GRE Score

A good GRE score is very subjective and depends on which school we are applying for. We can start by finding the average GRE scores for the schools we are planning to apply for. This step will help us understand how important these GRE scores are in our application and make us target oriented. For instance, the average score for the GRE test takers is 150 for the Verbal section and 155 for the Math section.

GRE General Test is used for a wide variety of graduate school programs, including business schools, so the weight given to scores will vary from field to field and from school to school. Researching the universities we are planning to apply to would create the best GRE prep plan for you!

GRE Score- An Overview

GRE scores are received in your score report, one section comprises of Quantitative Reasoning (math), one of Verbal Reasoning and one of Analytical Writing (the essays).

GRE Score Percentiles

There are two components to a GRE score: a scaled score (between 130-170) and a percentile rank. The percentile rank is more important compared to your scaled score. The percentile rank indicates how our GRE scores are compared to those of other test takers. For instance, the verbal score of 150 on GRE would translate roughly to 47^th percentile, which means you scored better than 47 percent of other test takers and worse than other 53 percent of test takers. Given below is the most recent GRE percentile scores, as released by ETS:

What is a Good GRE Score?

GRE scores are used for admission and fellowship panels, CGPA or GPA scores at the undergraduate level, and other qualifications for MS and Ph.D. programs. Admission depends upon the overall profile of the student, supplemented with a good GRE Score. GRE score acts as a cut off, with low GRE score may lead to rejection of application despite high GPA secured in UG level and on other side, a good GRE score may offset a bad GPA. With higher scores, there is a high probability of attaining scholarships for students.

For instance, on an average, the GRE scores for Ivy League admission may range from 144 to 166 in Verbal and about 155 to 170 for Quant. Quant expectations are comparatively high for science/technology-oriented programs, while Verbal expectations tend to be higher for humanities/arts and social science programs.

Defining a good GRE score can be difficult. A score that helps in seeking admissions in desirous courses in a university of our choice and mostly score of 320 on the GRE and 4.5 on AWA are considered good GRE score. Let us take a quick look into the Schools/Programs and also their Average GRE Score Cut off:

How GRE Scoring Works?

Let us now understand the how the sections of GRE are scored:

1. Verbal and Quant Sections

Scores for the GRE Verbal Section and GRE Quant section depend on the performance of the questions posed and the number of questions answered at a given time. For Verbal and Quant section is based on the performance of previous accountable section. Each question within each section would contribute equally to the final score. A raw score is initially calculated from the number of questions answered correctly and this raw score will then be converted to a scaled score by a process known as “equating”.

2. Analytical Writing Section (AWA)

The section on Analytical Writing section, the score on the essay is received from the expert reader on a scale of 6-point scale. Same essay would then be assigned a score by computerized program developed by ETS known as e-rater. If the human score is almost close to the e-rater, then the average of two scores is final. If the difference is more, then the essay is again graded by another expert reader and final of the two human scores are taken. Final AWA score is between 0-6 scale in half-point increments.