GRE Score Calculator

Verbal Reasoning

Enter your scaled Verbal score (130–170)

Quantitative Reasoning

Enter your scaled Quant score (130–170)

Analytical Writing (AWA)

Select your AWA score (0.0–6.0 in 0.5 increments)

Field of Study

Compare your scores to the average for your target discipline

Score Goal Tracker (Optional)

Target Verbal

Target Quant

Enter Your GRE Scores

Enter your Verbal, Quantitative, and AWA scores above to see your percentile rankings, performance assessment, and program competitiveness.

Last updated October 20, 2018

Percentiles, performance tiers, and program competitiveness for the GRE General Test

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is one of the most widely accepted standardized tests for graduate and professional school admissions worldwide. Developed and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the GRE assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills — the core competencies that graduate faculty consider essential for academic success. Whether you are applying to a master's program, a doctoral program, a law school, or a business school, understanding your GRE scores and what they mean in context is critical for crafting a competitive application. The GRE reports three separate scores. Verbal Reasoning measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material, synthesize information, draw conclusions, and understand the nuances and implications of language — scored on a scale from 130 to 170 in one-point increments. Quantitative Reasoning assesses your problem-solving ability using basic mathematical concepts including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis — also scored from 130 to 170. Analytical Writing evaluates your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively and to examine claims and accompanying evidence — scored from 0.0 to 6.0 in half-point increments. Each of these sections requires a distinct preparation strategy, and each carries different weight depending on the field you are applying to. A common source of confusion among GRE test-takers is the difference between a scaled score and a percentile rank. Your scaled score (130–170) tells you how many questions you answered correctly relative to the difficulty of the questions you received — the GRE uses section-level adaptive testing, so the difficulty of your second verbal or quant section depends on your performance on the first. Your percentile rank, on the other hand, tells you what percentage of all test-takers who took the exam in the most recent three-year period scored lower than you. For Quantitative Reasoning, the same scaled score translates to a meaningfully lower percentile than it does for Verbal Reasoning, simply because the population of GRE test-takers skews more quantitatively prepared than verbally prepared. Our GRE Score Calculator goes far beyond a simple percentile lookup. It supports two input modes: scaled score entry (enter your 130–170 scores directly) and raw score entry (enter how many questions you answered correctly out of 27 to estimate your scaled score). The tool instantly displays percentile ranks and 7-tier performance classifications for each section, calculates your combined score (260–340), and benchmarks your performance against average scores for eight fields of study — Engineering, Physical Sciences, Business, Social Sciences, Law, Humanities, Life Sciences, and Psychology — drawn from official ETS data. A built-in goal tracker lets you set target scores and see exactly how many points you need to gain in each section. A GRE-to-GMAT concordance conversion gives you an equivalent GMAT score for schools that accept both. The tool also surfaces practical information about score validity (5 years), retake policy (maximum 5 attempts per 12-month period, 21 days between attempts), and the ScoreSelect option that lets you choose which scores to send to programs.

Understanding GRE Scores

What Is the GRE General Test?

The GRE General Test is a standardized admissions exam created by ETS and accepted by thousands of graduate and professional programs worldwide. The test has three scored sections: Verbal Reasoning (130–170), Quantitative Reasoning (130–170), and Analytical Writing (0.0–6.0). The Verbal and Quantitative sections use section-level adaptive testing, meaning the difficulty of your second section in each area is determined by how well you performed on the first. This adaptive design allows ETS to measure a wider range of abilities more precisely than a linear test could. The AWA section contains two separately scored essays — the Issue task and the Argument task — each graded by a human rater and an e-rater, and the final AWA score is the average of the two essay scores rounded to the nearest half-point. Total combined scores range from 260 (both sections at minimum 130) to 340 (both sections at maximum 170), and AWA is reported separately.

How Are Scores Calculated?

Raw scores (the number of questions answered correctly) are converted to scaled scores through a statistical process called equating, which accounts for minor differences in difficulty across different test editions. Each section contains 27 scored questions plus some unscored research questions. A raw score of 27 correct on Verbal yields a 170 scaled, while a raw score of 0 yields a 130. The equating process means that the same raw score may translate to slightly different scaled scores on different test dates. Percentile ranks are calculated annually based on the performance of all GRE General Test takers over the most recent three-year period. A percentile of 75 means you scored higher than 75 percent of those test-takers. Because more STEM-focused students take the GRE, Quantitative percentiles are compressed at the high end: a score of 165 is about the 81st percentile for Quant but the 95th for Verbal.

Why Do GRE Scores Matter?

