Understanding GRE Percentiles 2024: What Does Your GRE Score Mean

If you're gearing up for the GRE as part of your graduate school journey, understanding GRE percentiles is crucial. 

Read this article to unravel the mysteries of GRE score percentiles, including the calculation and application of GRE percentiles, percentile tables, and other comprehensive insights.

What are GRE Percentiles

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized examination that has been in operation since 1936. It is managed by Educational Testing Services (ETS). 

Many institutions in the United States and around the world use the GRE to assess a candidate's suitability for various programs. Most colleges prioritize a high GRE score when admitting students to their programs. 

It is important to note that the GRE does not offer a cumulative score. Instead, you receive a separate score for each of the three sections of the test: Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning.

GRE Score Range 2024

Whether the GRE score percentiles range is deemed favorable depends on the institution you aim to join. On average, a verbal score of 150 and a quantitative score of 152 are typical.

Nonetheless, individual institutions may have distinct score requirements, making it crucial to research and align your target score accordingly.

GRE Score Range for General Test 2024

GRE Section	GRE Minimum Score	GRE Maximum Score	Point Increment
Verbal Reasoning	130	170	1
Quantitative Reasoning	130	170	1
Analytical Writing	0	6	0.5

How are GRE Percentile Scores Calculated

When determining GRE percentile scores, it's crucial to understand the calculation methods for both the general test and subject tests.

General Test Score Calculation:

Scores from different general test measures cannot be directly compared, as each measure is scored separately. Percentile ranks provided on your score report allow for relative performance comparison across measures. 

It is important to note that while a score reflects a similar level of ability regardless of when it was achieved, its percentile rank may vary based on the comparison group. Verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning scores consider both the number of correct answers and the difficulty level of each section. 

Analytical writing essay responses are assessed using a 6-point holistic scale, evaluating the overall quality of the essay in response to the task.

Subject Test Score Calculation:

GRE subject tests are scored on a range from 200 to 990 in 10-point increments, though the actual range may be narrower for specific subject tests. 

The scores are based on the number of correct answers provided. Since scores are calculated independently for each test, it is important to compare subject test scores only within the same subject test. 

For example, a score of 780 on the mathematics test cannot be equated with a 720 score on the psychology test obtained in 2024.

ETS calculates GRE test percentiles using all GRE test takers' scores from the most recent three testing years. Each testing year goes from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year. 

So basically, your percentile tells you what percentage of test-takers scored lower than you on the same test form in the past three years.

What is GRE Scored Out Of

The GRE overall score, eliminating the analytical writing portion, is 340.

GRE Score Percentiles 2024 for General Test

GRE Percentiles for Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning 2024

Verbal Reasoning		Quantitative Reasoning
Scaled Score	Percentile	Scaled Score	Percentile
170	99	170	94
169	99	169	91
168	98	168	87
167	97	167	83
166	96	166	80
165	95	165	76
164	94	164	73
163	92	163	70
162	89	162	68
161	87	161	65
160	84	160	61
159	81	159	58
158	77	158	55
157	73	157	52
156	70	156	49
155	65	155	46
154	60	154	42
153	56	153	39
152	50	152	36
151	46	151	33
150	41	150	30
149	36	149	27
148	32	148	24
147	29	147	21
146	25	146	18
145	22	145	15
144	19	144	13
143	17	143	11
142	15	142	9
141	12	141	7
140	10	140	6
139	9	139	5
138	7	138	4
137	6	137	3
136	5	136	2
135	4	135	1
134	3	134	1
133	2	133	1
132	2	132
131	1	131
130		130

GRE Percentiles for Analytical Writing 2024

Analytical Writing score	GRE Writing Score Percentiles
6	99
5.5	97
5	91
4.5	79
4	54
3.5	37
3	13
2.5	6
2	2
1.5	1
1	–
0.5	–
0	–

What is 160 Verbal GRE Percentile

In the verbal reasoning section,  GRE percentile is 84th.

Also Read: How to Prepare for GRE Verbal

GRE Score Percentiles 2024 for Subject Test

GRE Percentiles for Subject Test:

Scaled Score	GRE Mathematics  Percentiles	GRE Physics Percentiles	GRE Psychology Percentiles
980		96	–
960	96	92	–
940	96	89	–
920	95	85	–
900	93	81	–
880	90	77	–
860	86	74	–
840	82	71	–
820	78	68	99
800	74	64	97
780	71	61	95
760	66	58	91
740	63	55	86
720	58	52	79
700	54	47	72
680	50	44	64
660	47	40	57
640	42	36	50
620	38	32	43
600	34	27	37
580	30	24	32
560	26	20	27
540	22	16	22
520	18	12	18
500	14	9	15
480	10	6	12
460	7	5	9
440	5	3	7
420	3	2	5
400	2	1	3
380	1	1	2
360	1	–	1
340	–	–	1
320	–	–	–
300	–	–	–
280	–	–	–
260	–	–	–
240	–	–	–
220	–	–	–
200	–	–	–

What is Passing Score for GRE

The GRE examination does not have a passing score.  

What's Considered Good GRE Score

It is worth noting that any score higher than 150 in the verbal section and around 160–165 in the quantitative section are regarded as good scores and are commonly accepted by numerous educational institutions worldwide.

What is GRE Max Score

The GRE exam has a maximum score of 340 (which excludes the Analytical Writing portion).

GRE Percentiles for Most Common Scores

Here are the GRE percentiles for the most common GRE scores:

GRE Percentiles	Verbal Reasoning	Quantitative Reasoning
99	169–170	-
95	165	169–170
90	162	168
85	160	166–167
80	158–159	164–165
75	157	162–163
50	151–152	154–155

GRE Percentiles	Analytical Reasoning
99	6.0
97	5.5
91	5.0
4.5	79
4.0	54
3.5	37
<3.0	<13

How to Improve Your GRE Percentile Score

Here are some excellent strategies to help you increase your GRE exam percentiles.

• Begin your exam preparation as soon as possible.
• Create a study objective for yourself.
• Create a study plan based on the aim.
• Take advantage of online resources, books, and practice tests.

Now that you know all about the GRE percentiles,  start strategizing and reach your target score.

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