What is an acceptable GRE score? A Poor One? A Very Good One?

If you're taking the GRE, you undoubtedly want to know what a decent score is because that goes for every test. The most common answer is, It depends, but it is a brief response. This article has a lengthy response. 

We'll discuss what a good GRE score is for you, what a good GRE score is for the overall GRE test-taking population, and how to set a goal score. In no time, you'll be able to figure out what a successful score is for you!

What is an Ideal GRE Score?

Given the wide range of program requirements, it is difficult to define a "good" GRE score in absolute terms (more on that in the next section). However, you can consult the official GRE score percentiles to see how a given result compares to all other test-takers. A percentile ranking reveals what proportion of test-takers you outperformed. For instance, if I scored in the 25th percentile, I outperformed only 25% of the students.

The 50th percentile for the GRE is a verbal score of 150 and a quantitative score of 152.6. (152 is a 47th percentile score, and 153 is a 51st percentile score). The typical mark for analytical writing is 3.5.

The definition of a good GRE score is highly subjective and determines the schools to which you will apply. Before deciding what a good GRE score is for you, it recommends checking the average GRE scores for top Graduate School Programs to determine the range of points you will need to score in each test section (verbal, quantitative, and writing). It will allow you to better estimate what a good GRE score is for you.

However, before we go any further, here is all you need to know about your GRE score. The verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE get scored on a scale ranging from 130 to 170. The assessment of the writing section is on a scale ranging from 0 to 6, with increments of half a point each. However, you will not just receive scores; you will also be given a percentile rank. This rank compares your performance to that of a broad population sample of others who took the GRE. Because there are only 41 possible scores you can earn on the GRE, answering just one extra question correctly could be enough to change an average score into a superb one.

GRE Score Range 

The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning portions of the GRE each have a possible score ranging from 130 to 170 points. The range of possible points for the Analytical Writing Assessment is from one to six. As a result, the required minimum score on the GRE analytical writing section is somewhere in the range of 1-6. Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores increase by one point with each new section. However, the Analytical Writing score only improves by half a point with each new section.

The highest score on the Analytical Writing section is a 6, while the possible score range goes from 0 to 6. You must be familiar with the composite scores to determine the highest possible GRE score. The highest possible composite score on the GRE is 340, while the lowest possible score on the GRE is 260. The Verbal and Quantitative subtests are combined to provide the composite score, while the Analytical Writing Assessment score is reported independently. However, the minimum score required to pass the GRE varies from university to university; as a result, you need to confirm this information before submitting applications to your chosen schools.

The score range for the individual GRE subject examinations is from 200 to 900, and each subsequent increase is by 10 points.

Percentile Rank

In addition, the GRE results are calculated by converting them into percentile values. Your position inside the percentile ranking indicates where you stand with the other applicants. If you scored 170 on both the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE, your overall score would be equivalent to a 99th percentile rank. It means that you have performed better on the test than 99 others who took it. Similarly, if you received a score of 165 on each subtest, your overall percentile rank would be 96.

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning

Analytical Writing

As can be seen, a decent GRE score for the MS requires a score of at least 300 points on the test. The average score on the GRE would be somewhere in the range of 280 to 300. Because 260 is the minimum score required on the GRE, a lower than 260 does not ensure that you will be admitted to the university of your choice.

However, these GRE scores can differ from one university to the next. In addition, it varies according to the path you decide to take. Because of this, it is very important to note the GRE score requirements that the university has established for the program that you are interested in applying to. It will not only make the process of preparing easier for you, but it will also make it easier to set a clear goal score for yourself.

Why Is It Essential to Define a Target Score?

The tables above may have given you an idea of what is considered a respectable score on the GRE overall; nonetheless, it is essential to pay attention to the GRE cutoff for the particular universities to which you have chosen to apply. To be considered for admission to a specific college, you must achieve a score higher than the institution's minimum requirement to be competitive. Now, how do you determine the target score to shoot for? You might wonder if a GRE score of 300, 320, or 330 is good. Some of the other questions you might be thinking about include the following: It is crucial to consider the cutoff scores offered by the college, as opposed to arbitrarily considering a number to be a good GRE score. It will allow you to answer all of these questions.

