GRE Score Chart 2024: Scoring Range, Percentiles & Validity

MOEC

Updated on Jul 24, 2017 10:58

Are you aiming to score 320+ in the GRE? Do you want to know the exact score required to enrol in a top-notch university?

Well, the GRE score matters! The GRE score chart shows that every section has a different score range. However, the average GRE score must be 310 to grab a seat in a well-known university. It is a part of the admission process and a way to filter out the students with lower scores. By appearing for the GRE, you open the doors to making yourself eligible for scholarships, which are granted according to your GRE score chart. The GRE scores become one aspect of judging your abilities and paving the way for admission into the desired university.

Moreover, the GRE scores become available within 10-15 days of taking the exam. So, let us delve deep into the GRE score chart, conversions and admission criteria of different colleges and courses after taking the exam.

GRE-SCORE-CHART

Table Of Content

Section-Wise GRE Score Range
Good GRE Score Chart
GRE Raw Score Conversion Chart and GRE Score Scale
Average GRE Score for Top Universities
GRE Cutoff for Specific Programs
GRE Score Percentiles
GRE Score Validity
Sample GRE Score Card
FAQs

Section-Wise GRE Score Range

Now that you are here to check out the GRE score chart. Before discussing the good and bad GRE scores, let us know about the GRE score range

Section	GRE Score Range	Increment
GRE Quantitative Reasoning	130-170	1 point
GRE Verbal Reasoning	130-170	1 point
GRE Analytical Writing	0-6	0.5 points

The table shows that the minimum GRE score is 130, and the maximum is 170 in every section. Your score entirely depends upon the GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning. So, the GRE score ranges from 260 being the lowest and 340 being the highest.

Good GRE Score Chart

Well, now you know the GRE score range and want to learn about the scores that can get you admission into your dream university.

Every college is different; according to that, they have different eligibility criteria and required scores. You need to check the university website and the score acceptable for a particular course.

Here is a GRE score chart of good and bad scores for every section

GRE Scoring	Verbal Reasoning	Quantitative Reasoning	Analytical Writing
Best GRE Score	163-170	165-170	5.0-6.0
Competitive GRE Score	158-162	159-164	4.5
Good GRE Score	152-158	153-158	4.0
Below Average GRE Score	151 or below	152 or below	3.5 or below

The table below shows the subject-wise GRE scores to help you understand the GRE score chart

Subject	Verbal Range	Quant Range	Writing Range
English	160-164	151-155	4.2
History	159-163	150-154	4.1
Psychology	155-159	151-155	3.9
Mathematics	156-160	168-170	3.8
Sociology	155-159	151-155	3.8
Economics	157-161	162-166	3.8
Chemistry	156-160	163-167	3.7

GRE Raw Score Conversion Chart and GRE Score Scale

The table below represents the GRE raw score conversion chart, which shows the number of questions students get during the GRE. First, you obtain the raw score; later, the GRE score chart is converted to a scaled score.

GRE Score Conversion Scale for Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning Section

GRE Verbal Reasoning scaled score (GRE Score Scale)	GRE raw score of the candidate	GRE Quantitative Reasoning scaled score (GRE Score Scale)
170	40	170
169	39	169
168	38	168
167	37	167
166	36	166
165	35	165
164	34	164
163	33	163
162	32	162
161	31	161
160	30	160
159	29	159
158	28	158
157	27	157
156	26	156
155	25	155
154	24	154
153	23	153
152	22	152
151	21	151
150	20	150
149	19	149
148	18	148
147	17	147
146	16	146
145	15	145
144	14	144
143	13	143
142	12	142
141	11	141
140	10	140
139	9	139
138	8	138
137	7	137
136	6	136
135	5	135
134	4	134
133	3	133
132	2	132
131	1	131
130	0	130

GRE Score Conversion Scale for Analytical Writing Section

Scores 6 and 5.5	Powerful insights, in-depth analysis of ideas; develops and supports the points with logical reasoning and examples; well-focused and well-organized; skillfully constructs sentence and precise vocabulary to explain the meaning; demonstrates superior facility with sentence structure and language usage, with minor errors that do not change the meaning of the sentence.
Scores 5 and 4.5	Provide thoughtful analysis of complicated ideas; develop and support the point with logical reasons with the help of examples; use different sentences and vocabulary to discuss the meaning clearly; good control of sentence and language usage. But may have some errors that do not change the essence of the sentence.
Scores 4 and 3.5	Provide decent analysis of ideas; develop and support the statements with relevant reasons; organise; share meaning with clarity; give a satisfactory level of sentence structure and vocabulary but may contain some errors that affect clarity.
Scores 3 and 2.5	Show some competence in analytical writing; the writing could be better in at least one of the following ways: limited analysis, weak organisation, weak control of sentence structure or vocabulary, with errors that result in a lack of clarity.
Scores 2 and 1.5	Flawed analytical writing: The writing is bad in at least one of the following ways: lack of analysis, lack of organisation, serious problems in sentence structure or vocabulary, and errors that completely change the meaning of a sentence.
Scores 1 and 0.5	Displays deficiencies in analytical writing sections. The writing is inaccurate in at least one of the following ways: either the content is extremely confusing or irrelevant to the assigned tasks; serious errors result in ambiguity.
Score Level 0	The analytical writing skills cannot be evaluated because the answers are not related to the assigned tasks, are the copied responses, are in a foreign language or display only unreadable script.

