GRE Score Percentiles, Scoring Scale, & Averages Explained (2025)

The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is a standardized test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is often required for admission into many graduate programs regardless of the field of study. If you're applying to graduate school in 2025, understanding GRE score percentiles is critical. They don’t just show your raw performance but also show how you stack up against other test takers, and they’re a key piece of how admissions committees evaluate your readiness

It remains one of the most critical standardized test scores for applicants to graduate programs worldwide. But test takers often misunderstand how GRE scores, percentiles, scaled score conversions, and section dynamics really work. In a competitive landscape where even a score like 165 in Quantitative Reasoning might slip in percentile value, context is everything.

In this guide, we’ll explain how the GRE is scored, what counts as a good GRE score, the latest GRE score charts and percentiles, how percentiles are calculated, how to improve your GRE percentile, and provide tactical insights from real test takers.

Quick Look: GRE Scoring and Percentiles (2025)

GRE Score Range & GRE Maximum Score

• Each of the two main sections, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning, is scored on a scaled score between 130 and 170.
• Thus, the maximum GRE score (or GRE max score) for those two sections is 340 (170 + 170).
• The Analytical Writing section is scored separately on a 0 to 6 scale in half-point increments.

Because GRE subject test scores and subject tests are different (and largely unrelated to the general test), we focus on the GRE General test here.

ETS does not publish a percentile for the total GRE score, only for each section.

New Format & Key Changes

• Since September 2023, the GRE has had a shorter format with five sections: two Verbal, two Quantitative, and one analytical writing section.
• The test now lasts about 1 hour and 58 minutes in total.
• Both verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections now operate in section‑level adaptive mode: your performance on the first section influences the difficulty of the second.
• There is only one task in the analytical writing section (“Analyze an Issue”), instead of two tasks.

Because of the adaptive nature, your raw score (number correct) isn’t directly meaningful by itself; ETS converts it to a scaled score, then computes a percentile rank based on the performance of other test takers.

Read: How Long Is Each GRE Section? Timing Tips for Every Part of the Test

How GRE Percentile Ranks & Score Percentiles Are Defined

Understanding your GRE score percentile is key to understanding how competitive your application really is. Raw and scaled scores tell you how many questions you got right. Your percentile tells you how you performed compared to everyone else, which is what admissions committees actually care about.

Let’s break it down.

From Raw Score to Scaled Score to Percentile Rank

On test day, every question you answer correctly adds to your raw score. There’s no penalty for wrong answers, so your raw score is just a simple count.

That raw score is then converted by ETS into a scaled score:

• 130–170 for Verbal Reasoning
• 130–170 for Quantitative Reasoning

This conversion isn’t linear; it’s influenced by question difficulty and your performance on each section, especially since the GRE is section-level adaptive. That means the difficulty of the second section depends on how well you did in the first, which also affects your final score.

Finally, ETS maps your scaled score to a percentile rank, which shows what percentage of test takers you outperformed in that section. For example, if your Quant score is in the 76th percentile, it means you scored better than 76% of other test takers.

These percentiles are based on real testing data from thousands of GRE exams, and they change over time.

Why GRE Percentiles Are Dynamic (and Getting More Competitive)

ETS doesn’t freeze percentiles in time. They regularly update GRE interpretive data based on how large populations of test takers are performing. As test-taking patterns shift, so do the score distributions and your percentile rank along with them.

This is why GRE score percentiles are dynamic, not fixed. A score that ranked in the 65th percentile a few years ago might now fall in the 55th. That’s especially true in Quantitative Reasoning, where more students are scoring higher, pushing top percentiles into tighter bands.

We’re seeing this firsthand in 2025. According to test takers in the GRE Reddit community, even a strong Quant score like 159 might land you at just the 50th percentile. A 165, which used to break into the 90s, might now hover closer to the 70th.

One Reddit user summarized it well:

“The percentile of a given Quant score keeps going down. For the same reason, the percentile of a given Verbal score goes up.”

This trend is called percentile compression, and it’s becoming a real factor, especially in Quant. As more test takers prep smarter and perform better, the top score bands are becoming crowded. That makes small score gains in those upper ranges (like going from 165 → 170) much less impactful in terms of percentile movement than similar jumps in the midrange (e.g., 155 → 160).

