GRE Score Calculator: Overall & Section-Wise Calculator

  • Mode

    Both

vector vector vector vector vector
Mrunmayai Bobade logo

Mrunmayai Bobade
Updated on Jun 02, 2023 5:58 PM IST

If you have attempted the GRE exams this year and need a clearer understanding of how each section of the test is scored or how the entire exam is calculated, then go through this page. Here, we have outlined in detail, how ETS scores each candidate in each of the different sections of the test.

Check out the scoring chart for GRE, the percentile calculator for GRE and much more to get a better understanding of how ETS scores your GRE exams every year. You can also find the section-wise GRE score calculator on this page as well as GRE performance statistics.

GRE Score Overview

Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing are the three main sections of the GRE exam. Scores for both verbal and quantitative reasoning range from 130 to 170, with each point increment being worth one more. On the other hand, the scoring range for analytical writing is 0 to 6, with each half-point increment increasing the score. The Verbal and Quantitative components combine to form the GRE score. The calculation of the Analytical writing scores varies between these two due to the difference in the scoring range. You will obtain a No Score (NS) for a section if no questions from that section are tried. 

GRE Score Validity 

5 years 

GRE Total Score 

GRE Verbal Reasoning + GRE Quantitative Reasoning

GRE Total Scores 

Highest: 340

Lowest: 260

GRE Score Range

GRE Verbal and Quantitative: 130-170

GRE Analytical Writing: 0-6

GRE Total Score Range 

340-260

GRE Maximum Scores 

GRE Verbal and Quantitative: 170

GRE Analytical Writing: 6

GRE Minimum Scores 

GRE Verbal and Quantitative: 130

GRE Analytical Writing: 0

GRE Average Scores 

Verbal: 151

Quantitative: 155

Analytical Writing: 3.6

GRE Score Calculation and Percentile

GRE score and percentile are the means used to interpret the overall GRE test performance of a test taker. The GRE score is the final score derived after converting the raw scores into scaled scores for each section. 

On the other hand, the GRE percentile is the depiction of scaled GRE scores in comparison to other test takers. ETS recommends the percentile method to compare the score of a test taker with the scores of other test takers. It shows how many test takers have scored higher or lower than the candidate. 

For instance, the 95 GRE percentile at a scaled GRE verbal score of 165, shows that 95% of test takers scored below 165 in GRE verbal section for the relevant period, and only 5% of test takers scored above 165. Hence, the candidate scoring 165 will be considered among the top 5% scorers of the GRE test of the relevant period. The percentile represents the quality of the actual performance of the test taker.

The GRE score report presents both the overall GRE score and the GRE percentile of the test taker. This is to ensure that candidates and foreign universities properly assess the qualitative, quantitative, and competitive performance of the test taker.

Know About Universities Accepting GRE Abroad!

How is the GRE Scored?

The GRE scoring process follows the following steps:

Step 1: The GRE exam is first scored for each section. In the case of the GRE General Test, verbal, quant, and analytical writing sections are checked for raw scores.

Step 2: The raw scores are then converted to a scaled score using a process called equating.

Step 3: The Overall GRE score is an average of the scaled GRE scores of the verbal and quant sections. The GRE scaled score of analytical writing is shown separately on the GRE score report as it has different scaling measures.

GRE Score Conversion Chart

Let's see how the verbal and quantitative portions of raw results are transformed into individually scaled scores. The following is a chart of the raw GRE scores based on the correct answers:

Correct Answers 

GRE Raw Score 

GRE Score (Verbal & Quantitative)

0-5

0-5

130-135

5-10

5-10

135-140

10-15

10-15

140-145

15-20

15-20

145-150

20-25

20-25

150-155

25-30

25-30

155-160

30-35

30-35

160-165

35-40

35-40

165-170

Note: As you can see from the above table, you should expect a score between 165 and 170 if you receive a 40 in each of the parts. Your GRE score will range from 330 to 340 when these scores are added together.  

GRE Score Calculator for Verbal and Quant Sections

GRE verbal and GRE quant sections are scored on a 130-170 scale, with one-point increments. There are a total of two sections asked in both GRE verbal and quant. Each section consists of 20 questions. Hence, there are overall 40 questions asked in each of the GRE verbal and GRE quant sections.

GRE score calculator for Verbal and Quant Sections works based on the following steps:

  • Step 1: Raw scores are calculated by marking the 40 questions as attempted by the test taker. There is no negative marking during this process, and each correct answer is scored by one point. Hence, the maximum possible raw score in each section is 40.
  • Step 2: The raw scores are compared in percentile. The GRE percentile of verbal and quant sections shows the percentage of test takers who have scored lower than the test taker.
  • Step 3: The percentile is converted into a GRE-scaled score (marked between 130-170) according to the conversion table.