GRE scores serve as a standardized, objective measure that allows admissions committees to compare applicants from vastly different academic backgrounds and institutions. Strong GRE scores can compensate for a lower GPA from a rigorous institution, demonstrate quantitative readiness for STEM PhD programs, or signal verbal and analytical ability for humanities and social science programs. Many highly competitive programs use informal cutoffs — for instance, a 160+ Quant for top engineering programs — and some fellowships and funding opportunities also use GRE scores as a screening criterion. That said, GRE scores are just one component of a holistic review. Letters of recommendation, personal statements, research experience, and fit with faculty research interests often carry equal or greater weight. Understanding your score in the context of your target programs and field averages is more useful than chasing a single headline number.

Limitations and Caveats

The percentile data in this calculator is based on ETS's published 2024–2025 score tables, which reflect the population of all GRE General Test takers over the most recent three-year rolling period. This population includes international students, career changers, and test-takers across all disciplines, so percentile ranks may not accurately reflect how you compare specifically within your target field. For example, a 155 Verbal may be competitive for an Engineering PhD but may be average for a top English or Political Science program. The raw-to-scaled conversions are approximate — ETS's actual equating is proprietary and varies by test form — so treat raw-score estimates as approximations. The GRE-to-GMAT concordance is based on ETS's published concordance tables and assumes an average test performance profile; individual school acceptance depends on many factors beyond score conversion.

GRE Score Formulas

Composite Score

Composite = Verbal + Quantitative (range 260–340)

The GRE composite score is the simple sum of the Verbal Reasoning (130–170) and Quantitative Reasoning (130–170) scaled scores. AWA is reported separately and not included in the composite.

Estimated Scaled Score from Raw

Scaled ≈ 130 + round((Raw / 27) × 40)

An approximate conversion from raw score (number correct out of 27 scored questions per section) to the 130–170 scaled score. The actual ETS equating process is proprietary and varies by test form.

Percentile Rank

Percentile = % of test-takers scoring below your scaled score

Percentile ranks are derived from ETS's rolling three-year data of all GRE General Test takers. A 75th percentile means you scored higher than 75% of that population.

AWA Score

AWA = (Issue Score + Argument Score) / 2, rounded to nearest 0.5

Each essay is scored 0–6 by a human rater and e-rater. If scores differ by more than 1 point, a second human rater scores the essay. The final AWA is the average of both essay scores, rounded to the nearest half-point.

GRE Score Reference Tables

GRE Score Percentiles by Section

Approximate percentile ranks for selected Verbal and Quantitative scaled scores, based on ETS 2024–2025 data.

Scaled Score	Verbal Percentile	Quant Percentile
170	99	97
165	95	81
160	84	61
155	67	42
150	48	24
145	28	12
140	13	5
135	5	2
130	1	1

Competitive GRE Scores by Field

Typical combined score ranges expected by top-ranked graduate programs in major fields of study.

Field of Study	Top 10 Programs	Top 25 Programs	Average Applicant
Engineering	325–340	315–325	308
Physical Sciences	320–340	312–320	305
Business / MBA	318–335	310–318	305
Social Sciences	315–335	308–315	302
Humanities	320–340	312–320	304
Life Sciences	315–330	305–315	300
Psychology	312–330	305–312	298

GRE Score Worked Examples

Interpreting V162 / Q168 / AWA 4.5

A student receives Verbal 162, Quantitative 168, and AWA 4.5 on the GRE General Test.

Combined score: 162 + 168 = 330

Verbal 162 percentile: approximately 89th percentile

Quantitative 168 percentile: approximately 93rd percentile

AWA 4.5 percentile: approximately 79th percentile

Combined 330 places the student in the top 10–15% tier

This student's 330 combined score is highly competitive for top-ranked programs across most fields. The strong Quant score is particularly valuable for STEM and business programs, while the Verbal score is well above average for any field.

Determining Percentile Ranking for V155 / Q150

A student scores Verbal 155 and Quantitative 150 and wants to understand their standing.

Combined score: 155 + 150 = 305

Verbal 155 percentile: approximately 67th percentile

Quantitative 150 percentile: approximately 24th percentile

Combined 305 falls in the 'Average' tier nationally

The Quant score is the weaker section and would benefit from targeted improvement

With a combined 305, this student is near the national median. Raising the Quant score by 5–10 points would significantly improve percentile standing and program competitiveness, especially for STEM or business fields.

GRE-to-GMAT Concordance for Business School

A student with GRE V160 / Q165 wants to know their approximate GMAT equivalent for MBA applications.

Combined GRE score: 160 + 165 = 325

Look up 325 in ETS concordance table

Approximate GMAT equivalent: ~720

This GMAT equivalent is above the average for most top-20 MBA programs

A GRE combined 325 converts to approximately a 720 GMAT, which is competitive for top-10 to top-20 MBA programs. The student can confidently submit GRE scores to business schools that accept both tests.