How Is Your GRE Percentile Scores Calculated?

ETS uses your GRE scaled score (not raw score) to determine your GRE percentile ranking:

• Your raw score is simply the number of correct answers.
• That raw score is converted to a scaled GRE score (130–170 for Verbal reasoning and Quantitative reasoning).
• ETS then calculates your percentile rank based on current score distributions from other test takers.

The GRE is section-level adaptive, meaning your performance on the first section affects the difficulty of the second. That makes raw-to-scaled conversion slightly opaque, and why percentiles matter even more.

Pro Tip: Aim to outperform the percentile benchmark for your target program, not just the average score.

GRE Sections

The GRE was updated in September 2023 and is now shorter and more targeted. It is made up of five sections: two Verbal Reasoning, two Quantitative Reasoning, and one Analytical Writing. The test lasts 1 hour and 58 minutes in total and is taken online, either at home or at a testing center.

Both the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections are computer-adaptive at the section level, meaning the computer will select an easier or harder second section based on how well you performed on the first section. A GRE score ranges from 130 to 170 for the Verbal and Quantitative sections and 0 to 6 for the Analytical Writing section.

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section includes reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence questions that test your ability to draw conclusions, distinguish major points, and understand the meaning of words, sentences, and passages. Many GRE test-takers find the text completion and sentence equivalence questions to be the most challenging. The average Verbal Reasoning score is 150.94. The first section is 18 minutes long with 12 questions, and the second is 23 minutes long with 15 questions.

Quantitative Reasoning

This section of the GRE tests your ability to use quantitative information and solve problems using arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The test provides an online calculator and does not require knowledge of higher-level mathematics such as calculus or inferential statistics. The average section score is 155.44. The first section is 21 minutes with 12 questions, and the second section is 26 minutes long with 15 questions.

Analytical Writing

The Analytical Writing section is 30 minutes long with one writing task that asks you to analyze an issue and respond with a coherent argument supported by reasoning and evidence (and with little to no grammar or spelling mistakes, of course). With only 30 minutes to complete the essay, it’s important to use your time wisely, such as by creating an initial outline or reviewing the possible Analytical Writing topics you will be asked to write about. The average GRE score for this section is 3.56 on a scale from 0 to 6 with half-point increments. See the score descriptions of the Analytical Writing test scores here.

Key Highlights:

• The GRE is now 1 hour and 58 minutes long, significantly shorter than the previous version.
• The GRE is comprised of five sections: two Verbal Reasoning, two Quantitative Reasoning, and one Analytical Writing.
• Both the Verbal and Quantitative sections are computer-adaptive at the section level.
• The Analytical Writing section now only involves one task, "Analyze an Issue," instead of two.
• The Verbal and Quantitative sections are scored from 130-170; Analytical Writing is scored from 0-6.
• The test is available online at home or at a testing center.

Read: How Long Is the GRE? Test Length, Section Breakdown, and Timing Tips

GRE Score Chart: Verbal and Quantitative Percentiles (2025)

Below is an updated estimate of section-level percentiles in 2025, based on the latest ETS interpretive data and learner reports. Use it as a benchmark rather than an absolute truth (percentiles shift).

Expert Insight: A 165 in Verbal is top 5%, but the same score in Quant is only top 24%. Quantitative scores are much more competitive.

GRE Score Chart: Analytical Writing Percentiles

Because AWA is scored in half-point increments, here’s how writing maps to percentiles:

Your analytical writing score is judged by both a human rater and a computer algorithm (e-rater). This section often gets overlooked, but many graduate programs (especially in humanities and social sciences) care deeply about it.

Average GRE score benchmarks:

• The average GRE score (combining verbal + quant) among test takers tends to hover in the 300–310 range.
• On section levels: • Average verbal reasoning score ≈ 152 • Average quant score ≈ 158
• The average analytical writing score across test takers is around 3.5 to 3.6.

These averages let you see where you stand vs. “typical test takers” rather than elite programs. (Be careful: “average” ≠ and “acceptable” for top grad schools.)

GRE Score Ranges by Field of Study

Notice how different disciplines emphasize different sections. Your verbal and quantitative reasoning scores matter differently depending on your goals.

What Counts as a Good GRE Score in 2025?

