What's a Good GRE Score?

Here's the honest answer: a "good" GRE score is one that clears the bar for the graduate programs you actually want to attend. The General Test reports Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning each on a 130-170 scale, plus Analytical Writing from 0 to 6. Roughly speaking, the middle of each section sits around 155-156, and many competitive programs look for about 160+ in the section that matters most for your field. You can turn practice results into section estimates with our free GRE score calculator.

How the GRE is scored

The GRE General Test gives you three separate scores rather than one combined number. Verbal and Quant are each reported in 1-point steps from 130 to 170, and people often add them for a combined V+Q figure between 260 and 340. Analytical Writing is scored separately from 0 to 6 in half-point steps. There's no single "total" that programs rank you by — they look at the sections that matter for your discipline.

• Verbal Reasoning — 130 to 170, in 1-point steps.
• Quantitative Reasoning — 130 to 170, in 1-point steps.
• Analytical Writing — 0 to 6, in half-point steps.

GRE score ranges, roughly

Percentiles shift from year to year and the official tables come from ETS, so treat these as a guide rather than gospel. One thing to know about Quant: scores skew high, so the same scaled number is a lower percentile on Quant than on Verbal.

• Around 152-156 — roughly the middle on each section.
• 160 — a strong, competitive section score for many programs.
• 165+ — high, in range for selective programs.
• 4.0-4.5 on Writing — solid; check what your field expects.

What counts as good depends on your field

A math-heavy program (engineering, economics, hard sciences) will weigh your Quant score most, while a humanities or social-science program may care more about Verbal and Writing. The smartest move is to look up the average admitted scores published by your target programs and aim at or above them. Always confirm directly with each program, since these numbers move and some schools have gone test-optional.

A quick note on the shorter test

The GRE was shortened in 2023, but the score scale did not change — Verbal and Quant are still 130-170 and Writing is still 0-6. So older score guidance about the scale still applies, even though the test now takes less time.

Turn your target into a plan

Once you know the section score your programs expect, take a full-length practice test, then close the gap with focused work. COSMIQ's free voice tutor is free for every learner, and the GRE score calculator shows where your practice results would land.

Related resources: GRE score calculator · free voice tutor