What is a Good GRE Score & How is it Calculated?

What is a Good GRE Score and How is it Calculated: Good GRE scores can help you if you are planning to pursue graduate studies abroad. You are probably wondering what is a good GRE score. While there is no definite answer to the question, GRE test takers may often find themselves in a quandary while sending scores to grad schools. 

A good GRE score is based on several factors including the average GRE score of the previous batch, parts of GRE that are comparatively more important, and so on. In other words, “good” GRE scores will depend entirely on you. 

With questions evaluating one’s readiness to transition to a graduate school, the GRE is the most widely-used and accepted admission test for graduate programs across fields all around the globe. From the structure of the GRE to how GRE scores are calculated, here is a guide for you to have a clear understanding of GRE scores. 

What is GRE?

The GRE is an internationally-recognized admissions test for graduate and professional schools including business or law. The GRE General Test is attempted on a computer and conducted at over 1,000 GRE test centres in more than 160 countries. Not only graduate school but also business school applicants from across the globe take the GRE to pursue an MS, MBA, specialised MS in business, J.D or doctoral degree. 

The test is accepted at thousands of universities by admissions panels to add to your undergraduate records, letter(s) of recommendation along with other qualifications.  

Structure of the GRE

Before we talk about what a “good” GRE score is and how to calculate a GRE score, check out the GRE test structure to have a better idea of what the test aims to measure:

What is a Good GRE Score?

There is no simple answer to this question and certainly no “definite” answer. What could be a “good” GRE score for you might not be a “good” score for another test-taker. The ideal way to determine a “good” GRE score is to identify your target score depending on the program of your choice, the average GRE scores at universities you are applying to as well as section-wise GRE cutoff scores. The total GRE score is 340. Here are the factors you have to consider while trying to find out what a “good” GRE score is:

Determine your Target GRE Score

A target GRE score, as mentioned above, is the score that you need to be accepted to a grad school of your choice. While you are at it, check out the university’s GRE cutoff for the specific program of study along with their average GRE scores over the past few years. 

Find out Which Parts of the GRE are Important

Some admissions panels may care more about your verbal reasoning score than the rest of the GRE parts. On the other hand, some universities depending on the program you are applying for may want to look only at your quantitative reasoning score. So, it is significant that you have a clear understanding of the requirements of the specific program and university.

Check the Average GRE Score

Based on data collected between July 2016 and July 2019, the average GRE score for Verbal Reasoning is 150.37, Analytical Reasoning is 3.58 and Quantitative Reasoning is 153.39. The average total GRE score would, therefore, be 303. 

The data also point out that the average score for Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning accounts for 47% and 48% respectively. This means that 53% and 52% respectively of the test takers obtained the same score or performed better than you. 

If you are in the 45th percentile, it might get you into a lot of Grad schools abroad but it will not be considered a good score for the highly competitive graduate programs. Usually, being in the 75th percentile is a good enough GRE score. However, a 90th percentile will help you stand out and make it easier for you to get into the top foreign universities.

Figure out if GRE Scores Can Be Used for Something Else Too

International students often look for scholarships when applying for graduate programs. Many universities offer scholarships based on GRE scores and many applicants often regret not learning about it before deciding on their target GRE score. Also, GRE scores may be used for course placement.

Given below is a table that will help you understand within which score range your “good” GRE score may fall:

How to Calculate a Good GRE Score?

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to calculate a “good” GRE score:

Step 1: Figure Out the Average GRE Score at the Intended University 

To do so, there are two factors you need to remember. These include researching the average GRE score of last year’s department batch and last year’s class profile. These will give you an idea of the score you want to target. 

Step 2: Assess Competition and Acceptance Rate

This means you need to determine the level of competition you will be at while applying to the university of your choice. For instance, in case you are applying for a popular program like MS in Data Science, you should obtain a slightly higher score than the GRE average at the institution.  Likewise, the acceptance rate of the university will also matter because those with a higher acceptance rate will amount to lower competition.

Step 3: Settle on Your Good GRE Score

Now that you have an idea of the average score and level of competition, finding your target/good GRE score is one simple calculation away. To make it easier for you, here is an example:

Here, to get into the institution and stand out, you would have to score 160 in each section and be among the top applicants. So, that is what YOUR “good” GRE score would be. 

Average GRE Scores

Here are the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests average scores based on the performance of graduates who took the GRE between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2020:

GRE General Test Average Scores for Intended Graduate Major Fields

GRE Subject Test Average Scores

How is the GRE Scored?

It could be a little tricky to understand GRE scores for both General tests and Subject tests. Read on to find out what GRE scores mean for each section and how they are calculated:

Understanding GRE General Test Scores

Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning

The reported scores for these two measures are based on the number of correct answers to the given questions under the operational sections. Measures here are section-level adaptive which means that the computer picks the second operational section of a measure based on your performance in the first section. All questions in each section will contribute to the final score. 

For every section in the two measures, a raw score is generated which refers to the number of correct answers you have. The raw score is then converted to a scaled score through equating- small variations in difficulty among different test editions and differences in difficulty by section-level adaptation. 

Eventually, a scaled score for each measure reflects the same level of performance irrespective of which the second section was picked and when the test was attempted.

Analytical Writing

Here, each essay is scored by at least one trained rater on a six-point scale for which raters assign scores based on the quality of the essay in response to the task. An average of the final scores of both the essays is then calculated and rounded to the nearest half-point interval on the six-point scale (0-6).

The primary emphasis while scoring this measure is on critical thinking and analytical writing skills instead of grammar and mechanics. 

Understanding GRE Subject Test Scores

The total score range of each GRE Subject test is 200-900 in 10-point increments. For the subject tests of Biology, Psychology and Physics, subscores are reported on a 20-90 score, in one-point increments. However, the score range for any particular subject test is generally smaller.

What is the GRE Percentile Ranking?

GRE percentile ranking is the percentage of test-takers who scored lower than a specified score. The higher your percentile rank, the better your GRE score as compared to other test-takers. 

For Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning

For Analytical Writing

Note: The tables are based on the performance of graduates who took the GRE between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2020.

GRE Score Card

Once your GRE is completed you will receive a GRE score card or report. This GRE score card can be sent to the institutions directly where you want to take admission. The GRE score card consists of the following:

• Date of Birth

• Gender

• Contact Information

• Intended Graduate Major

• GRE test score and percentile ranks

• Authorized recipients

The GRE score validity is for five years.

If you wish to pursue your master's abroad and thinking to take the GRE test, get in touch with our study abroad experts to get details about the test. Write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com!