A good GRE score isn’t just a number; it’s context. Admissions committees interpret your percentile rank relative to other test takers, weigh it against the score ranges of admitted students in your target programs, and then evaluate it within the overall strength of your application package (GPA, essays, research, recommendations, and experience).

In other words, “Good” means good enough for your goals, not perfect, but competitive within your applicant pool.

What’s Considered a “Bad” GRE Score and What to Do If You’re There

There’s no such thing as a universally bad GRE score. What matters is whether your score disqualifies you from the schools and programs you're targeting. A 152 in Verbal might be just fine for one program and a dealbreaker for another.

That said, there are percentile zones that generally raise red flags:

• Below 145 in Verbal or Quant typically places you in the bottom 20% of test takers.
• Scores under 300 total (combined Verbal + Quant) may be seen as below average, especially for master’s and PhD programs with rigorous academic expectations.
• If your analytical writing score is under 3.0, many programs, especially in writing-heavy disciplines, will question your readiness for graduate-level coursework.

But even if your GRE score falls into these lower ranges, it doesn’t mean your application is doomed. It just means you need to respond strategically.

General Benchmarks by GRE Total Score

Insider insight:

Most graduate programs don’t have hard cutoffs; they look for evidence that you can handle the academic rigor. In data‑heavy fields (engineering, CS, finance), committees pay disproportionate attention to your quantitative reasoning score and percentile rank. In writing‑intensive or theory‑based disciplines (literature, law, philosophy), verbal reasoning and analytical writing weigh more heavily.

Some programs genuinely treat the GRE as a “sanity check,” so it just needs to not be a red flag. Others (especially elite PhDs and quant‑focused master’s programs) use it as a proxy for academic ceiling.

If you’re unsure where you stand, look up the published GRE score ranges for admitted students at your target schools, then aim for at least the 75th percentile in your field’s most relevant section.

Read: What Is a Good GRE Score? Percentiles, Targets, and What Schools Want

If you need help achieving a good GRE score, work 1:1 with a top GRE coach.

Real-World Takeaways: 2025 GRE Percentile Surprises

From the Reddit thread, test takers shared:

• 159 in Quant has been reported by multiple users as dropping to ~50th percentile in 2025.
• One user shared: “159Q = 50th percentile.”
• Others said: “160Q = 61st percentile; 155Q ≈ 46th percentile.”
• To hit 165 in Quant, many report needing to get 37–38 correct out of 40 (i.e. 2–3 wrong).
• Some report that answering 4 wrong in a harder second section still yielded a 165.
• One user scored 162 Quant and got ~68th percentile: “I didn’t get a good quant score, 162 is only 68th percentile.”
• On Verbal, people report that missing 1–2 questions may still yield 170 in some cases.
• A frequent tip among test takers: avoid silly mistakes — many saw 1‑2 point gains just by eliminating careless errors.

These experiences confirm that percentile curves are tightening. Quant percentiles in particular are becoming more competitive, and percentile compression (small score changes yielding big percentile shifts) is very real in 2025.

GRE Score Reporting & Validity

• You’ll receive your GRE score report ~10–15 days after testing.
• You can send additional score reports to grad schools for a fee.
• Your GRE test scores are valid for 5 years from your test date.
• You can retake the GRE exam every 21 days, up to 5 times in a year.

If you didn’t hit your target scores, consider using your score percentiles to identify which section to focus on.

How to Improve Your GRE Percentile Score (Not Just Your Score)

Most students chase a higher GRE score without realizing that percentile rank is what truly matters. Admissions committees don’t compare you to a perfect score; they compare you to other test takers. And your percentile is what tells them how you stack up. A 160 in Quant might look impressive at a glance, but if it places you in the 55th percentile, you’re right in the middle of the pack.

To make real gains, you need a smarter strategy. Not more hours, but better leverage. These are the tactics top scorers and GRE coaches use to unlock percentile jumps that raw score improvements alone can’t explain.

Identify and Target the Percentile Cliffs

Not all points on the GRE scale are equal in value. Some score increases unlock massive percentile jumps, especially in the middle ranges of Quant and Verbal. Going from 160 to 165 in Quant, for example, can take you from the 61st percentile to the 76th. But jumping from 165 to 168 might only nudge you forward a few percentiles. These “cliff” regions are where small score improvements produce outsized percentile returns. That’s where your effort should go first.

