GRE Score Reference 2026 - What Is a Good Score for Your Target University?

May 27 2026

A 320 at MIT Means Something Different Than a 320 at a State School
How Does GRE Scoring Work? Understanding Scaled Scores and Percentiles
GRE Score Calculator - Estimate Your Scaled Score
Complete GRE Percentile Table 2026 - Verbal and Quantitative
GRE to GMAT Score Concordance - For MBA Applicants
GRE Score Validity, ScoreSelect & Smart Score Strategy
GRE Score Requirements for Indian Students - ISB, IIMs, and Abroad Programs
Frequently Asked Questions - GRE Score 2026

A 320 at MIT Means Something Different Than a 320 at a State School

Here's the mistake almost every GRE test-taker makes: they look at their score, Google - 'is 315 a good GRE score', get a generic answer, and either feel falsely reassured or unnecessarily panicked. A GRE score is not a universal pass-or-fail number - it is a signal that means different things depending on your target program, target university, and applicant pool.

A 315 combined score might be below average for MIT Computer Science but above average for a strong regional engineering school. A 162V might be exceptional for an MS Finance applicant but merely average for a Comparative Literature PhD candidate.

This guide gives you the tools to interpret your specific score for your specific target - along with a clear framework for deciding whether to retake the exam.

How Does GRE Scoring Work? Understanding Scaled Scores and Percentiles

The GRE does not score you out of the total number of correct answers. Understanding how the score is actually calculated explains why two students with different numbers of correct answers can end up with the same scaled score - and vice versa.

Step 1 - Raw Score

Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answered correctly in each section. There is no penalty for wrong answers on the GRE - every unanswered question is a lost point, so always attempt every question.

Step 2 - Section Adaptive Scaling

The GRE uses a section-adaptive format. Your performance on Section 1 (Verbal or Quant) determines the difficulty level of Section 2 of the same subject. If you perform well on Section 1, you receive a harder Section 2 - which has a higher scoring ceiling. If you perform poorly on Section 1, you receive an easier Section 2 - but your maximum possible scaled score is lower.

Why Section 1 Matters More Than Section 2

Important implication: Section 1 performance matters disproportionately. A poor Section 1 locks you into a lower scoring tier for Section 2 — regardless of how well you do on Section 2. This is why GRE strategy guides emphasize being careful and deliberate on Section 1 rather than rushing.

Step 3 - Scaled Score (130-170)

ETS converts your raw score into a scaled score between 130 and 170 using equating - a statistical process that accounts for small differences in difficulty between different versions of the test. This is why a raw score of 18/20 on one test version may give a slightly different scaled score than 18/20 on another version.

Step 4 - Percentile Rank

Your percentile rank tells you what percentage of test-takers scored lower than you over the past three years of GRE data. A 75th percentile score means you scored higher than 75% of all test-takers in that period. This is the number universities actually use to compare applicants.

Concept	What It Means	Example
Raw Score	Number of questions answered correctly	17 correct out of 20 in Verbal Section 1
Scaled Score	Converted score on 130-170 scale, adjusted for test difficulty	17 correct → approximately 162 scaled
Percentile	% of test-takers you scored higher than (last 3 years of data)	162V = approximately 89th percentile
Combined Score	Verbal scaled + Quantitative scaled	162V + 165Q = 327 combined

GRE Score Calculator - Estimate Your Scaled Score

Use the table below to estimate your scaled score range based on your approximate number of correct answers per section. These are estimates based on ETS historical conversion data - actual scaled scores vary slightly by test version.

Verbal Reasoning - Approximate Score Conversion

Correct Answers (out of 27)	Estimated Scaled Score	Approx. Percentile	Tier
26 – 27	168 – 170	99th	Exceptional
24 – 25	164 – 167	95th – 97th	Exceptional
22 – 23	160 – 163	86th – 90th	Competitive
20 – 21	156 – 159	74th – 81st	Competitive
18 – 19	152 – 155	59th – 69th	Good
15 – 17	147 – 151	40th – 54th	Average
12 – 14	142 – 146	24th – 35th	Below Average
Below 12	130 – 141	Below 24th	Below Average

Quantitative Reasoning - Approximate Score Conversion

Correct Answers (out of 27)	Estimated Scaled Score	Approx. Percentile	Tier
26 – 27	168 – 170	95th – 97th	Exceptional
24 – 25	164 – 167	86th – 90th	Exceptional
22 – 23	160 – 163	74th – 79th	Competitive
20 – 21	156 – 159	58th – 68th	Competitive
18 – 19	152 – 155	42nd – 53rd	Good
15 – 17	147 – 151	26th – 38th	Average
12 – 14	142 – 146	13th – 21st	Below Average
Below 12	130 – 141	Below 13th	Below Average

Why Quant Percentiles Look Different

Note on Quant Percentiles: Quant percentile ranks are compressed at the high end because many test-takers (particularly from engineering and math backgrounds) score in the 160-170 range. A 165Q is only the 82nd percentile, while a 165V is the 97th percentile. This means Verbal scores differentiate applicants more than Quant scores at the top end of the scale.

