 questions, and the second section is 26 minutes long with 15 questions.
Analytical Writing
The Analytical Writing section is 30 minutes long with one writing task that asks you to analyze an issue and respond with a coherent argument supported by reasoning and evidence (and with little to no grammar or spelling mistakes, of course). With only 30 minutes to complete the essay, it’s important to use your time wisely, such as by creating an initial outline or reviewing the possible Analytical Writing topics you will be asked to write about. The average GRE score for this section is 3.56 on a scale from 0 to 6 with half-point increments. See the score descriptions of the Analytical Writing test scores here.
Key Highlights
- The GRE is now 1 hour and 58 minutes long, significantly shorter than the previous version.
- The GRE is comprised of five sections: two Verbal Reasoning, two Quantitative Reasoning, and one Analytical Writing.
- Both the Verbal and Quantitative sections are computer-adaptive at the section level.
- The Analytical Writing section now only involves one task, "Analyze an Issue," instead of two.
- The Verbal and Quantitative sections are scored from 130-170; Analytical Writing is scored from 0-6.
- The test is available online at home or at a testing center.
What is a Good GRE Score?
When interpreting your GRE score or determining a target score while you prepare to take the GRE, it’s important to understand four points:
- With thousands of GRE test-takers each year, admissions officers compare your score to the national average GRE scores using percentile rankings and other benchmarks. The average Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing scores from 2019 to 2022 were 150.94, 155.44, and 3.56 respectively.
- Many graduate programs release the average GRE score of each year’s entering class, so check the average GRE scores of your target schools to make sure your score is considered to be a competitive GRE score among the applicant pool. For example, see the stats of the top 25 business schools.
- Standardized test scores, such as your GRE score, are only one part of your graduate school application. If you’re not the best test-taker, you can always focus on strengthening your application with compelling essays, letters of recommendation, and experience. However, GPA and GRE scores are the two primary indicators of academic prowess. If your test scores are below the target, you’ll need to find other ways to make it clear that you can handle the intellectual intensity of the graduate program.
- If you’re not satisfied with your GRE score the first time you take the test, you can retake the test once every 21 days for a total of up to five times in one year. Your scores are considered valid for five years after the test date. It is very, very normal to take the test multiple times before reaching your target score.
- Your GRE score may be interpreted differently depending on the types of graduate school programs you’re applying to. For example, if you’re applying for a Ph.D. program in English literature, a strong score on the Verbal Reasoning section will be more important than if you’re applying for a Master’s in Engineering program. See the breakdown of average GRE scores by field of study below.
| Intended Graduate Field of Study | Average Verbal Reasoning Score | Average Quantitative Reasoning Score | Average Analytical Writing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 152 | 158 | 3.7 |
| Education | 151 | 148 | 3.8 |
| Engineering | 151 | 160 | 3.5 |
| Humanities & Arts | 157 | 151 | 4.1 |
| Law | 155 | 153 | 4.2 |
| Life Sciences | 151 | 150 | 3.8 |
| Physical Sciences | 152 | 161 | 3.5 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 154 | 153 | 4.0 |
What Are GRE Percentile Rankings?
While looking at average GRE scores across each section can be useful in creating a target score or comparing your scores to other test-takers, GRE percentile rankings give you a better sense of your performance. GRE percentiles measure your performance on the exam compared to others within a selected group. Rankings indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored below you – if your score was in the 80th percentile, you scored above 80% of other GRE test-takers; if your score was in the 65th percentile, 65% of test-takers scored below you.
How Are GRE Percentile Rankings Calculated?
GRE percentile rankings and scores are determined by comparing your scaled scores in Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing to those of other test-takers. The Verbal and Quantitative sections each have two parts, adapting in difficulty based on your performance. Your raw score, reflecting the total number of correct answers, is converted to a scaled score, which is then used to calculate your percentile ranking. Analytical Writing is scored by both human raters and an ETS-developed e-rater program.
The table below shows GRE percentile scores calculated based on national average GRE scores and standard deviations in each section.
GRE Score Chart: Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning
| GRE Score | Verbal Reasoning Percentile | Quantitative Reasoning Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | 99% | 94% |
| 169 | 99% | 91% |
| 168 | 98% | 87% |
| 167 | 97% | 83% |
| 166 | 96% | 80% |
| 165 | 95% | 76% |
| 164 | 94% | 73% |
| 163 | 92% | 70% |
| 162 | 89% | 68% |
| 161 | 87% | 65% |
| 160 | 84% | 61% |
| 159 | 81% | 58% |
| 158 | 77% | 55% |
| 157 | 73% | 52% |
| 156 | 70% | 49% |
| 155 | 65% | 46% |
| 154 | 60% | 42% |
| 153 | 56% | 39% |
| 152 | 50% | 36% |
| 151 | 46% | 33% |
| 150 | 41% | 30% |
| 149 | 36% | 27% |
| 148 | 32% | 24% |
| 147 | 29% | 21% |
| 146 | 25% | 18% |
| 145 | 22% | 15% |
| 144 | 19% | 13% |
| 143 | 17% | 11% |
| 142 | 15% | 9% |
| 141 | 12% | 7% |
| 140 | 10% | 6% |
| 139 | 9% | 5% |
| 138 | 7% | 4% |
| 137 | 6% | 3% |
| 136 | 5% | 2% |
| 135 | 4% | 1% |
| 134 | 3% | 1% |
| 133 | 2% | 1% |
| 132 | 2% | 0% |
| 131 | 1% | 0% |
| 130 | 0% | 0% |
GRE Score Chart: Analytical Writing
| GRE Score | Analytical Writing Percentile |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 99% |
| 5.5 | 98% |
| 5.0 | 91% |
| 4.5 | 81% |
| 4.0 | 56% |
| 3.5 | 38% |
| 3.0 | 15% |
| 2.5 | 7% |
| 2.0 | 2% |
| 1.5 | 1% |
| 1.0 | 0% |
| 0.5 | 0% |
| 0.0 | 0% |
Our Tips for a High GRE Score
- As you may have noticed, most GRE test-takers tend to score higher on the Quantitative Reasoning section compared to the Verbal Reasoning section.
- The ETS offers sample GRE questions on its website, and you can also find other free resources for GRE prep such as practice tests and study guides online.
- When preparing for the exam, focus on what you, uniquely, need to improve on. There is a lot of curriculum to cover and trying to know every single thing is laudable, but rather unlikely. For efficient preparation, focus first on strengthening your areas of weakness for an outsized impact on your score.
- Don’t be afraid to retake the GRE if you aren’t satisfied with your GRE scores the first time around. Retaking the exam if you performed more poorly than expected is fairly common; however, with registration fees of more than $200 per test you take, you may want to limit the number of times you retake the test.
- For more personalized GRE prep, work with an expert tutor who can help you create a customized study plan and tackle the most challenging portions of the GRE.
For more resources to help you ace your GRE and navigate the world of graduate applications, check out these articles:
- The 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make Preparing for the GRE
- Top 50+ Free Resources for GMAT & GRE Practice
- GMAT vs. GRE for Business School—Which Should You Take (and How to Ace Both)
- Two Proven Techniques to Supercharge Your GMAT & GRE Study Sessions