The best way to find these leverage zones is to study the most recent ETS percentile tables. Look at your current scores and identify where a two- or three-point improvement could push you into a new percentile tier. If you're stuck at 159 in Quant, you're sitting near the 50th percentile. But move that to 165, and suddenly you're pushing 70th or higher. This kind of strategic focus beats generic “try to improve” plans every time.

Focus on the Section That Moves Your Application

Not all sections carry equal weight for every applicant. If you’re applying to engineering, computer science, or data science programs, admissions committees will scrutinize your Quantitative Reasoning percentile far more closely than your Verbal score. For law, humanities, or public policy, the reverse is often true: Verbal and Analytical Writing carry more influence.

Start by identifying which section gives your application the most signal strength. Then, instead of evenly splitting your study time across all three sections, double down where the percentile return will have the biggest admissions impact. The smartest applicants don’t just aim for a good total GRE score; they tailor their section-level performance to what matters in their field.

Train with Official GRE Materials, Not “GRE-like” Content

Many students waste time practicing with third-party materials that don’t reflect the real GRE’s difficulty or scoring logic. These tests often misrepresent how questions are calibrated, leading to false confidence, or worse, inaccurate feedback on how your performance maps to percentile ranks.

To avoid this trap, use only ETS official materials for your mock exams and benchmarks. The PowerPrep Online practice tests and GRE practice books are calibrated to the actual exam. They also give you scaled scores that more accurately reflect where you stand. Keep a running log not just of your scaled scores but of your estimated percentile ranks over time. That way, you can spot patterns, plateaus, and improvements that generic prep won’t reveal.

Simulate Real Test Conditions Every Time

You can know the content cold and still underperform on test day if you haven’t trained your endurance, pacing, and focus. The GRE is shorter now, just under two hours, but it still demands sustained attention and smart time management.

To prepare properly, recreate test-day conditions in every full-length practice: take the exam at the same time of day as your actual test, with no outside distractions, no extended breaks, and strict timing rules. Use the same tools, like the on-screen calculator and virtual whiteboard, that you’ll use on test day. The goal isn’t just to answer questions correctly; it’s to condition your brain and body to perform under pressure. When test day feels familiar, your percentile goes up, even if your knowledge hasn’t changed.

Use Micro-Drills to Fix Specific Weaknesses

Instead of just running through full-length tests over and over, break your prep into micro-drills focused on specific weak spots. For Quant, that might mean 15-question sets on data interpretation, word problems, or geometry. For Verbal, it might be sentence equivalence, reading inference, or text completion.

This kind of focused repetition builds deep pattern recognition, and it helps convert your lowest-scoring question types into neutral or even strength areas. Over time, these targeted gains translate into real percentile movement. The fastest way to improve your GRE score isn’t always by working harder. It’s by attacking the exact sub-skills where you’re losing ground.

Track and Eliminate Repeated Mistakes

Most test takers lose more points to repeated errors than to difficult questions. The fastest path to a higher percentile is identifying and eliminating the mistakes you keep making. That might be rushing through algebra questions, misreading prompts, or falling for trick answer choices.

Track your misses using a mistake journal. For every incorrect answer, write down the question type, the reason for the mistake, and the fix you’ll apply next time. Was it a careless slip? A concept misunderstanding? A timing issue? The goal is to build a system that catches recurring patterns and replaces them with correct habits. Top scorers don’t just avoid making mistakes. They avoid making the same mistake twice.

Retake With a Strategy, Not Just Hope

Yes, you can retake the GRE multiple times, up to five times per year, with a 21-day waiting period between tests. But simply retaking without a new approach usually leads to the same result.

Use your official GRE score report to analyze which section is dragging down your overall percentile. If your Verbal is stuck at 152 while your Quant is at 165, that imbalance could be hurting your application. Use your report to identify gaps, adjust your study plan, and only schedule a retake once you’ve made measurable progress in your weak areas. If you’ve hit a plateau after two attempts, it might be time to bring in a coach or join a GRE prep program that can show you what you’re missing.

Every retake should be data-driven and deliberate. Treat your first test as a diagnostic, your second as an upgrade, and every test after that as a strategic opportunity, not a shot in the dark.