Sometimes universities give their minimum score requirements as a range, such as 320-330, and other times they give it as a single number, such as 332. You should go for the higher cutoffs if you want to play it safe when setting your target score on the GRE. If the range you have been given is 320-330, selecting 330 as your target score is prudent to allow for some margin of error or unexpected situations that may arise during the exam.

How is a Score on the GRE Calculated?

It is necessary to describe the process of "how the GRE is scored" to acquire a profound comprehension of the question, "what is a decent GRE score out of 340?"

The distribution of GRE scores can be broken down into the following categories:

GRE score dispersion

The verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE are each worth 30 points, for a total possible score of 340. Now, the score for the analytical writing portion of the GRE is determined in a manner that is separate from the others and does not carry as much weight. The analytical writing portion of the GRE is scored on a scale ranging from 0.0 to 6.0, with increments of half a point.

There are a few things to keep in mind in regards to the GRE scores:

In general, graduate schools are more concerned with a student's performance on one of the GRE's two sections: verbal or quantitative.

Only the sectional score directly relevant to the area of study that the applicant intends to pursue is considered by graduate institutions.

For example, graduate schools specializing in engineering will emphasize the quantitative portion of the GRE scores submitted by candidates more than they will on the verbal portion.

What GRE score Do You Need?

An "excellent GRE score" can differ from one person to the next and from one university to the next. 310 can be a decent result for sure students, but it might not be good enough for other students. Here are some factors that can be considered to decide what constitutes a good GRE score for you, even though it is challenging to give a perfect answer to the question.

• Make a list of the colleges to which you plan to apply.
• Look at the typical GRE scores for certain schools.
• Most colleges look at your verbal and quantitative scores separately rather than your overall score. If you apply to humanities programs, universities will focus more on your verbal score; if you are using scientific or math schools, they will focus more on your quant score. So, depending on the type of program you want to follow, pay attention to your scores.
• After you've shortlisted the universities with the highest average scores, try to score at least two points higher than the highest score. The better it is for you, the higher score you can achieve.

You've achieved your aim, there!

Excellent GRE results are also taken into consideration by institutions when determining your eligibility for financial help or scholarships.

GRE & various disciplines 

A GRE result will vary depending on the discipline. Degrees like engineering, physics, and chemistry demand high quantitative scores, with an average of 160+ for admitted applicants in mid-tier institutions. They have lower expectations for verbal results.

The opposite is true for programs emphasizing the humanities, where applicants may have average Quant scores that are pretty low but often have high Verbal expectations. As a result, a good score for a program in computer science won't be the same as a good score for a program in art history, and vice versa.

Apart from GRE

How strong the remainder of your application is something else to think about. You can probably afford a somewhat lower GRE score than someone whose other qualifications are only passable if you have a ton of relevant research/work experience and solid references from authorities in the field. But once more, it's important to remember that if the rest of your application is weak or you don't match the other requirements for admission, even a fantastic GRE score won't help you be admitted.

The Bottom Line for a Good GRE Score

Many individuals consider an "excellent" GRE score an unchangeable standard. Although the GRE percentile chart allows you to compare your GRE score to that of every other test-taker, the most significant aspect of your score is how well it positions you as a candidate for the schools you are interested in.

Here are some factors to think about while determining what a good GRE score is for you:

Master's or Ph.D. programs: Generally, Ph.D. applicants have higher GRE scores than those for Master's programs. Given how competitive PhDs are, this makes sense.

Program control: Score expectations will vary among fields, particularly in terms of which portion is prioritized. Verbal scores are more significant for graduate programs in the humanities, whereas quant scores are more significant for science and math programs.

How much weight the program gives GRE results: Some programs will emphasize GRE scores more than others, even within the same discipline. Typically, the websites for admissions can provide you with an indication of this.

Competitiveness of a program: Your GRE score must be higher the more competitive the program.

Other information in your application: It's crucial to earn a high GRE score to demonstrate that you are prepared for graduate-level work if you expect that your GRE would make up for a shortcoming in your application (like a poor GPA).