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

Prabhjyot KaurUpdated on 10 Feb 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

Type of GRE Scores
General Test GRE Scores
What is a Good GRE Math Subject Test Score?
What is a Competitive GRE Score?
What is a Good GRE Score out of 340?
What is a Good GRE Analytical Writing Score?
How to Check the GRE Score?
Details in GRE Scorecard
What is a Good GRE Score for Top Universities?

Good GRE Score

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:

GRE Eligibility Criteria	GRE Registration
GRE Preparation Tips	GRE Sample Papers

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	-

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: 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.

Q: 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 .

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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