Understanding how GRE scores are calculated can be complex sometimes for international students, as GRE score is related to percentile ranks and is scored on a scale. GRE is the only standard exam globally acknowledged for admission to business programs and graduate courses, including MS abroad.
GRE comprises 3 main sections (verbal, quantitative reasoning & analytical writing). In order to calculate GRE score, the quantitative and verbal reasoning are each scored between 130 to 170. Analytical writing, on the other hand, is scored between 0 to 6. So, to know how to calculate the total GRE score? In this article, we will be covering all the aspects of GRE scores, how is GRE score calculated and other needed details on GRE.
Latest Update for GRE Aspirants: The GRE General Test fee will increase by $15 USD and will therefore cost $228 USD for test takers in India from November 1, 2022
Table of Contents: |
How GRE Marks are Calculated?
To know how GRE score is calculated, the first thing to know is the score range, which is 130-170. The verbal and quantitative sections have an approx. normal distribution centred around 150 marks. To measure GRE score, the ETS first measure your raw scores. A raw score is the no. of questions you likely got correct in your GRE. The Verbal and quantitative have 40 questions in each section. This raw score is then transformed into a scaled score, anywhere between 130 to 170, through a method known as equating.
Equating is how to calculate GRE scores by making the scores precise and balanced for all the students taking their tests in more than 1,000 GRE test centres globally. For GRE Analytical Writing section, the 2 tasks are scored by one skilled rater and an e-rater, a computerised program settled by the ETS.
GRE Score Conversion Chart
GRE raw score chart is based on the right answers as given below:
Correct Answers |
GRE Raw Score |
GRE Score (Verbal & Quantitative) |
0-5 |
0-5 |
130-135 |
5-10 |
5-10 |
135-140 |
10-15 |
10-15 |
140-145 |
15-20 |
15-20 |
145-150 |
20-25 |
20-25 |
150-155 |
25-30 |
25-30 |
155-160 |
30-35 |
30-35 |
160-165 |
35-40 |
35-40 |
165-170 |
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How GRE Score is Calculated Section Wise?
To know GRE AWA score calculator let us know, “What are the measures?” The three sections of GRE test: Quantitative, Verbal and Analytical, are known as “measures”. Now, the computer-delivered GRE test is adaptive, if you accomplish well in the first measure, that is, in the analytical writing section, then the next measure, for example, a quantitative section will be harder. The paper-delivered GRE is not adaptive. It is why the scores of each GRE are calculated a bit inversely. Let us now know the calculation of each section in detail:
GRE Verbal Score Calculation
You get a raw score based on the no. of questions responded correctly. This raw verbal score is changed into a scaled score. For this, GRE uses equating. For example, on a specific day, the complex level of the test you take is higher than the test that occurred a few weeks ago. Equating makes it optimistic that your GRE verbal score calculator isn’t lower than the score of those who took the earlier test.
GRE verbal score chart is as follows:
Verbal Reasoning Score |
Verbal Reasoning Percentile Rank |
165-170 |
96-99 |
160-165 |
86-96 |
155-160 |
68-86 |
150-155 |
46-68 |
145-150 |
26-46 |
140-145 |
11-26 |
135-140 |
3-11 |
131-135 |
1-3 |
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GRE Quantitative Score Calculation
GRE quantitative score is planned exactly as the verbal score. You get a raw score which is figured on the basis of the right answers. That is converted into a scaled form by equating.
The GRE Quantitative score chart is tabulated below:
Quantitative Reasoning Score |
Quantitative Reasoning Percentile Rank |
165-170 |
86-96 |
160-165 |
73-86 |
155-160 |
56-73 |
150-155 |
37-56 |
145-150 |
19-37 |
140-145 |
7-19 |
135-140 |
2-7 |
130-135 |
1-2 |
GRE Analytical Writing Score Calculation
In the Analytical writing section, each essay accepts a score from at least one trained rater using a six-point rounded scale. The essay is then scored by E- rater, a computerized program developed by ETS that is skilled in identifying essay features linked to writing proficiency. If the human and the E-rater GRE total score calculator agree, the average of the two scores is used as the final score.
The Analytical writing score chart is presented below:
Analytical Writing Score |
Analytical Writing Percentile Rank |
6.0 |
99 |
5.5 |
98 |
5.0 |
93 |
4.5 |
82 |
4.0 |
59 |
3.5 |
42 |
3.0 |
17 |
2.5 |
7 |
2.0 |
2 |
1.5 |
1 |
1.0 |
No Rank Available |
0.0-1.0 |
No Rank Available |
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As you can analyse in the table mentioned above, the score ranges 0.0 to 1.0 have no ranks available, i.e., none of the students has scored less than 1.0 in the analytical writing section.
Watch this video to know how to order your GRE scorecard:
When reporting your calculate GRE score to colleges abroad, the crucial point is that there is no “total GRE score.” Universities are more concerned with knowing how much you scored in each section of GRE exam rather than overall. So, if you’re interested in knowing how GRE scores help get master’s colleges abroad, connect with our Yocket Professional and get guidance on how to improve GRE Scores and other related details.
Frequently Asked Questions About How GRE Score is Calculated
Ques. For how long is GRE score valid?
Ans. GRE score of an international student is valid for 5 years from the date of GRE test.
Ques. What is the duration of GRE test?
Ans. The testing time for the computer-delivered GRE test is around 3 hours and 45 minutes and short breaks.
Ques. What is the Average GRE score section-wise?
Ans. The average GRE score section wise is
Sections |
GRE Average Scores |
Analytical Writing |
3.6 |
Verbal Reasoning |
150.37 |
Quantitative Reasoning |
153.66 |
Ques. What is GRE score percentiles?
Ans. GRE score percentiles designate how good your test scores are in contrast to the scores of other students. The percentile agreeing to your GRE score tells you the percentage of other students who scored lesser than you.