GRE Score Calculator for Analytical Writing

GRE analytical writing is marked on a different scaling measure. The scaled scores for the section range from 0-6, awarded in half-point increments.

The GRE score calculator follows the below steps to calculate the GRE analytical writing score:

  • Step 1: The text is scored by an expert reader on a scale of 0-6.
  • Step 2: The text is then scored by an e-rater, which is a computerised program of ETS to rate texts.
  • Step 3: If the scores awarded by the human reader and program are similar, they are averaged for a final GRE score for the analytical writing section.
  • OR, if the scores awarded by the human reader and program are in extreme variation, a second human reader is approached. The scores awarded by two human readers are then averaged for the final GRE score of the test taker in the analytical writing section.
  • Step 4: A candidate’s GRE percentile is decided by the conversion table of GRE analytical writing scores and relevant percentiles.

GRE Score Calculator for Subject Tests

The GRE Subject Tests focus on individual fields of study including Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Scores are awarded for each subject on a scale of 200-990, with 10-point increments. The GRE score calculator for subject tests works in the same way as the verbal and quantitative sections.

GRE Subject Tests scores are calculated in the following manner:

Step 1: The raw scores are calculated and the GRE percentile is calculated.

Step 2: The scores are scaled according to percentile. The GRE scores depicted in the GRE score certificate are the scaled scores.

Note: GRE Subjects Tests raw scores are determined based on the number of correct answers. Incorrect answers, the ones left unanswered or those with multiple marked answers are counted as incorrect. However, no score is deducted in case of an incorrect answer.

Section-wise GRE Percentile

GRE percentile for each section has a conversion table. This conversion table shows the relevant GRE percentile for GRE scaled scores awarded in respective sections.

GRE Percentile for Verbal Section

GRE verbal is awarded scaled scores on a scale of 130-170, in one-point increments:

GRE Verbal Scaled Score

GRE Percentile

170

99

169

99

168

98

167

98

166

97

165

95

164

94

163

92

162

90

161

87

160

85

159

81

158

78

157

74

156

71

155

66

154

62

153

58

152

52

151

48

150

43

149

38

148

34

147

30

146

27

145

24

144

21

143

18

142

16

141

13

140

11

139

9

138

8

137

6

136

5

135

4

134

3

133

2

132

2

131

1

130

-

GRE Percentile for Quant Section

GRE quant is also scored on a scale of 130-170 in one-point increments. Here is the relevant GRE percentile of each GRE quant scaled score:

GRE Quant Scaled Score

GRE Percentile

170

96

169

93

168

91

167

87

166

84

165

81

164

78

163

76

162

73

161

70

160

67

159

64

158

61

157

57

156

54

155

51

154

47

153

43

152

40

151

37

150

33

149

30

148

27

147

23

146

20

145

17

144

14

143

12

142

10

141

8

140

7

139

5

138

4

137

3

136

2

135

2

134

1

133

1

132

1

131

-

130

-

GRE Percentile for Analytical Writing Section

GRE analytical writing section is scored on a scale of 0-6 in half-point increments. The relevant GRE percentiles are given below:

GRE Analytical Writing Scaled Score

GRE Percentile

6.0

99

5.5

97

5.0

91

4.5

79

4.0

54

3.5

37

3.0

13

2.5

6

2.0

2

1.5

1

1.0

-

0.5

-

0.0

-

GRE Performance Statistics

Given below is the performance of candidates who take the GRE General Test between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021. 

GRE General Test Sections

Number of Test Takers

Mean GRE Scaled Score

Standard Deviation in Scaled Scores

GRE Quant

1,373,468

150.61

8.57

GRE Verbal

1,376,158

154.34

9.58

GRE Analytical Writing

1,369,829

3.60

0.86

How to Calculate My GRE Percentile?

To calculate the GRE percentile, test takers can refer to the conversion tables above. They can predict their section-wise raw scores to calculate their GRE percentile. Some of the facts they need to know while calculating the GRE percentile is:

  • The GRE percentile shows the competitive standing of the candidate in relation to the other test takers.

  • The higher the GRE percentile, the higher the chances of getting admitted to a university of their choice.

  • The minimum GRE score requirements shall be asked by the universities in section-based scores.

  • The GRE percentile calculated by the test taker before the announcement of results is not the final percentile.

  • The GRE percentile for a particular year is derived from the recommended GRE percentile chart.

  • GRE percentile can be finally declared only by ETS on their official website or score report.

When Will I Get My GRE Total Scores?

One of the most often requested GRE exam questions is when students will get their GRE total scores. Candidates should be aware that their GRE total results will be accessible 10 to 15 days after their GRE exam date. The conducting organisation would give the candidate an email notification once their GRE scoring was accessible on their ETS account. Candidates who opt for the GRE At Home test will receive their GRE score 10 to 15 days after their GRE test date.

