Minimum GRE Scores to Study MS Abroad - Check Country-wise University Requirements Here!

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Sristy Sharma
Updated on Jul 31, 2023 03:24 PM IST

The GRE exam is a popular study abroad exam used by universities for admission to master's courses. Explore all the countries and universities accepting GRE scores and their applicable score validity.

Minimum GRE Scores to Study MS Abroad - Check Country-wise University Requirements Here!

As a study abroad aspirant, you must already be aware of the significance of the GRE exam for admission to masters courses abroad.

Even though many universities in various countries accept GRE scores for admission, the cut-off score is not common. Moreover, since the exam authority only evaluates your performance on the exam, the applicability of your test score is dependent on the college's requirements, which could differ for different courses.

Yet, it has been observed that universities of similar ranking in any country have similar if not the same GRE score requirements. Hence, having an idea of the required eligibility GRE percentile and scores of universities can help understand the possible requirements of other universities.

Here, refer to the GRE score validity and requirements prevalent in a country. Also, find out what shall be expected of you when applying for courses in the chosen destinations.

Overview of GRE Exam

Here is a summary of the most significant characteristics of the GRE exam:

Parameters

Description

Name of the Exam

GRE

GRE Full Form

Graduate Record Examination

GRE Exam Pattern

Two sections;

Multiple choice questions

GRE Exam Duration

1 hour 58 minutes

GRE Syllabus

Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing

GRE Exam Fee (India)

USD 228

GRE Results and Scores

260-340;

130-170 each section

GRE Test Modes

Computer-based testing

GRE Test-at-Home

Available

Countries Accepting GRE Scores

UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand

Find Out How to Get a Good GRE Score!

What are GRE Scores Used For?

While it is clear to you that GRE exams are used for admission purposes by foreign universities, it is natural that you wonder, exactly how and why GRE is useful. Here are some of the im[ortant points which make it worthy and purposeful:

  • Standard Testing: The test uses the method of standardised testing to evaluate your standing. It uses the test to determine your readiness for the study of masters courses.

  • Quantification of Aptitude: The test not only tests your readiness but also scores it on the basis of readiness. This scoring happens in the form of scores and percentile ranks, allowing universities to decipher your admission deserving readily.

  • Caters to Multiple Disciplines: The test is designed to evaluate you for multiple disciplines. Though there are certain fields which cannot be included, such as medicine, the scope is still quite wide.

  • Alternative to GMAT Scores: GRE scores are also accepted by many B-schools as a replacement or alternative to GMAT scores. Though GMAT may still be preferred with it being the standard management aptitude test, GRE scores have been known to serve the purpose diligently, and reliably.

  • Universal Testing Arrangements: The GRE test is conducted throughout the world. You can register and attempt the test from anywhere in the world, making it highly accessible.

GRE Scores to Study Abroad

You will find universities mention an additional description in their GRE score requirements. Here are the explanations of common GRE requirements:

  • Overall GRE Scores: The overall GRE test score is your combined score in both sections of your GRE test. It is scored on a range of 260-340.

  • GRE Quant Scores: The scores of the quantitative section of the GRE test may be mentioned separately as a requirement. They are often sought for higher scores in comparison to the verbal section.

  • GRE Verbal Scores: Another section of the GRE test, for which you may have to satisfy specific requirements. In case both GRE Quant and Verbal requirements are mentioned, then these are probably to be lower than quant section requirements.

  • GRE Percentile Ranks: The percentile ranking system is used to define the GRE scores, overall and section-wise. The ranks show how many test takers you have outperformed, that is 55 percentile means scoring more than 55% of test takers.

  • GRE Subject Test: There are two types of GRE tests, GRE General and GRE Subject test. As of 2022, the GRE Subject test has been discontinued, and you do not have to check for its applicability in your courses eligibility criteria.

GRE Score Validity

GRE scorecard, generated after the declaration of GRE results, has a validity of five years from the date of result declaration. This validity has been set and declared by the testing authority and is accepted worldwide by universities. Hence, you can use your GRE test scores within the limited window of five years only for admission purposes, or any other purposes.

