What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities? Know Score Range

What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities? Know Score Range

Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Feb 10, 2025 10:02 AM IST

The most important academic qualification to join any master's programme abroad is to have a good GRE score. Thus, the first question prior to the application process is 'What is a good GRE score?'. In order to address that, it is to be noted that the good GRE score range can be different for every graduate programme and institution to which applicants are applying.

This Story also Contains
  1. Type of GRE Scores
  2. General Test GRE Scores
  3. What is a Good GRE Math Subject Test Score?
  4. What is a Competitive GRE Score?
  5. What is a Good GRE Score out of 340?
  6. What is a Good GRE Analytical Writing Score?
  7. How to Check the GRE Score?
  8. Details in GRE Scorecard
  9. What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities?
What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities? Know Score Range
What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities? Know Score Range

Generally, a good GRE score should be at least the average of students in a desired program. However, a good GRE score range is 160 or above. GRE scores are measured based on answers correctly answered and are considered raw GRE scores. Furthermore, it is one of the significant demands to gain entry in MS courses, though currently, more than 1300 business schools worldwide accept GRE scores for MBA courses as well.

Therefore, the GRE test has two types one is the general test, which comprises verbal and quantitative reasoning along with analytical writing. Besides this, the GRE subject test contains math, physics, and psychological sections. The given GRE score range is on a scale of 130 to 170 for both verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning in one-point increments; however, for analytical writing, the score range is between 0 and 6 in half-point increments.

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Read the article below to learn more about the ideal GRE score range, types, and other important things one requires regarding the standardised test results.

Type of GRE Scores

There are two types of GREs taken by students who want to study graduate courses.

  • General Test: This part of the GRE syllabus covers verbal and quantitative reasoning along with analytical writing.

  • Subject Test: This exam is subject-specific such as if the student wants to get into a business school or law school. They have an open-door opportunity with GRE tests. The subject test is now in three subjects; math, physics, psychology and Chemistry GRE test is discontinued from May 2023.

Every subject's GRE score is calculated on a scale of 220 to 990 with 10-point increments. Whereas as of September 2025, the Psychology and Physics GRE score ranges from a percentage of 0 to 100.

General Test GRE Scores

The general test of the GRE contains three sections verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Here is the overview of all three sections of general GRE test scores.

Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning: A GRE score above 160 on each section is generally considered good, although some highly competitive programmes may expect even higher scores. However, it's essential to research the average scores of admitted students in your chosen field and aim to be at or above that level.

Analytical Writing: The analytical writing section of the GRE scores is as important as the verbal and quantitative sections; it is frequently considered important for the selection process and requirements like letters of recommendation, academic and transcript records and personal statements. A GRE score of 4.0 or above is generally seen as good.

For a detailed overview of scores and their percentile, check out the table mentioned below:

GRE Scorecard: Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning

GRE Score

Verbal Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning

170

99

94

169

99

91

168

98

87

167

97

83

166

96

80

165

95

76

164

94

73

163

92

70

162

89

68

161

87

65

160

84

61

159

81

58

158

77

55

157

73

52

156

70

49

155

65

46

154

60

42

153

56

39

152

50

36

151

46

33

150

41

30

149

36

27

148

32

24

147

29

21

147

25

18

145

22

15

144

19

13

143

17

11

142

15

9

141

12

7

139

10

6

138

9

5

137

7

4

136

6

3

135

5

2

134

4

1

133

3

1

132

2

1

131

2


130

1


GRE Scorecard: Analytical Writing

Scores

Analytical Writing

6.0

99

5.5

98

5.0

91

4.5

81

4.0

56

3.5

38

3.0

15

2.5

7

2.0

2

1.5

1

1.0

-

0.5

-

0

-

Explore More Article:

What is a Good GRE Math Subject Test Score?

To get a good GRE score in math, the applicant must have a minimum score of 60% or above. Check out the table below for a reference of score range and percentile.