What is a Good GRE Score Out of 340?

Candidates are frequently left wondering what a decent GRE score is. As previously said, each university will have its own GRE cut-off. As a result, any score above the cut-off would automatically qualify their application. Students are recommended to obtain better GRE scores than necessary because this will only boost their chances of admission to their preferred university. As a result, a good GRE score is a GRE score range that guarantees admission to the top 10% of top-ranked colleges. Candidates should be aware that GRE scores are reported independently. 

As a result, your GRE Verbal Reasoning section score would be scaled to 170, your GRE Quantitative Reasoning section score would be scaled to 170, and your GRE Analytical Writing section score would be 5.0. So, if you are wondering what a good GRE score is out of 340, a verbal section score between 152 and 158, a quantitative section score between 153 and 158, and an analytical section score above 4.0 are all considered good GRE scores.

Know the GRE Score Requirement for Your Course Abroad!

FAQs on GRE Score Calculation

What is GRE percentile chart?

The GRE percentile chart is a chart that shows the relevant GRE percentile for different GRE scaled scores. The percentile chart shows how many test takers are expected to score below a particular scaled GRE score. For instance, a GRE score of 162 in the quant section has a GRE percentile of 73, which means 73% of test takers are expected to score below 162.

Why is my GRE percentile different from my score report?

GRE percentile can be worked out by test takers on their own by using the GRE percentile score chart. However, in case the scaled score is different than expected, then the GRE percentile is bound to differ from the expected score. GRE scaled scores are derived from the GRE raw scores using the process of equating.

Why is GRE percentile important?

GRE percentile helps in a proper interpretation of the GRE scores. GRE scores are simply numbers until the GRE percentile chart is used. Once a percentile is denoted to the score, it becomes clear whether the test taker’s performance has really been good or not. The higher the percentile, the better they have performed.

What is scaling of raw GRE scores called?

GRE scores are scaled, or converted in an upward trend, from raw scores in each section through the method called equating. The raw score is converted in a proportionate manner while assessing the difficulty level of the question. For instance, if a test taker scores 36 out of 40, but has not attempted the difficult questions, then during equating, their scaled score will be lower.

How to Calculate Raw Score in GRE?

To calculate raw score in GRE,  the answers attempted by the test takers are marked. Raw GRE scores refer to the number of correct answers. In GRE quant and GRE verbal sections, the maximum possible raw GRE score is 40, while GRE analytical writing section is scored on a scale of 0-6.

How are GRE performance statistics important?

GRE performance statistics are used to derive the GRE percentile chart for the upcoming academic year. The performance statistics and the trends showcased by the relevant data are used to determine what percentage of test takers can score a particular level of scaled GRE score. They are the foundation on which competitive analysis of the GRE percentile chart is based.

Why are performance statistics of past years considered to derive a GRE percentile chart?

The performance statistics of past years are considered to derive a GRE percentile chart as the GRE test is designed on similar parameters as that of past years. If there is not much change in the test pattern then the performance statistics of the years, which followed the same parameters to design the test, are used to derive a GRE percentile chart for the upcoming year.

What is a good GRE percentile?

A good GRE percentile is any percentile that clears the benchmark set by the university for admission to their graduate program. In the case of business schools, most have an overall GRE requirement of 290-325, which means a GRE percentile of 50-80. Admissions to MS courses require an overall GRE score in the range of 295-330, for which GRE percentile range is 60-85. 

What percentile is 320 on GRE?

A GRE score of 320 shows a combined score obtained in GRE quant and GRE verbal. Assuming equal scores on both sections, the GRE percentile of 320 is 80-90. That is, at least 80% of the test takers were unable to score 320. This places the test takers scoring 320 among the top 10%-20% of the total number of test takers.

What percentile is 325 on GRE?

A GRE score of 325 means a percentile of 90-95. Hence, there are at least 90% of test takers who scored below 325. Many top business schools of the world consider 325 as an excellent score for admission to their MBA or other management programs. GMAT exam takers with a 325 score are considered among the top 5%-10% of test takers.

What percentile is 158 on the GRE?

The GRE percentile for a GRE score of 158 is different for verbal and quant sections. While a GRE quant score of 185 means a percentile of around 70, the same score in GRE verbal means a percentile of about 80. It is clearly a high score in both sections, and it can help test takers to apply to some of the top universities abroad.

What is 40% on the GRE?

40% on the GRE means a GRE score of 152 in the GRE quant section and a score of 149 or above in the GRE verbal section. An overall GRE score of above 300 can be achieved at a GRE percentile of 40. The score is considered enough to get into popular universities across the world.

View More

Colleges accepting GRE

Preparing for GRE?

Interested in Studying Overseas?

Connect with us and kickstart your learning journey for a rewarding experience!

By proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the CollegeDekhoAbroad Terms of Use & Privacy Policy.