GRE Score Percentiles for 2024 – 2025

Watch this video to understand the basics
GRE Exam

Before we talk about the GRE score percentiles, it’s important to understand the GRE exam format and GRE syllabus. For now, here’s a quick overview (don’t miss pro tip in the last section).

The GRE General Test comprises the verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. The total test duration is 3 hours 45 minutes.

The GRE test scores that are reported include:

a. The verbal reasoning score. This can range from 130-170 in one-point increment.

b The quantitative reasoning score. This can range from 130-170 in one-point increment.

c. The analytical writing score. This can range from 0-6 in half-point increment.

The GRE score report also gives you the percentile rank for each of the above test scores.

The scaled score leaves you wondering whether the scores you’ve got would be considered a good score or not. How do you compare your test performance with others who have taken the test? The percentile ranks are a good way to know where you stand.

Watch this video to check if you’re on the right track.
MBA or MS or job after graduation?

So what exactly are these percentile ranks?

Percentile scores are used to compare your scores with the scores of other test takers within a selected comparison group. Here, the percentile ranks indicate the percentage of test-takers who’ve receive a score below yours. For instance, if your score was reported to be in the 80^th percentile, it would mean that you scored better than 80 percent of the test takers around the world.

These ranks are based on the GRE scores of those who tested earlier within a three year period.

GRE Score Percentiles for 2024 – 2025

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

Score Percentiles for Analytical Writing

Analytical Writing
Score	Percentile Rank
6.0	99
5.5	98
5.0	91
4.5	81
4.0	56
3.5	38
3.0	15
2.5	7
2.0	2
1.5	1
1.0	–
0.5	–
0.0	–

Source: ETS

How are the GRE percentile scores calculated?

The GRE test can be either computer-based or paper-based. Both the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning have two sections with 20 questions per section. The difficulty level in the second section depends on your performance in the first section. All questions in a section contribute equally to the score. Based on the number of questions you answer correctly within a section, a raw score is obtained which is then converted into a scaled score.

In the analytical writing section of the computerized test, each of the two essays is reviewed by an experienced reader and receives a score on a six point scale. The essay also receives another computerized score from a program developed by ETS – the‘e-rater’. In this section, you’d be required to tackle an issue and an argument separately, with thirty minutes for each. You’d be required to evaluate and critically analyze the given topic and present a concise and logical essay.

The GRE test can be taken multiple times. The scores are valid for a period of up to five years from the date of testing.

The GRE test also provides you with the ScoreSelect option which means that you have the freedom to decide which score you wish to send to the schools of your choice.

Whether you’re targeting the top schools and trying to find out the ideal Harvard GRE score or a Stanford GRE score or you have an engineering background and interested in knowing the GRE score for MIT, a high GRE score percentile would undoubtedly be one of the criteria for getting into these top schools.

However, in addition to this, you also need to focus and spend enough time on the other aspects of the application – Statements of Purpose (SOP) in case of MS programs or the MBA essays. Read more on how to write a super-strong SoP.

How to improve your GRE Percentile Score

We have prepared a list of free online resources to help you get better percentile scores.

Pro tip: Don’t depend only on your GRE percentile!

Many GRE test takers over-focus on high percentiles, and assume that’ll get them into their dream universities. But admission committees look for more than just a stellar score. They look for the applicant’s overall profile strength and an inquisitiveness to learn and grow.

Most GRE candidates look pretty much the same on paper. Think about ways in which you can make your profile stand out. Extracurriculars, internships, certifications are some popular options to explore.

As an example, most GRE test takers aiming for MS programs only showcase their technical achievements. But most are clueless about the business world that they hope to join after graduating.

That’s an opportunity for you to avoid coming across as uni-dimensional applicant. Consider enrolling in a business concepts course to gain an overview of all the crucial concepts of how business works.

Learn management concepts that you will not learn in an MS program (unless it’s a business degree). In fact, incoming MBA students also find value in taking up a pre MBA course.

Here’s a short online business management certification course that’s quite popular among GRE and GMAT test takers around the world.

You can mention it on your resume as evidence of your desire to be prepared for not just the graduate degree program, but for life after that.

Good luck with your GRE prep. Hope you get the score you deserve!