GRE Score Percentile Calculator
Convert GRE verbal and quantitative scores to percentile rankings. Compare your scores against competitive program requirements.
GRE Score Percentile Calculator
Calculator
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Formula: Percentile = % of test takers scoring below your score
Worked example — Combined: 57th percentile | Quant needs significant improvement (+7 pts)
Formula
Percentile = % of test takers scoring below your score
Percentile rankings are derived from ETS published data representing the cumulative performance of all GRE test takers over a rolling three-year period. Higher percentiles indicate stronger relative performance compared to the global test-taking population.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Mid-Range Scores for Social Science Program
Problem:A student scores Verbal 155, Quantitative 150, and Analytical Writing 4.0. They are targeting programs requiring 70th percentile scores.
Solution:Verbal 155: 67th percentile Quantitative 150: 46th percentile Writing 4.0: 56th percentile Combined score: 305/340 Average percentile: (67 + 46) / 2 = 57th Target 70th percentile requires: V 156+, Q 157+ Verbal gap: +1 point needed Quantitative gap: +7 points needed
Result:Combined: 57th percentile | Quant needs significant improvement (+7 pts)
Example 2: High Scores for Top Engineering Program
Problem:A student scores Verbal 158, Quantitative 167, and Analytical Writing 4.5. They are targeting top-10 programs (90th percentile).
Solution:Verbal 158: 78th percentile Quantitative 167: 95th percentile Writing 4.5: 73rd percentile Combined score: 325/340 Average percentile: (78 + 95) / 2 = 87th Target 90th percentile requires: V 163+, Q 165+ Verbal gap: +5 points needed Quantitative: already exceeds target
Result:Combined: 87th percentile | Strong quant, verbal needs improvement for top-10
Frequently Asked Questions
How are GRE scores converted to percentile rankings?
GRE percentile rankings indicate the percentage of test takers who scored below your score. ETS (Educational Testing Service) publishes percentile data annually based on the performance of all GRE test takers over the previous three-year period. For example, if your Verbal score is at the 67th percentile, it means you scored higher than 67 percent of all test takers. The Verbal and Quantitative sections are scored on a scale from 130 to 170 in one-point increments, while Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments. Percentiles are not evenly distributed across score ranges because test score distributions are not perfectly uniform, and the Quantitative section tends to have higher average scores.
What is a good GRE score for graduate school admissions?
A good GRE score depends heavily on your target program and field of study. Generally, scores above the 60th percentile (approximately 153 Verbal and 155 Quantitative) are considered above average. Competitive programs at top-50 universities typically expect scores above the 70th percentile (155+ Verbal, 158+ Quantitative). Elite programs at top-20 schools often look for scores above the 80th-90th percentile (160+ Verbal, 163+ Quantitative). STEM programs tend to weight Quantitative scores more heavily, while humanities and social science programs emphasize Verbal scores. However, GRE scores are just one factor in admissions alongside GPA, research experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.
Why are Verbal and Quantitative percentiles different for the same score?
The same numeric score yields different percentiles on the Verbal and Quantitative sections because the test-taking populations perform differently on each section. The Quantitative section tends to have a higher average score (approximately 153-154) compared to the Verbal section (approximately 150-151). This is partly because many international students who take the GRE are stronger in mathematics than in English verbal reasoning, pushing the Quantitative average higher. As a result, a score of 160 on the Verbal section might place you at the 84th percentile, while the same 160 on the Quantitative section might only reach the 80th percentile. Always check percentiles rather than raw scores when comparing across sections.
How important is the Analytical Writing score compared to Verbal and Quantitative?
The Analytical Writing (AW) score is generally considered less important than Verbal and Quantitative scores by most graduate programs, but it should not be neglected. Most programs look for a minimum AW score of 3.5-4.0 to ensure adequate writing competency. Scores below 3.0 may raise red flags, particularly for programs that require significant academic writing. Humanities, social sciences, and law-related programs tend to value the AW score more highly, sometimes expecting 4.5 or above for competitive applicants. STEM programs are generally more lenient on AW scores as long as they meet a minimum threshold. The AW score is reported separately from the 130-170 scale sections and uses a 0-6 half-point scale with two trained readers evaluating each essay.
Should I retake the GRE if my scores are below my target percentile?
Retaking the GRE can be worthwhile if your scores fall significantly below your target programs requirements. ETS allows you to take the GRE up to five times within any continuous 12-month period, with at least 21 days between attempts. Research shows that repeat test takers typically improve their scores by 2-3 points on each section, with focused preparation potentially yielding larger gains. However, some programs consider your highest scores (ScoreSelect option), while others may average all attempts. Before retaking, honestly assess whether additional study time can close the gap. If you need a 5-point improvement, dedicated preparation for 4-8 weeks focusing on weak areas can often achieve this. For improvements beyond 8-10 points, more extensive preparation over 2-3 months is usually necessary.
Why is averaging the Verbal and Quantitative percentiles only an approximation?
ETS publishes percentile ranks per section, not for the 260-340 combined total, because the two distributions differ and performance on them is correlated. Averaging the two percentiles, as this page does, gives a usable single indicator but is not an official statistic: a lopsided 170 Quant with 145 Verbal averages to something similar to a balanced pair, even though admissions committees would read those two profiles very differently. Treat the section percentiles as the primary output.
How does section-level adaptivity affect the scaled score I receive?
The GRE adapts between sections rather than between individual questions. Your performance on the first Verbal section determines the difficulty of the second, and the same applies to Quant. Because a harder second section carries more scoring weight, two people answering the same number of questions correctly can land on different scaled scores. This is why raw correct counts do not map cleanly to the 130-170 scale and why percentile tables are published against scaled scores only.
How is the Analytical Writing essay actually scored?
The essay is rated on a 0-6 scale in half-point steps by a trained human reader and by an automated scoring engine. If the two ratings agree closely the scores are averaged; if they diverge, a second human reader adjudicates. Because the scale has only thirteen possible values across the whole population, each half-point step covers a wide band of percentile, which is why moving from 4.0 to 4.5 shifts the ranking far more than a single point does on the 130-170 scales.
How long do GRE scores stay valid, and what does ScoreSelect let me send?
General Test scores remain reportable for five years from the test date, so a score taken during an undergraduate degree can still support an application made several years later. ScoreSelect lets you choose which whole test administrations to send to each institution — the most recent, or any selection from the reportable period — but you cannot mix the Verbal from one sitting with the Quant from another. Some programmes ask for all reportable scores, so check each one's policy.
When should an applicant choose the GRE over the GMAT?
The GRE is accepted across most graduate disciplines, while the GMAT is aimed at business schools, though the great majority of MBA programmes now accept either. The GRE's Verbal section leans on vocabulary in context and reading, and its Quant allows an on-screen calculator; the GMAT weights data sufficiency and integrated reasoning more heavily. If you are applying to a mix of business and non-business programmes, one GRE score usually covers everything, which is the practical deciding factor.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Abdullah, Technical Content Specialist · Editorial policy
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