The GRE General Test is not scored out of 100. It gives separate scores for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are scored from 130 to 170, while Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6. If a student does not answer any question in a section, that section is marked as No Score (NS). This means the GRE is not a pass-or-fail exam. The GRE exam score only shows your performance and helps universities judge how strong your application is.
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GRE Score Range Overview
| GRE Section | Score Range | Increment | How It Is Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 130–170 | 1 point | Scaled score |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130–170 | 1 point | Scaled score |
| Analytical Writing | 0–6 | 0.5 point | Separate writing score |
Note: The GRE General Test reports three separate scores. Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored from 130 to 170 in 1-point increments, while Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments. ETS does not report a single overall GRE score combining all three sections.
How the GRE Total Score Adds Up
If you are calculating your GRE score, you need to add two sections:
Verbal Reasoning + Quantitative Reasoning = GRE Test Total Score
Since each section is scored from 130 to 170, the total GRE score range becomes:
130 + 130 = 260
170 + 170 = 340
So, the GRE total score range is 260 to 340.
For example:
| Verbal Score | Quant Score | GRE Total |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 150 | 300 |
| 155 | 160 | 315 |
| 160 | 160 | 320 |
| 165 | 168 | 333 |
Note: Analytical Writing is not added to this total. So, if your score report shows 318 and 4.0, it means your Verbal + Quant total is 318, and your Analytical Writing score is 4.0.
Is the GRE Out of 340 or 360?
The GRE is out of 340 for the total score. The confusion happens because many students try to add Analytical Writing to the total.
That is not how ETS reports the GRE score. Verbal and Quant make the 260–340 total. Analytical Writing stays separate on a 0–6 scale.
GRE Test Score Percentile vs Range
Your GRE scaled score tells you your number. Your percentile tells you how you performed compared with other test takers.
For example, a score of 160 does not mean the same thing in Verbal and Quant. ETS percentile data shows that 160 in Verbal is the 84th percentile, while 160 in Quant is the 50th percentile. This means the same score can have a very different meaning depending on the section.
| Scaled Score | Verbal Percentile | Quant Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | 99 | 91 |
| 165 | 95 | 67 |
| 160 | 84 | 50 |
| 155 | 65 | 37 |
| 150 | 39 | 24 |
| 145 | 21 | 12 |
| 140 | 10 | 5 |
Note: This is why you should not judge your GRE score only by the total. A 320 with a strong Quant score may look better for engineering or data science programmes, while a strong Verbal score may matter more for humanities, public policy or writing-heavy courses.
Analytical Writing Percentiles
Analytical Writing has its own percentile scale. ETS data shows that a 4.0 is at the 63rd percentile, a 4.5 is at the 85th percentile, and a 5.0 is at the 93rd percentile.
| AWA Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 99 |
| 5.0 | 93 |
| 4.5 | 85 |
| 4.0 | 63 |
| 3.5 | 43 |
| 3.0 | 17 |
Note: Even a half-point increase in your Analytical Writing score can noticeably improve your percentile. Our GRE Analytical Writing tips explain the key skills that can help move an essay from a 4.0 to a 5.0.
What Is a Good GRE Score?
A good GRE score depends on your course, university and target country. There is no single score that works for every student.
As a basic benchmark, ETS data shows these average scores:
| GRE Measure | Mean Score |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 151.21 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 157.58 |
| Analytical Writing | 3.44 |
Note: So, scoring above these averages means you are above the typical GRE test taker in that section.
A practical way to look at GRE scores is:
| Target Level | Approximate Score Range |
|---|---|
| Basic competitive range | 300+ total |
| Strong score for many programmes | 310+ total |
| Strong score for selective programmes | 320+ total |
| Very strong score | 330+ total |
However, do not chase only the total score. A university may care more about one section. For example, MS in Computer Science, Engineering, Finance and Data Science programmes may look closely at Quant. Humanities, policy, communication and literature-related programmes may care more about Verbal and Writing.
Deciding whether a GRE score of 310 is enough for your shortlisted universities can be difficult without context. Our GRE exam guide explains the test structure, eligibility requirements, and the score expectations Indian applicants may encounter at different universities.
75th Percentile GRE Benchmark
The 75th percentile is not the same for both sections. So the percentile data, around the 75th percentile, is approximately:
| Section | Approx. 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 158 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 167 |
Note: This is important because a 159 Quant may sound high, but ETS data places it around the 47th percentile, not the 75th percentile.
Where does your score really stand?
Use the Eduvouchers Score Calculator to convert and compare your PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo scores, and see if you meet your university's entry requirements.
Check Your ScoreHow the GRE Is Scored
Your GRE Verbal and Quant scores are not based only on the number of correct answers. The GRE exam pattern also determines the number of questions in each section and the time available to answer them. First, your correct answers are counted, and then they are converted into a scaled score from 130 to 170. This is done because some test versions may be slightly easier or harder than others. Scaled scoring helps keep the scoring fair for all students. Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6. Your essay is judged on the overall quality of your writing, such as how clear your ideas are, how well you organise them, and how strongly you explain your points.
GRE Result Validity and Reporting
Your official GRE scores are usually available in your official account in 8–10 days after the test date. Generally, GRE results are reportable for 5 years after your test date.
On test day, you can send your scores to up to four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors as part of your test fee. If you want to send scores after test day or to more institutions, you need to order Additional Score Reports for a fee.
How to Check Your GRE Test Result
Your GRE scores are available only through your official ETS account. There is no separate result portal, SMS, or third-party site that releases them. Your official GRE General Test scores will be available in your ETS account 8–10 days after your test date, and you'll receive an email from ETS when they are available.
Here is the step-by-step process to check and download your results from the official ETS website:
- Go to the official ETS website and click Sign In to log in to your ETS account using the username and password you created during registration.
- Open the Scores section from your account dashboard.
- Select "View Official Score Reports" to see your Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing scores, along with your percentile ranks.
- Download or print your report. Your official GRE Test-taker Score Report is accessible in your ETS account and is intended for your information and personal records; if you wish to have a paper copy, you can print one from your account
Conclusion
The GRE exam score range is simple once you separate the sections: Verbal and Quant are each scored from 130 to 170, giving a combined Verbal and Quant score range of 260 to 340. Analytical Writing is scored separately from 0 to 6 and is not added to the total.
Before setting a target, look beyond the total score. Check the section expectations for your course, compare your score with ETS percentiles, and focus more on the section your target programme values most. A good GRE test score may work for some courses, but for Quant-heavy or writing-heavy programmes, the section split can matter more than the headline total.