GRE Score Requirements in USA

GRE scores are widely accepted in the USA, especially as it is the origin country of the test. Check out the individual GRE requirements of US universities for admission to their masters courses.

Here are some of the selected universities along with their GRE minimum requirements, both overall and section-wise scores:

Name of University

Minimum GRE Score Requirement

Overall GRE Score

GRE Subtest Scores

Boston University

317

Quant: 163

Verbal: 154

Caltech

324

Quant: 164

Verbal: 160

Clemson University

316

Quant: 160

Verbal: 156

Florida State University

295

Quant: 150

Verbal: 145

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

310

Quant: 155

Verbal: 155

New Jersey Institute of Technology

298

Quant: 150

Verbal: 148

Northwestern University

325

Quant: 169

Verbal: 156

Stanford University

330

Quant: 165

Verbal: 165

University of Kansas

301

Quant: 155

Verbal: 146

University of Texas at Austin

314

Quant: 158

Verbal: 156

UK Universities GRE Minimum Score Requirements

The universities of different rankings have been chosen to represent the class GRE score requirements in UK, along with their GRE sectional score requirements:

Name of University

Minimum GRE Score Requirement

Overall GRE Score

GRE Subtest Scores

Durham University

300

Quant: 150

Verbal: 150

LSE

318

Quant: 161

Verbal: 157

Northumbria University at Newcastle

300

Quant: 150

Verbal: 150

Queens University Belfast

300

Quant: 150

Verbal: 150

The University of Northampton

305

Quant: 154

Verbal: 151

University of Cambridge

320

Quant: 160

Verbal: 160

University of East Anglia

314

Quant: 157

Verbal: 157

University of Exeter

310

Quant: 155

Verbal: 155

University of Kent

303

Quant: 153

Verbal: 150

University of Greenwich

305

Quant: 153

Verbal: 152

Canada Universities GRE Minimum Score Requirements

Canadian universities are famous for using standardised testing to make admission decisions, especially in the case of international students. Here are some of the universities, from every ranking level, along with their sectional and overall GRE score requirements in Canada:

Name of University

Minimum GRE Score Requirement

Overall GRE Score

GRE Subtest Scores

Dalhousie University

300

Quant: 150

Verbal: 150

McGill University

321

Quant: 160

Verbal: 161

McMaster University

320

Quant: 160

Verbal: 160

University of Calgary

320

Quant: 160

Verbal: 160

University of Manitoba

312

Quant: 156

Verbal: 156

University of Quebec

307

Quant: 154

Verbal: 153

University of Regina

316

Quant: 160

Verbal: 156

University of Saskatchewan

312

Quant: 156

Verbal: 156

University of Sherbrooke

320

Quant: 160

Verbal: 160

University of Toronto

329

Quant: 167

Verbal: 162

GRE Minimum Score Requirements in Australia

In Australia, from the best of the universities to the regional campuses, all accept GRE scores for admission. Find here some of these Australian universities and their GRE score requirements:

Name of University

Minimum GRE Score Requirement

Overall GRE Score

GRE Subtest Scores

Australian National University

310

Quant: 155

Verbal: 155

Charles Darwin University

309

Quant: 155

Verbal: 154

Curtin University

307

Quant: 154

Verbal: 153

Edith Cowan University

316

Quant: 158

Verbal: 158

James Cook University

316

Quant: 160

Verbal: 156

La Trobe University

313

Quant: 158

Verbal: 155

The University of New South Wales (UNSW)

314

Quant: 158

Verbal: 156

University of the Sunshine Coast

311

Quant: 157

Verbal: 154

University of Wollongong

325

Quant: 165

Verbal: 160

Victoria University

318

Quant: 161

Verbal: 157

GRE Score Requirements in New Zealand

The universities in New Zealand can be observed to almost mimicking the Australian GRE score requirements. It is due to the similar education systems of the two countries.

