GRE results and score chart 2024?

The GRE is a standard entrance exam that evaluates the academic and practical skills of international students who plan to pursue their postgraduate education abroad. The GRE exam analyses the students' ability in critical and abstract thinking and their problem-solving skills. Educational institutions in countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia accept GRE for admission to various courses. 

Understanding and analysing the GRE results can be tricky as the scores are associated with percentile ranks and graded on a scale. Here we help you understand your GRE scores and explain how the exam is scored.

GRE exam: An overview

Data updated as of November 2023

Also read: What are the GRE exam dates and fees for 2024?

GRE exam: Key highlights

• There are two types of GRE: GRE General and GRE Subject exams.
• The General version analyses your skills in analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and verbal reasoning. The assessment is available in three formats: computer-based, paper-based and the GRE home test.
• The GRE Subject test analyses your knowledge and skills in a specific field of study for your postgraduate studies. The Subject version is intended for the disciplines of study like Physics, Maths, Chemistry, and Psychology. It is important to note that the Subject test is only paper-based.

What are GRE grades?

GRE scores are an important factor at the screening stage of shortlisting schools and are accepted at thousands of graduate schools. The two types of GRE tests - General and Subject are scored differently.

A good GRE score is subjective and depends on your applying institution. So, check the average GRE scores for top graduate school programs and prepare accordingly.

What are GRE percentiles?

GRE percentiles refer to the percentage of candidates who scored below you on the exam. It is an important metric that evaluates the candidates’ knowledge and skills and proceeds with their applications. A high GRE percentile can improve your chances of admission to your desired educational institution.

For example, if you score in the 90th percentile, then you have scored better than 90% of the candidates who took the exam, and only 10% of them scored better than you.

So, the higher your percentile, the better your GRE results are. Also, it is important to note that GRE percentiles and GRE score ranges are not the same.

Also read: Your guide to GRE percentiles 2024

GRE score chart: General Test

GRE General test has three main sections:

• Verbal reasoning
• Quantitative reasoning
• Analytical writing

Verbal reasoning: This section evaluates the student's ability to analyse and draw conclusions from passages. The scoring range for this section is between 130 and 170, with one-point increments.

Quantitative reasoning: This section determines the student's ability to understand, interpret and analyse quantitative information and apply basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis to solve problems. The scoring range for this section is between 130 and 170, with one-point increments.

Analytical writing: This section tests students' critical thinking and analytical writing skills. The scoring range for this section is between 0 and 6, with half-point increments.

GRE score chart for General test

Data updated as of November 2023

GRE raw score conversion chart 2024

Data updated as of November 2023

How are GRE General tests scored?

GRE score chart for verbal and quantitative reasoning section

The performance of the students on the tasks and the number of questions answered in the given time determines your GRE score in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections. The scores in this section are section-level adaptive; that is, the computer selects the tasks for the second section based on the first section's performance. All the questions contribute equally to the overall score.

The total correct answers constitute a GRE raw score, which is computed for both measures. The raw score is converted to a scaled score between 130 and 170, and if the question is unanswered, then an NS (No Score) is reported for that measure.

GRE score chart for verbal and quantitative reasoning percentiles

Data updated as of November 2023

GRE score chart for analytical writing section

The analytical writing section consists of 2 essay questions, and the score is calculated based on each task. Each essay in the analytical writing section has a score range of 0-6. A trained reader will assign a score based on the overall quality of the essay. A computerised program developed by ETS then grades your work based on your writing proficiency.

If the score given by the reader and the e-rater are in close range, then the final score is determined by obtaining the average of the two scores. However, if the scores differ, another trained reader evaluates the essay; the final score is the average of the two reader's scores. If either essay is left unanswered, then an NS (No Score) is reported for the measure.