Complete GRE Percentile Table 2026 - Verbal and Quantitative

This is the complete percentile breakdown for GRE Verbal and Quantitative sections. Use it to understand exactly where your score places you in the global applicant pool.

Scaled Score	Verbal Percentile	Quant Percentile	What This Score Signals
170	99th	97th	Perfect or near-perfect - rare, extremely competitive for any program
168	99th	95th	Top 1–5% globally - exceptionally strong for any program
166	97th	90th	Highly competitive - strong signal for T10 programs
164	95th	86th	Competitive for T10 - well above average for T25
162	89th	79th	Strong score - competitive for T10–T25 programs
160	82nd	72nd	Good score - solid for T25 programs, above average for T50
158	74th	63rd	Above average - competitive at T25–T50 range
156	66th	54th	Average-to-good - meets minimum for many T50 programs
154	57th	45th	Average - competitive at T50 and regional universities
152	48th	36th	Below average for top programs - consider retaking
150	39th	28th	Low - likely below minimum for most T50 programs
148	31st	22nd	Significantly below average - strong case for retaking
145 and below	Below 25th	Below 15th	Well below average - dedicated retake prep strongly recommended

What Is a Good GRE Score? Benchmarks by Program Type

There is no universal 'good' GRE score. The right benchmark depends entirely on your target program. Here are realistic benchmarks by program type, based on publicly available data from university websites and applicant reports.

Read Before using these benchmarks

Important caveat: These are competitive benchmarks, not official cutoffs. Universities rarely publish hard minimum GRE scores. A student with a lower score but a strong GPA, exceptional SOP, and relevant research can still be admitted. These numbers tell you how you stack up against the competitive applicant pool - not whether you will or will not get in.

Program Type	Competitive Verbal	Competitive Quant	Combined Target	Notes
MS Computer Science	150 – 157	162 – 170	315 – 325+	Quant is weighted heavily. Verbal matters less. A 165Q+ with 152V can be competitive at T25.
MS Data Science / AI	152 – 158	163 – 170	318 – 325+	Similar to CS - strong quant profile is the priority. Research experience matters more than Verbal.
MS Electrical / Mechanical Engineering	150 – 156	162 – 170	315 – 322+	Quant dominant field. Verbal around 150 is generally acceptable if Quant is 165+.
MS Finance / Financial Engineering	154 – 160	163 – 170	320 – 328+	Both Quant and Verbal matter - finance programs read the full score. A 320+ combined is the safe target.
MS Management / MIS	153 – 160	158 – 166	315 – 323+	More balanced program - both sections carry weight. Good Verbal score matters more here than in pure engineering.
MBA (accepting GRE)	155 – 162	158 – 166	318 – 325+	Programs vary widely. Harvard, Wharton, Stanford use GRE-GMAT score concordance tables. 320+ is a safe target.
MS Public Policy / Economics	157 – 164	158 – 165	318 – 325+	Verbal carries more weight than in STEM programs. A strong Verbal score is a differentiator here.
PhD Programs (STEM)	154 – 160	165 – 170	322 – 330+	Top PhD programs expect near-perfect Quant. A 167Q+ is the norm at Tier 1 research universities.
PhD Programs (Humanities / Social Sciences)	162 – 170	150 – 160	315 – 325+	Verbal is the primary signal. A 165V+ is expected at top humanities programs. Quant matters less.
MS Psychology / Counselling	155 – 162	148 – 156	308 – 318+	Verbal-heavy field. Quant is less critical. Strong verbal score with relevant research experience is the priority.

Scope Note

These tier benchmarks are for MS programs primarily. MBA program benchmarks are listed separately in the Program Type table above. PhD program benchmarks vary significantly by field - use the Program Type table for PhD targets.