Here are some of the chosen universities in New Zealand, along with their GRE score requirements:

Name of University

Minimum GRE Score Requirement

Overall GRE Score

GRE Subtest Scores

Auckland University of Technology

316

Quant: 160

Verbal: 156

Lincoln University

295

Quant: 150

Verbal: 145

Massey University

318

Quant: 161

Verbal: 157

The University of Auckland

318

Quant: 161

Verbal: 157

University of Canterbury

323

Quant: 164

Verbal: 159

University of Otago

321

Quant: 163

Verbal: 158

University of Waikato

325

Quant: 165

Verbal: 160

Victoria University of Wellington

325

Quant: 164

Verbal: 161

GRE Minimum Score Requirements in Europe

Apart from the UK, there are many other European countries where GRE scores are accepted for admission to universities, such as Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, etc.

Here are some of the European universities, of different ranking classes, along with their origin countries and GRE requirements, such as GRE scores acceptable in Germany:

Name of University

Country

Minimum GRE Score Required

Delft University of Technology

Netherlands

307

ETH Zurich

Switzerland

320

Freie University of Berlin

Germany

322

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Sweden

305

Leiden University

Netherlands

306

RWTH Aachen University

Germany

313

Sorbonne University

France

300

Technical University of Munich

Germany

310

University of Copenhagen

Denmark

320

University of Geneva

Switzerland

314

University of Oslo

Norway

313

University PSL

France

315

GRE test scores can heavily impact your admission process. Hence, you must ensure that your scores are well beyond the minimum requirements of your chosen universities. This will help you in getting a competitive edge in the admissions process of foreign universities. You can also use your GRE scores for purposes other than education as well, such as for employment. You can use the GRE exam to prove to your employer that your aptitude is among the high percentile ranks for postgraduate courses. However, it is important that the score truly transcends the 60-65 percentile ranks to be taken seriously.

How else you can use your GRE scores? OR, Which is the best foreign university for you? Our study abroad experts can help. You may reach out by writing to abroad@collegedekho.com.

Get Personalised Study Abroad Solutions!

FAQs

Is GRE mandatory to study abroad?

Yes, GRE can be considered mandatory to study abroad. However, its requirement is based on varying conditions. The very first is that the course must be a graduate/master’s course. The second is the specific requirements of the university. While some have opted to go test-optional wholly, others have demarcated specific courses for which GRE scores are mandatory.

What is a good GRE score to study abroad?

A good GRE score is one that satisfies the GRE minimum score requirements of the university. However, since this condition is different for all universities and courses, in general, a GRE score of above 300 is a good score. If the test taker is able to scale their score above 320, then they can apply to the top universities of the world for master’s and PhD studies.

Can I use GMAT scores instead of GRE scores to apply for MS in UK?

No, you cannot use GMAT scores instead of GRE scores to apply for MS in the UK, except when they are related to management fields and allow GMAT score submission. The GMAT exam is focused on the business and management field and hence the scores are used by relevant courses. All other MS courses shall not accept the exam at all for admission applications.

What is the GRE score required for MS in USA?

The GRE score required for MS in USA is 310 or above. Many universities in the USA offer MS courses with eligibility criteria including GRE score submission. Although the requirements of different universities are varied, a common average can still be worked out. A score above 310 can easily be used to apply for MS courses in the USA.

What is a good GRE percentile score?

A good GRE percentile score is 55% and above. The percentile will put you well ahead of over 50% of the test takers. It is also highly likely that it is qualifying score required for admissions to foreign universities. Any GRE score corresponding to percentile ranks above 55% can be easily used to apply for master’s courses abroad.

How are GRE scores calculated?

GRE scores are calculated by a series of steps or the GRE score calculator. The calculator not only uses the general calculation concept of raw scores and scaled scores, but also statistical concepts like standard deviation, correlation coefficient, mean, number of test takers, etc., to determine the percentile ranks and corresponding scores for the year.

Which matters the most, GRE score or GRE percentile rank?

Both GRE scores and GRE percentile ranks have their own significance. While many foreign universities prefer to recommend GRE minimum scores for admission to their courses, they also often reveal the average GRE percentile ranks of their current class. Hence, while GRE scores are helpful to determine the exact figures, percentiles are of better help when it comes to good scores.

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