Average GRE Score for Top Universities

The exam helps committees choose the right candidate as per the specific university and program. Some university cut-offs are hard to find, but you can always check the average GRE scores it accepts. Here is a list of universities and the average score they accept.

University	Verbal (Average Score)	Quant (Average Score)
University of California Berkeley	155	161
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	157	162
University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign	155	163
Stanford University	158	163
Georgia Institute of Technology	155	161
Carnegie Mellon University	159	161
University of Southern California	158	163
Purdue University	158	163
University of Texas Austin	155	160
Cornell University	160	162
University of Michigan Ann Arbor	154	161

GRE Cutoff for Specific Programs

The average GRE score by the university is confusing, but the GRE score chart by the course helps you understand the requirements of a university. Furthermore, the probability is low that the score of every major is similar to the other. The list below gives a brief idea about the cut-off for different programs.

Subject	Life Sciences	Physical Sciences	Engineering	Social Sciences	Humanities and Arts	Education	Business
GRE verbal mean score	151	153	150	153	157	157	150
GRE verbal safe score	158+	162+	159+	160+	164+	164+	157+
GRE Quant mean score	151	158	159	150	149	149	152
GRE quant safe score	158+	165+	165+	158+	157+	156+	160+
GRE AWA mean score	3.8	3.8	3.6	4.0	4.2	4.2	3.7
GRE AWA safe score	3.5+	3.5+	3.5+	3.5+	3.5+	3.5+	3.5+

Note- The GRE cut-off of USA universities is generally higher than the others, so the students willing to study in the USA should aim to score high.

GRE Score Percentiles

The ETS explained the GRE score percentiles, which will give you an idea about how you can do better than other test takers. These GRE score percentiles will add value to the scaled scores.

The table below will give you the percentile score of verbal and quantitative reasoning sections:

Scaled Score	Verbal Percentile	Quantitative Percentile
170	99%	96%
169	99%	95%
168	98%	93%
167	98%	90%
166	97%	89%
165	96%	86%
164	94%	84%
163	93%	82%
162	90%	79%
161	88%	76%
160	86%	73%
159	83%	70%
158	80%	67%
157	76%	64%
156	73%	60%
155	68%	56%
154	64%	53%
153	60%	49%
152	54%	45%
151	51%	41%
150	46%	37%
149	41%	34%
148	37%	30%
147	33%	26%
146	29%	23%
145	26%	19%
144	22%	16%
143	19%	13%
142	16%	11%
141	14%	9%
140	11%	7%
139	9%	6%
138	8%	4%
137	6%	3%
136	4%	2%
135	3%	2%
134	2%	1%
133	2%	1%
132	1%	1%
131	1%	1%
130	1%	1%

The table below shows the percentile GRE score chart for the analytical writing section.

Score Levels	Writing Percentile
6.0	99%
5.5	98%
5.0	92%
4.5	81%
4.0	57%
3.5	39%
3.0	15%
2.5	7%
2.0	2%
1.5	1%
1.0	1%
0.5	1%
0.0	1%

GRE Score Validity

Now that you know all about the GRE score chart, you must know the validity of the GRE score.

The GRE score is applicable for 5 years, and the results come out within 15 days of taking the exam.

Sample GRE Score Card

Well, we hope we haven’t drained you yet with this wholesome piece of information. To give your brains a little pictorial transition, given below is a sample GRE scorecard:

Sample GRE Score Card

FAQs

1. What is an acceptable GRE score?

The GRE score depends upon the university and its eligibility criteria. So, you need to know the good GRE score in that specific university. GRE scores that are more than required may also land you a scholarship if the university offers any.

2. How much time is enough to prepare for the GRE?

Preparing for the exam before booking the slot is essential. Moreover, you should take the last one month for revision and then go well prepared for the exam.

3. How can I check the GRE score?

You can check the GRE score on the ETS official website.

4. What is the maximum and minimum GRE score?

The maximum score is 340, and the minimum passing score is 260.