University Tier	Example Programs (MS)	Combined Score Target	Verbal Target	Quant Target	Realistic Assessment
T10 (Top 10 globally)	MIT, Stanford, CMU, UC Berkeley, Caltech, Princeton, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Cornell, UIUC	320 – 340	155+	165+	Very competitive - Quant near-perfect expected for STEM. 320+ is the floor for serious applicants.
T11–T25	Purdue, UT Austin, Michigan, Duke, Northwestern, UCLA, USC, UMass Amherst, Northeastern	315 – 325	152+	162+	Strong but achievable - a 315–320 with good GPA and SOP is competitive here.
T26–T50	Arizona State, UFL, Ohio State, Rutgers, SUNY Stonybrook, Stevens, Drexel, Texas A&M	308 – 318	149+	158+	Realistic target for scores in this range - good ROI programs for Indian students.
T51–T100	Pace, NJIT, Hofstra, regional state universities	295 – 310	145+	150+	Lower score acceptable - research the specific program's stated requirements.
Canadian Universities (top)	University of Toronto, UBC, McGill, Waterloo, McMaster	310 – 320	150+	158+	GRE acceptance varies - confirm each program requires or accepts GRE before registering.

India-Specific Perspective

A note for Indian students: University ranking alone should not determine your target score. Consider program-specific placement rates, research opportunities, TA/RA funding availability, and the cost of attendance. A 315 at Purdue or UT Austin can lead to equally strong career outcomes as a 325 at MIT for most MS programs - especially for non-research roles in industry.

GRE to GMAT Score Concordance - For MBA Applicants

If you are applying to MBA programs and want to understand how your GRE score compares to GMAT equivalents, use this ETS-derived concordance table. MBA programs use this table internally when reviewing GRE applicants alongside GMAT applicants.

GRE Combined (V+Q)	Approx. GMAT Equivalent	Context for MBA Admissions
338 – 340	800+	Exceptional - top 1% of both scales
330 – 337	760 – 800	Very strong - competitive for M7 MBA programs
323 – 329	720 – 760	Strong - competitive for T10–T15 MBA programs
315 – 322	680 – 720	Good - competitive for T15–T30 MBA programs including ISB
307 – 314	640 – 680	Average - competitive for T30–T50 MBA programs
300 – 306	600 – 640	Below average for top MBA - consider GMAT prep instead
Below 300	Below 600	Significantly below average for MBA programs - retake strongly recommended

Should You Retake the GRE? A Decision Framework

Use this framework to decide whether retaking the GRE is worth your time and money. Work through the questions in order.

Question	If YES	If NO
Is your current score more than 5 points below the average for your target program?	Retake is likely worth it - a 5+ point improvement can meaningfully change your application position.	You are within the competitive range. Retaking for a marginal improvement may not be the best use of prep time.
Are you consistently scoring higher on recent mock tests than on your official score?	Strong case to retake - your mock scores suggest your real ability is higher than the official result shows.	Your official score may accurately reflect your current level. Consider improving through more prep before retaking.
Do you have 6+ weeks available for targeted retake prep?	Proceed with retake prep. Less than 6 weeks of dedicated prep rarely produces more than a 3-4 point improvement.	Consider whether a retake without sufficient prep time is worth the $220 fee and the test anxiety cost.
Is your Quant score significantly lower than your Verbal score (or vice versa)?	A section-specific weakness is very fixable with targeted prep. A score where one section drags the combined score down is one of the best retake scenarios.	If both sections are balanced and at their ceiling, additional improvement may be harder to achieve.
Have you already taken the GRE 2 or more times?	Before retaking a third time, do an honest assessment. Are you improving between attempts? If scores are plateauing, consider whether prep strategy needs to change, not just the test date.	First or second attempt - retake is low-risk given GRE ScoreSelect policy (you choose which score to send).

How Much Can You Realistically Improve Your Score?

Starting Score	Realistic 6-Week Improvement	Realistic 12-Week Improvement	Key Focus Area
Below 300	8 – 15 points	15 – 25 points	Quant fundamentals and core vocabulary - large gains possible with consistent work
300 – 310	6 – 12 points	10 – 18 points	Identify the weaker section and go deep - section-specific strategy matters most here
310 – 318	4 – 8 points	6 – 12 points	Precision improvement - error log analysis, timed practice, section 1 strategy
319 – 325	2 – 5 points	4 – 8 points	Diminishing returns - focus on eliminating consistent error categories, not general study
326 – 330	1 – 3 points	2 – 5 points	Very hard to improve further - assess whether the marginal gain changes your target school list
331 – 340	Already at or near ceiling	Minimal gain possible	Focus application energy elsewhere - SOP, LOR, and research profile matter more now

GRE Score Validity, ScoreSelect & Smart Score Strategy

How Long Is a GRE Score Valid?

GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date. This means a student who took the GRE in April 2023 can use that score for applications through April 2028. For students planning to take time off between undergraduate and graduate school, this validity window provides meaningful flexibility.

What Is GRE ScoreSelect and How Do You Use It Strategically?

