GRE Score Range: Know Total Score, Percentiles & Score Chart

Have you been aiming at scoring 320+ in your GRE exam? Or have you been wondering what exactly should you score to sail through your admissions? 

No wonder with all the false information and rumours on the internet; you must have been confused about what exactly is a perfect GRE score. *Enter Yocket as your knight in shining armour*

Well, harsh or not, the GRE score is a filtering mechanism. How? Wait for it. 

First, solve this question for us, and we shall give you a life changing answer at the the end of this article- 

Sita and Geeta went to give their GRE papers. Given below is a representation of their verbal sections, you’ve to predict their GRE scores: 

Let’s now hope you can come up with accurate results for Sita and Geeta’s GRE scoring chart! 

Okay, no more building curiosity like reality TV shows, let’s dive in. 

What is the GRE Score Range? 

The overall GRE exam score ranges from 260 to 340, with 260 being the lowest and 340 the highest. This total score is derived from the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, each of which is scored between 130 and 170.

The Analytical Writing section is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 6.

The GRE Subject Test scores range from 200 to 990 in 10-point increments, with 200 as the lowest and 990 as the highest.

Before delving further into the depths of good, and bad GRE scores, here is how the GRE score range looks like:

To enhance your GRE preparation with Yocket Prep for personalized advice, expert tips, and tailored strategies. Register for free today!

What is the GRE Scoring Scale? 

The GRE scoring scale consists of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored between 130 and 170 in one-point increments. The Analytical Writing section is scored between 0 and 6 in half-point increments.

Your total GRE score is the sum of your Verbal and Quantitative scores, while Analytical Writing is reported separately.

What is a Good GRE Score? 

A score above 320+ is considered a good GRE score. For each section, a score of 158+ in Verbal, 159+ in Quantitative, and 4.5+ in Analytical Writing is generally considered good. This range typically places you in the 75th percentile or higher.

A good GRE score depends on the schools you're applying to, as they use your GRE scores to assess your preparedness for their program's rigor.

Scores between 300 to 320 are good for many institutions, while scores closer to 330+ significantly improve admission chances for Ivy League or top-tier universities.

• Top universities: 320+
• Mid-tier universities: 300-320
• Basic admission requirement: 290-300

To make your minds stop boggling, here is a clear cut distinction between a good and bad GRE score:

What is the Average GRE Score? 

The average GRE score in 2025 is about 300 to 310. Section-wise, the average score is 152 for Verbal and 158 for Quantitative Reasoning. The Analytical Writing section is scored separately, with an average score of 3.5.

These benchmarks help test-takers assess their performance relative to others and determine target scores based on university requirements.

Another thing to note is that particular programs at specific universities might have their own GRE requirements.

For instance, Sita scores an average score of 160 in Verbal Reasoning and about 147 in Quantitative Reasoning and is not able to get into Harvard for Economics. Geeta, on the other hand, scores 160 - Verbal and 166 - Quantitative, and gets herself into Economics Princeton! 

Sita and Geeta might turn out to be your best friends by the end of this read, lol! 

Suggested: Universities Accepting GRE Score 300-310

What is the Total GRE Score? 

The total GRE score is 340, which combines your Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores, each graded on a scale of 130 to 170. The Analytical Writing section is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 6.

GRE Subject Tests have a total score range of 200 to 900, with no subscores, though the specific range may vary slightly by subject.

What is the Highest GRE Score?

The highest GRE score is 340, achieved by scoring 170 in both Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning. This is the maximum score one can achieve on their GRE exam.

The highest score for Analytical Writing is 6. While a perfect score is rare, many top universities accept candidates with scores in the 320+ range, making strategic preparation essential.

GRE Score Conversion 

Listen - we get it. You may often wonder how the raw GRE score is converted to a scaled GRE exam score. This GRE scoring chart below might be your saviour for once and for all! To carefully, yes, carefully analyse your GRE total score (and Sita and Geeta’s); go through this table below. 

Suggested: GRE to GMAT score conversion guide

What are GRE Score Percentiles?

GRE score percentiles indicate how a test-taker's performance compares to others. A percentile rank shows the percentage of candidates who scored lower than a given score.

For instance, a 90th percentile score means the test-taker outperformed 90% of examinees, providing valuable insight into competitiveness.

Given below is the table having Verbal and Quantitative percentile scores:

Now, here's how you can interpret your GRE score for the Analytical Writing percentile: : 

How long is a GRE Score Valid? 

GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date. You can retake the test up to five times in one year. This allows students flexibility in applying to graduate schools.

Test-takers should plan their applications according to the validity of GRE scores during the admission process.

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 score card: 

A sample GRE scorecard typically includes:

• Candidate details
• Section-wise scores
• Percentiles
• Test date
• Validity period

What GRE Scores are Reported?

The GRE General Test score report includes three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores range from 130 to 170 in one-point increments, reflecting your ability to analyse written material, evaluate arguments, and solve mathematical problems.

The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 in half-point increments, assessing your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Your GRE score report provides a detailed breakdown of your performance, helping institutions evaluate your critical thinking, problem-solving, and writing skills for academic and professional success.

ETS Reports

• Scaled scores for Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing.
• ercentiles to indicate ranking among test-takers.
• Score recipients as per the selected institutions.

Note: If you don't answer any questions in a particular section, you will receive a No Score (NS) for that section on your GRE score report.

How to Improve Your GRE Score?

Improving your GRE score requires strategic preparation, including practising mock tests, strengthening weak areas, and refining test-taking strategies. Focus on time management, vocabulary building, and quantitative problem-solving. Enrolling in coaching or using online resources can also enhance performance.

Prepare for GRE with Yocket Prep

Making your GRE scores an “icing on the cake” or a “balancing the scales'' situation is totally your call. We can only help you get a score YOU desire! Through Yocket Prep you can get your hands on highly focussed study material, especially personalized for you. Yes, you are that important to us. 

And well, not just that, Yocket Prep will offer you: 

1. Diagnostic tests to analyse your strengths and weaknesses
2. Instant solutions and performance analysis based on your diagnostic tests
3. Focussed and prioritised GRE learning and practice schedule, to keep you ahead of time 
4. Custom priority-based study planner, which focuses on the most important & marks-fetching topics practice by volume
5. 7 GRE style tests (which are very difficult to get tbh), 40+ topic-wise tests, access to Priority Dashboard and much more than you can imagine through Yocket Prep Premium 

The Takeaway 

Well well, it’s time guys. 

Sita and Geeta have had them all waiting while you were fixated into understanding their GRE scoring. While we can always hope you were able to predict Sita and Geeta’s scores, here’s what they actually got: 

Hurray! if you predicted their scores right, and no worries, if you couldn't, we are here for you! Now, to understand John and Sarah’s score you must be aware that the GRE is section adaptive. Meaning based on your performance in the first section, the level of your difficulty will keep increasing or decreasing. 

The major takeaways are: 

• Your second section must always be Medium or Hard so as to avoid penalization. 
• To avoid your second section to be easy, you must answer at least a minimum of 7-8 questions. 
• The verbal and quantitative sections are scored similarly. 
• You just cannot afford to be John, for a difference of even 2 marks will snatch away your dream university!

With all this humongous overload of information, you must be wondering- what should be my plan of action for GRE? Well, we would suggest the first and foremost thing would be to firmly choose your course of study and university. You can also always take consultation from our Yocket Study Abroad Experts if you might stumble at any stage of your entire study abroad process. 

And next, to implement your plans you can start preparing for your GRE with the help of Yocket Prep which will give a great deal of study material as well as help develop a personalised strategy for yourself. So, why wait? Pull up your sucks, kid!