A good GRE score falls between 155 and 165 on both Verbal and Quantitative sections for competitive graduate programs, though benchmarks vary significantly by field — STEM programs weight Quantitative higher, while humanities programs prioritize Verbal scores above 160.
GRE Score Ranges and Percentiles
The GRE is scored on a 130–170 scale for both Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning, with the Analytical Writing section scored 0–6. The median score is approximately 151 for Verbal and 153 for Quantitative, meaning a combined 310+ puts you above the 50th percentile.
ETS reports that a Verbal score of 160 places you in the 85th percentile, while a Quantitative score of 163 achieves the same benchmark. Percentile rankings shift annually based on the testing pool.
Program TypeTarget VerbalTarget QuantTypical CombinedEngineering/CS150–155163–170315–325Business/MBA (GRE)155–162158–167315–325Humanities/English160–168148–155310–320Social Sciences157–165155–162315–325Education150–158148–155300–312Biological Sciences153–160155–165310–325
- Verbal 160+ = 85th percentile (competitive for most humanities and social science programs)
- Quantitative 163+ = 85th percentile (competitive for STEM and business analytics programs)
- Combined 320+ = strong application for top-50 graduate programs across most fields
- Analytical Writing 4.5+ = sufficient for nearly all graduate programs
How Much Does GRE Score Matter for Admissions?
GRE scores are one factor among many — most admissions committees weight GPA, research experience, and letters of recommendation more heavily. However, a low GRE score can be a disqualifier at programs with stated minimums, and a high score can compensate for a weaker GPA.
The GRE-optional movement has accelerated since 2020: as of 2024, over 85% of U.S. graduate programs are GRE-optional or GRE-blind for at least some applicants. Programs that still require the GRE tend to be in STEM, economics, and competitive psychology PhD tracks.
- Over 85% of U.S. graduate programs are now GRE-optional for 2025–2026 admissions
- Programs with stated minimums will auto-reject applications below the threshold
- A strong GRE (320+) can offset a GPA below 3.3 at many programs
- PhD programs in STEM and economics are most likely to still require or prefer GRE scores
When to Retake the GRE
ETS allows retakes every 21 days, up to 5 times within a 12-month period. The average score improvement on a second attempt is 2–3 points per section, according to ETS research. Students who invest in targeted prep between attempts see the largest gains.
Retaking makes strategic sense if your score is within 5 points of your target program's median, or if you performed significantly better on one section and can focus prep on the weaker area.
- Retake if within 5 points of your target — average improvement is 2–3 points per section
- Focus prep on the weaker section where gains are most achievable
- ETS ScoreSelect lets you send only your best scores to schools
- Diminishing returns after the third attempt for most test-takers
Key Takeaways
- A 'good' GRE score depends on your target field — STEM programs prioritize Quantitative (163+), humanities prioritize Verbal (160+)
- Over 85% of graduate programs are now GRE-optional, but competitive STEM PhD tracks still prefer or require scores
- Average score improvement on retake is 2–3 points per section with targeted prep
- Combined 320+ is competitive for most top-50 programs across disciplines
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