ScoreSelect is ETS's policy that allows you to choose which GRE score report(s) to send to universities. You are not required to send all your attempts.

• You can send scores from a single test date - meaning only your best attempt goes to each university.

• Universities only see the score(s) you choose to send - they do not see all your attempts unless you choose to share them.

• This makes retaking the GRE relatively low-risk compared to tests where all attempts are automatically reported.

GRE Score Requirements for Indian Students - ISB, IIMs, and Abroad Programs

Institution / Program	GRE Accepted?	Typical GRE Range (Admitted Students)	Notes
ISB PGP (MBA)	Yes	315 – 330	Both GMAT and GRE were accepted. GMAT is more common but GRE fully valid.
IIM Ahmedabad PGPX	Yes	310 – 325+	Executive MBA - GRE accepted alongside GMAT. Work experience weighed heavily.
IIM Bangalore EPGP	Yes	308 – 322+	Similar to PGPX - executive programme, GRE accepted.
XLRI (GMP)	Yes	308 – 320	Global Management Programme - GRE accepted for international cohort.
Top US MS Programs (T10)	Yes	320 – 340	Quant 165+ strongly preferred. See university-tier table above for details.
Top Canadian MS (Toronto, UBC)	Varies	310 – 325	Check each program - GRE not universally required. Some programs accept it as optional.
UK Universities (Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh)	Yes (some)	310 – 325	GRE not universally required in the UK - confirm with individual departments.
Singapore (NUS, NTU)	Yes (some)	315 – 328	NUS and NTU accept GRE for select MS programs. Confirm per department.

Frequently Asked Questions - GRE Score 2026

Q1. What is a good GRE score?

A 'good' GRE score depends entirely on your target program. As a general benchmark: a combined score of 320+ is competitive for top 10 MS programs in the USA; 315–319 is competitive for T11–T25 programs; 308–314 is competitive for T26–T50 programs. For MBA programs, a 320+ combined GRE is approximately equivalent to a 680–720 GMAT. There is no single 'good' score - match your target score to your specific program's admitted student profile.

Q2. What is the GRE score range?

Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored on a scale of 130 to 170, in 1-point increments. The combined score range is therefore 260 to 340. Analytical Writing is scored separately on a 0 to 6 scale in 0.5-point increments and is not included in the 260–340 combined score.

Q3. What GRE score do I need for MS in Computer Science in the USA?

For top 10 MS CS programs (MIT, Stanford, CMU, UC Berkeley, UIUC), a competitive score is 320–325+ combined with a Quant score of 165 or above. For T11–T25 programs (Purdue, UT Austin, USC, Northeastern), a 315–322 combined with Quant 162+ is generally competitive. Verbal matters less for CS admissions - a 152+ Verbal with a 165+ Quant is a strong profile for most programs.

Q4. What percentile is a 160 on GRE Verbal?

A score of 160 on GRE Verbal is approximately the 82nd percentile - meaning you scored higher than about 82% of all GRE test-takers in the past three years. In the Quantitative section, a 160 is approximately the 72nd percentile. Note that the same scaled score carries different percentile values for Verbal and Quant because the score distributions differ.

Q5. How many times can I take the GRE?

You can take the GRE up to 5 times in any 12-month period, with a minimum gap of 21 days between each attempt. Across your lifetime, there is no hard cap on total GRE attempts. ETS's ScoreSelect policy means you choose which score to send to universities - so retaking does not automatically hurt your application.

Q6. Is a 310 GRE score good enough for US universities?

A 310 combined GRE score is competitive for T26–T50 US universities and many state school engineering programs. It is generally below the competitive range for T10–T25 programs, though a 310 with very strong GPA, SOP, and research experience can still result in admissions at strong mid-tier programs. Whether 310 is 'enough' depends on your specific target university and program - use the university-tier benchmarks table in this article to check your specific targets.

Q7. What is the average GRE score?

According to ETS data, the average GRE Verbal score is approximately 151 and the average GRE Quant score is approximately 154, giving an average combined score of roughly 305. The average AWA score is approximately 3.6. These averages include all GRE test-takers globally - for Indian students specifically, Quant averages tend to be higher due to the strong mathematics background in the Indian education system.

Q8. How is the GRE AWA score used in admissions?

AWA scores are reported separately and are not included in the 260–340 combined score. Most MS programs treat AWA as a secondary factor - a score of 4.0 or above is generally considered acceptable. PhD programs in humanities and social sciences may weigh AWA more heavily as a signal of academic writing ability. A score below 3.5 can raise questions about written communication skills for any program.

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Author

Anisha Mukhija

Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.