What is a "Good" GRE Score?

See the ranges and averages

March 18, 2024

We’ve heard it time and again: What’s a good score on the GRE? Let’s talk about it!

In this newsletter, I’ll show you the max scores, averages, and when it matters most to score above your peers. I’ll also share a few resources for those looking to improve on a retest.

What Is a Good GRE Score Anyway?

Like many standardized tests, the GRE grading scale is unique. It doesn’t use the typical letter-based or 0-100% grading scale that many students are familiar with. It uses a unique grading scale, with different GRE score ranges for each section.

So those ranges are defined. But what’s normal?

Let’s discuss the average.

Average GRE Scores for 2022-2023 

ETS regularly releases data that reveals average test scores and scoring percentiles. These are great ways to gauge your performance during practice tests and the official GRE.

Perfect. Now we know where people usually score.

So what’s good?

What’s a High GRE Score? 

If your scores are in the top 90% percentile of GREs, the chances of being accepted to your intended grad school will increase dramatically. 

  • Verbal: 162-170

  • Quantitative: 168-170

  • Writing: 5.0-6.0

However, a great GRE score lands in the 75th percentile: 

  • Verbal: 158

  • Quantitative: 165

  • Writing: 4.5

Let’s talk about the analytical writing section, too. This area is scored differently than the other two areas. So I’d like to break down the metrics.

Understanding the GRE’s Analytical Writing Results

The Analytical Writing section of the exam is scored on a scale from 0 to 6 in half-point increments (.5). That means that you can earn an Analytical Writing score (like 4.5 or 3.5). Each essay is read by a human grader. Next, a computer program assigns a score based on the writing skills it identifies. 

If the scores are similar, the average of the two scores becomes your final score. If the scores differ, a second human grader grades the essay. The final score will then be the average of the two human graders’ scores.

The percentile scores for the Analytical Writing section are:

More About the GRE

Thanks for reading!