How to Use This Calculator

Choose Your Input Mode

Select 'Scaled Score' if you already know your official GRE scores (130–170 for Verbal and Quant). Choose 'Raw Score' if you just finished a practice test and want to estimate your scaled score by entering how many questions you answered correctly out of 27 for each section.

Enter All Three Section Scores

Enter your Verbal and Quantitative scores using the sliders or number inputs. Select your AWA score from the dropdown (0.0–6.0 in 0.5 steps). If you want to calculate your AWA from individual essay scores, click 'Enter Issue + Argument essay scores' and enter each sub-score — the calculator will average them and round to the nearest half-point.

Select Your Field of Study

Pick your target discipline from the dropdown (Engineering, Business, Humanities, etc.). The results will show how your scores compare to the average Verbal, Quant, and AWA scores for applicants in your field, with color-coded gap indicators showing where you stand above or below the field average.

Set Score Goals and Review Results

Optionally enter your target Verbal and Quantitative scores in the Goal Tracker section to see how many points you need to close the gap. Then review your percentile ranks, 7-tier performance badges, combined score tier, GMAT concordance, and program competitiveness grid to understand your positioning and plan your next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good GRE score?

A 'good' GRE score depends on your target programs and field. As a general benchmark, a combined score of 310+ is considered competitive for most graduate programs, 320+ is strong for top-ranked master's and PhD programs, and 330+ places you in the top 10–15% of all test-takers and is competitive for elite programs. However, Verbal and Quant percentiles differ significantly for the same scaled score — a 165 Verbal is the 95th percentile while a 165 Quant is only the 81st — so field-specific averages matter more than headline numbers. Engineering programs weigh Quant heavily; humanities programs weigh Verbal and AWA. Use the field comparison feature to see how your scores measure up in your specific discipline.

How is the GRE scored and why are percentiles different for Verbal vs. Quant?

The GRE Verbal and Quantitative sections are each scored on a scale from 130 to 170. Raw scores (correct answers out of 27 per section) are converted to scaled scores through ETS's equating process, which accounts for difficulty variation across test forms. Percentile ranks reflect how your score compares to all test-takers over the most recent three-year period. Because the GRE test-taker pool includes many STEM-focused applicants (engineers, scientists, economists), the Quantitative score distribution is skewed higher, meaning a 160 Quant is only the 61st percentile while a 160 Verbal is the 84th percentile. This is why understanding section-specific percentiles matters more than just comparing raw scaled scores.

How long are GRE scores valid and how many times can I take the test?

GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date, so scores from a test taken in March 2022 remain reportable through March 2027. You can take the GRE General Test up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period, and you must wait at least 21 days between attempts. ETS's ScoreSelect feature allows you to choose which scores to send to programs — you can send scores from one specific test date or all scores from the past five years, depending on program requirements. Many programs report that they consider your highest score, but some require all scores be submitted, so check each program's policy before retaking.

What is the GRE to GMAT conversion?

ETS publishes an official GRE-GMAT concordance table that provides approximate GMAT equivalent scores for combined GRE scores. For example, a combined GRE of 320 is roughly equivalent to a GMAT of 700, and a GRE of 330 equates to approximately 760. These concordance scores are based on a study of test-takers who completed both exams and are intended to help business school admissions committees compare applicants. The conversion is an approximation — the tests measure overlapping but not identical skills — so a direct comparison will always have some error margin. Many top MBA programs now explicitly accept GRE scores alongside GMAT, so check whether your target school requires additional context when submitting a GRE score.

How is the AWA score calculated and what is considered a strong AWA?

The Analytical Writing section contains two essays: the Issue task (present and defend your perspective on an issue) and the Argument task (evaluate the logic of an argument). Each essay is scored from 0 to 6 by a trained human rater and an automated scoring system called e-rater. If the two scores are within one point, they are averaged; if they differ by more than one point, a second human rater scores the essay. Your final AWA score is the average of your Issue and Argument scores, rounded to the nearest 0.5. An AWA of 4.0 is approximately the 54th percentile, 4.5 is the 79th, and 5.0 is the 91st. For most programs, an AWA of 4.0 or higher is considered acceptable; 4.5+ is strong; 5.0+ is exceptional.

Should I retake the GRE to improve my score?

Whether to retake the GRE depends on how far your current scores are from your target programs' expectations and how much preparation time you can invest. If your combined score is below 310 and you are targeting competitive programs, additional preparation and retaking can meaningfully improve your application. If your score is in the range of your target programs, retaking may not significantly change your outcome. Consider that many programs consider only your highest score, and most AdCom members understand that test performance varies. Focus on the sections most relevant to your field — Quant for STEM programs, Verbal for humanities. This calculator's program competitiveness section and field comparison can help you decide whether a retake is worth the investment.

GRE Score Calculator