GRE score chart for analytical writing percentiles

Data updated as of November 2023

Average GRE General test scores

Here are the average GRE General test scores based on the GRE results of candidates who appeared for the test between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2021:

Average GRE scores for General test

Data updated as of November 2023

GRE score chart: Subject Test

GRE Subject tests are paper-delivered assessments conducted around three times a year (September, October, and April) at particular test centres. This test evaluates the candidate's knowledge and skills in these four subjects:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Psychology

Chemistry

The GRE Subject's chemistry test has approximately 130 questions on analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. The exam lasts for 2 hours 50 minutes.

Mathematics

The mathematics test has approximately 66 questions on topics like calculus and its applications, algebra, and other areas of mathematics that would test the candidates’ ability to analyse and solve mathematical problems. The duration of the exam is 2 hours 50 minutes.

Physics

The GRE physics test has approximately 100 questions the candidate must complete in 2 hours 50 minutes. The exam covers topics like classical mechanics, electromagnetism, optics and wave phenomena, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and other physics-related phenomena.

Also read: How to ace the GRE physics test: Expert advice and strategies

Psychology

The psychology chemistry test has approximately 205 questions on biological, cognitive, social, developmental, clinical, and other psychology-related topics.

GRE Subject test: Key highlights

Data updated as of November 2023

GRE score chart for Subject test

Data updated as of November 2023

How are GRE Subject tests scored?

The scoring range for each GRE Subject test is between 200 and 990, with 10-point increments. The physics and psychology tests differ from the chemistry and mathematics tests, having subscores on a 20-99 score scale with one-point increments. Each subject's test score is determined by the number of correct answers and is calculated independently for each test.

A detailed GRE score chart for the Subject test

Data updated as of November 2023

Average GRE Subject test scores

Here are the average GRE Subject test scores for students who took the assessment between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2021.

Average GRE scores for Subject test

Data updated as of November 2023

GRE score chart

Candidates can obtain the official GRE score chart from their ETS account 10 to 15 days from the test date. ETS will send a notification email regarding the availability of the score report. The official GRE score chart will include the following information.

• Personal information of the candidate (name and address).
• Test date
• Course applied
• GRE test score and percentile
• Authorised score recipients
• A cumulative record of the last five year's scores

For how long are the GRE scores valid?

The GRE results or scores are valid five years from the test date.

For example, if you took the exam on June 18, 2023, the scores are valid till June 17, 2028.

Frequently asked questions

How are the GRE Subject tests scored?

The number of correct answers in the GRE Subject test determines the test score, which is then converted to a scaled score. The scoring range for each GRE Subject test is between 200 and 990, with 10-point increments. The physics and psychology subject tests have subscores on a 20-99 score scale, with one-point increments.

When will I get my GRE scores?

The official GRE score chart will become available in the ETS account approximately 10–15 days after your test date.

How are the GRE General test scores reported on the score chart?

The GRE score chart of the General test has three sections. They are verbal reasoning (130–170 score scale), quantitative reasoning (130–170 score scale), and analytical writing (0–6 score level).

How long are GRE scores valid?

The GRE scores and percentiles are valid for five years from the test date. For example, if the candidate took the exam on July 19, 2023, the scores are valid till July 18, 2028.

What are the lowest and highest marks in the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections?

The highest score in the GRE General test's quantitative and verbal reasoning sections is 170. Their lowest score is 130. So, the highest score in the quantitative and verbal reasoning section combined is 340, whereas the lowest score is 260.

What is a good GRE score?

A good score for the GRE General test's verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections is typically around the 75th percentile or higher. This means the test-taker scored higher than 75% of the test-takers who appeared for the exam on the same day. A score of 5.0 or higher is considered good for the analytical writing section.

What are the Physics GRE percentiles?

What is the good physics GRE score?

A good Physics GRE score is generally considered to be above 750.

How is the GRE scored?

Here’s how the GRE tests are scored.

GRE General test

GRE Subject test

What is the GRE max score?

The maximum score for the GRE General test is 340, whereas the highest score for the Subject test is 990.