What is a good GRE score? You might be wondering at the numbers that you need to achieve in order to pass the GRE with flying colors. What is good enough when it comes to GRE scores is actually relative. That is, a GRE score that makes the grade depends on the graduate school program and institution that you want to gain admission to. To know this, do your research on the GRE scores required by the universities where you plan to apply. After taking the GRE, you’ll receive a score report that indicates 3 scores. These are for the subjects of Quantitative Reasoning (Math), Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing.
GRE Scores For 3 Test Topics
What are the GRE scores ranges? They are the following:
| Verbal Reasoning | 130 – 170 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130 – 170 |
| Analytical Writing | 0 – 6 |
Your GRE Score Percentile Rank
There will be 2 components in your GRE score, and namely, they are your scaled score (which may be anything from the ranges mentioned above) and your percentile rank. The percentile rank of your score determines how well you did compare to other test-takers. So, for example, if you got a score of 150 in the Verbal Reasoning test, your percentile rank is deemed as 47th. This means that your score is better than the 47% of students who took the GRE and worse than 53% of the same.
Good GRE scores, therefore, depend on your personal goals. To be able to attain them, you first have to figure out how you’re going to use your scores. You can do this only by contacting the universities and programs that you intend to apply to. Ask the following questions:
- What are the GRE scores that I need to achieve so that I can be accepted?
The answer to that will serve as your target score, and it will determine the effort that you need to expend for your test prep. If the school does not or will not quote you a cut-off, do a business school search or grad school search online so that you can gain information about the average scores of the recent year’s incoming class.
- Will you consider each of my scores for all the subjects in the GRE test?
There are programs that tend to be particular about your Math score but not your Verbal Reasoning score, and vise versa. Knowing what subjects your target school is meticulous about will guide you about what to focus on in your GRE test prep.
- Will my scores be used for other purposes?
It’s best to know whether your scores will be used for placement or scholarship considerations, among others, while you have time to prepare.
What Specifically Are Good GRE Scores?
You can refer to the following score ranges to ascertain what the top, competitive, good enough and below average scores are for the GRE:
Top GRE Scores (indicating that you belong to the top 10% of the total test-takers)
- Verbal Reasoning – 163 to 170
- Quantitative Reasoning – 165 to 170
- Writing – 5.0 to 6.0
Competitive GRE Scores (indicating that you belong to the top 25% of the total test-takers)
- Verbal Reasoning – 158 to 162
- Quantitative Reasoning – 159 to 164
- Writing – 4.5
Good Enough GRE Scores (indicating that you belong to the 50% pack of test-takers. These may not be at par with the standards of highly-competitive programs)
- Verbal Reasoning – 152 to 158
- Quantitative Reasoning – 159 to 164
- Writing – 4.0
Below Average GRE Scores (indicating that your scores are below par of the total testing population, but may be able to have you gaining admission to a wide variety of grad school programs)
- Verbal Reasoning – 151 or below
- Quantitative Reasoning – 152 or below
- Writing – 3.5 or below
There are varied factors that will affect your application and admission to certain graduate or business school programs. Other than your GRE scores, the school you are considering may also place importance on your letters of recommendation, your undergraduate GPA and research and personal essays. It makes sense to prioritize all of these aspects, but especially your GRE scores. That’s why you have to render ample time, effort and other accorded resources for obtaining good GRE scores.