GRE Scorecard: Maths Subject

Score Range

Maths

980

-

960

96

940

96

920

95

900

93

880

90

860

86

840

82

820

78

800

74

780

71

760

66

740

63

720

58

700

54

680

50

660

47

640

42

620

38

600

34

580

30

560

26

540

22

520

18

500

14

480

10

460

7

440

5

420

3

400

2

380

1

360

1

340

-

GRE Scorecard: Physics and Psychology

Score Range

Physics

Psychology

980

96

-

960

92

-

940

89

-

920

85

-

900

81

-

880

77

-

860

74

-

840

71

-

820

68

99

800

64

97

780

61

95

760

58

91

740

55

86

720

52

79

700

47

72

680

44

64

660

40

57

640

36

50

620

32

43

600

27

37

580

24

32

560

20

27

540

16

22

520

12

18

500

9

15

480

6

12

460

5

9

440

3

7

420

2

5

400

1

3

380

1

2

360


1

340


1

In the Physics GRE score range, a score of 900 and below is 97 per cent.

What is a Competitive GRE Score?

Usually, there is no range for measuring the GRE scale, as the GRE score varies as per the university and programme requirements. A competitive GRE score is primarily a score above 160 in verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning and a score above 4.5 in analytical writing is a good competitive GRE score. Scores above 165 are highly accepted and competitive among various highly reputed universities.

What is a Good GRE Score out of 340?

A GRE score ranges from 130 to 170 for both verbal and quantitative reasoning and 160 is considered a good GRE score. Therefore, an overall score of 320 or above out of 340 is a good score.

What is a Good GRE Analytical Writing Score?

A good GRE score for analytical writing is 4 out of 6, whereas if the score is above 4 or 4.5, it is considered a competitive and excellent score and students with higher scores than required have higher chances of selection.

How to Check the GRE Score?

Students can check their official GRE scores for general test scores in their ETS account 8–10 days after the test date. Test-takers will also receive email notifications from the ETS.

GRE Scorecard

Sections

Scores

Verbal Reasoning

130–170, in 1-point increments

Quantitative Reasoning

130–170, in 1-point increments

Analytical Writing

0–6, in half-point increments

Details in GRE Scorecard

Candidates can check their GRE scores from their ETS account; the official GRE Test-taker Score Report contains information and personal records. The GRE score report contains:

  • Contact information (name, phone number and email)

  • Date of birth

  • Gender

  • Intended graduate major

  • Test dates

  • GRE test scores and the associated percentile ranks

  • Authorised score recipients or fellowship sponsors and the scores reported to those institutions

  • The cumulative record of scores reported within the last 5 years.

What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities?

A good GRE score is a primary requirement for the top university to secure admission to a graduate course. Here is a list of good GRE scores for some top universities as per their requirements.

GRE Score Requirement of Top Universities:

QS World University Ranking 2025

University

GRE Verbal Scores

GRE Quant Scores

GRE Writing Scores

1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

157

162

5.3

2

Imperial College London

156

158

-

6

Stanford University

158

163

4.5

11

University of Pennsylvania

168

160

4.3

12

University of California, Berkeley

155

161

4.5

16

Cornell University

165+

155+

3.5+

21

University of Chicago

156

161

-

23

Yale University

155 - 165

160-167

-

Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is 320 a good GRE score?

Yes, a total GRE score of 320 and above is a good GRE score. Test takers must score an equal GRE score of 160 in the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE.

2. What is an excellent GRE score?

An excellent GRE score depends on the programme the student is applying to. A GRE score of 152 or above is considered average, and a score of 160 is considered good. Scores above 160 are highly competitive and excellent, as per many top university requirements.

3. Is 270 a good GRE score?

One should have a score higher than the average GRE score; a GRE score of 270 is average. If calculating the overall GRE score, the test taker must have a score above 300 to be considered a good GRE score. Although it is not a general GRE score. It may vary depending on the university and programme the candidate is applying to.

4. What is the GRE score for Harvard?

The minimum GRE requirements are not mentioned on the official course pages, but a score of 330 is generally acceptable, including 165+ for verbal, 160-170 for quant, and 4.0-5.0 for analytical writing.

5. What is the GRE score for Ivy League?

The scores of the accepted Ivy League applicants range from 155 to 166 in Verbal GRE, whereas the Quantitative GRE score ranges from 155 to 170. Many institutions favor scores in the 160s .

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