Read: GRE Study Plan & Schedule: 1, 3, & 6-Month Templates (From a Pro Tutor)

The Real Goal: Percentile Leverage

Top scorers don’t treat the GRE like a math test or a vocab quiz. They treat it like a competitive benchmark. They know exactly which score moves them from average to standout, and they spend their time and energy getting there with surgical focus.

If you want to move from a 58th percentile to a 75th percentile in Quant or from the 40th to the 60th in Verbal, you don’t need to study more. You need to study smarter. Focus on the right points, in the right sections, using the right materials, under the right conditions.

That’s how you turn a solid GRE score into a competitive one, and turn percentile leverage into admissions success.

Sample Score Scenarios & Interpretation

Because percentile rank drives how your GRE scores compare to other test takers, consider scenarios not by “score alone” but by what percentile tier they place you in.

Summary: What You Should Know About GRE Percentiles

• GRE percentiles (not raw test scores) are what admissions committees often use to contextualize performance.
• Because other test takers are improving, percentile curves shift, especially in quantitative reasoning, where percentiles are tighter in 2025.
• A “good GRE score” should be defined relative to your target discipline, not some abstract number.
• Small section gains (especially in the “cliff” zones) often yield larger percentile gains than chasing a perfect score.
• Use official ETS materials, simulate test-day conditions, and systematically eliminate recurring errors.
• Redo your approach if repeated retakes stall; you may need a new method or coaching.

Read: Top 50+ Free Resources for GMAT & GRE Practice

The Bottom Line

The GRE is still a key component of many graduate school applications, especially as a way to benchmark yourself against other test takers. With the new shorter format and increasingly competitive percentiles, particularly in Quant, strategy matters more than ever.

Rather than chasing a perfect score, focus on the percentiles that align with your target programs. And remember: while a strong GRE helps, it’s just one part of a holistic application. Aim for balance, clarity, and impact across every element.

Ace the GRE With the Help of an Expert!

Understanding percentiles is just the start; raising your GRE score takes strategy, structure, and expert feedback. Whether you’re aiming for a 330+ or trying to boost one section, a top 1% GRE coach can help you target your weak spots, build a custom plan, and stay accountable. Get personalized support from tutors who’ve done it themselves and helped hundreds of others do the same. Browse all GRE coaches here. Also, check out GRE bootcamps and free events for more helpful insights!

See: The 10 Best GRE Tutors

For more resources to help you ace your GRE and navigate the world of graduate applications, check out these articles:

• GMAT vs. GRE for Business School—Which Should You Take (and How to Ace Both)
• GMAT Study Tips From Pro Tutors: From 600 to 700+
• GRE Algebra: Guide, Formulas, Tips, & Practice Questions
• GRE Data Analysis: Guide, Formulas, Tips, & Practice Questions
• GRE Arithmetic: Guide, Formulas, Tips, & Practice Questions
• GRE Geometry: Guide, Formulas, Tips, & Practice Questions
• GRE Quantitative Practice Resources: Where to Find the Best Questions & Practice Tests

FAQs About GRE Percentiles

What is the perfect GRE score?

• The perfect GRE score for the general test is 340 (170 Q + 170 V). But a perfect score isn’t necessary for most programs, and percentile differences at the top often flatten out.

Can I improve my GRE percentile just by retaking the test?

• Only if your retake is accompanied by smarter preparation. Retaking with the same strategy usually yields minimal percentile shifts.

What percentile corresponds to a 320 total GRE score?

• Because ETS doesn’t publish total GRE percentiles, you’ll estimate cross-sections (e.g. 159 V + 161 Q might roughly map to ~80th percentile for total).

What percentile is 165 in Quant in 2025?

• Based on Reddit and ETS data, 165 Quant now tends to fall around the 70th percentile, possibly higher depending on the year.

How many wrong answers can you afford to still get 165+ in Quant?

• Many test takers report needing to miss 2–3 questions out of ~40 to still hit 165 (i.e. answer ~37–38 correctly).

Are GRE subject test scores included in this analysis?

• No, this article focuses on GRE general test scores. GRE subject test scores have their own scale and percentile systems.

How long is the GRE score valid?

• GRE scores are valid for 5 years from your test date. You can report them as needed to graduate schools.