GRE® Score Percentiles: What Your Score Actually Means
You took a practice test. You got a 160 in Verbal and a 158 in Quant.
Those numbers feel like they should mean something on their own. And they do — but the meaning isn't in the numbers themselves. It's in how you compare to everyone else who took the exam.
A 160 Verbal puts you at the 84th percentile. You scored higher than 84 percent of people who took the GRE®. That's a strong position.
A 160 Quant puts you at the 50th percentile. Right in the middle. Half of test-takers scored higher than you.
Same number. Very different meaning.
That gap is why percentiles matter more than scaled scores. The scaled score tells you what you got. The percentile tells you how you compare. And when admissions committees evaluate your application, they're often looking at the percentile, not just the raw number.
Here's what the current percentiles look like, why they work the way they do, and what your score actually tells programs.
What Are GRE® Percentiles?
A percentile rank tells you what percentage of test-takers scored below you. If you're at the 75th percentile, you scored higher than 75 percent of people who took the exam. The higher the percentile, the stronger your relative position.
ETS calculates percentiles using data from all test-takers over a three-year reporting window. The current tables are based on everyone who tested between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2024. ETS updates these tables annually, so the percentile for a given score can shift slightly from year to year.
One important detail: percentiles are calculated across ALL test-takers, not just people applying to your field. A 160 Quant is the 50th percentile overall — but among engineering applicants, who tend to have stronger quant backgrounds, the same score might be below average for that pool.
We'll come back to that. First, the tables.
GRE® Verbal and Quant Percentile Tables
Here are the current ETS percentile ranks for every scaled score from 130 to 170.
| Scaled Score | Verbal Percentile | Quant Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | 99 | 91 |
| 169 | 99 | 86 |
| 168 | 99 | 81 |
| 167 | 98 | 76 |
| 166 | 96 | 71 |
| 165 | 95 | 67 |
| 164 | 93 | 63 |
| 163 | 91 | 60 |
| 162 | 89 | 57 |
| 161 | 86 | 53 |
| 160 | 84 | 50 |
| 159 | 80 | 47 |
| 158 | 77 | 45 |
| 157 | 73 | 42 |
| 156 | 70 | 39 |
| 155 | 65 | 37 |
| 154 | 60 | 34 |
| 153 | 55 | 31 |
| 152 | 48 | 29 |
| 151 | 43 | 26 |
| 150 | 39 | 24 |
| 149 | 34 | 21 |
| 148 | 30 | 19 |
| 147 | 27 | 17 |
| 146 | 24 | 14 |
| 145 | 21 | 12 |
| 144 | 18 | 10 |
| 143 | 16 | 9 |
| 142 | 14 | 7 |
| 141 | 12 | 6 |
| 140 | 10 | 5 |
| 139 | 8 | 4 |
| 138 | 6 | 3 |
| 137 | 5 | 2 |
| 136 | 4 | 2 |
| 135 | 3 | 1 |
| 134 | 2 | 1 |
| 133 | 2 | 1 |
| 132 | 1 | — |
| 131 | 1 | — |
| 130 | — | — |
Source: ETS GRE® General Test Interpretive Data, 2025-2026 reporting window (test-takers from July 2021 through June 2024).
GRE® Analytical Writing Percentile Table
The Analytical Writing measure is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments. Here are the current percentiles:
| Scaled Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 99 |
| 5.5 | 98 |
| 5.0 | 93 |
| 4.5 | 85 |
| 4.0 | 63 |
| 3.5 | 43 |
| 3.0 | 17 |
| 2.5 | 8 |
| 2.0 | 3 |
| 1.5 | 1 |
| 1.0 | — |
| 0.5 | — |
| 0.0 | — |
Most graduate programs weight the Analytical Writing section less heavily than Verbal and Quant. But a very low AWA score — below 3.0 — can raise questions, especially for programs that involve significant writing or research.
The Verbal-Quant Percentile Gap
The same scaled score gives you a different percentile in Verbal than in Quant. And the gap isn't small.
At 160: Verbal is the 84th percentile. Quant is the 50th. That's a 34-point difference.
At 165: Verbal is the 95th percentile. Quant is the 67th. A 28-point difference.
At 168: Verbal is the 99th percentile. Quant is the 81st. An 18-point difference.
The gap exists because the test-taker pools are different. The Quant pool skews higher. A large proportion of GRE® test-takers come from STEM backgrounds — engineering, computer science, physical sciences, economics. Many of these test-takers are international students from countries with heavy quantitative training. The result is that the Quant distribution is compressed at the top. You need a higher raw score to hit the same percentile.
For Verbal, the opposite is true. The pool is more varied. A 160 — which is ten points above the midpoint of the scale — gets you into the top 16 percent.
What this means for you: you can't compare Verbal and Quant scores directly. A 160 in both sections looks balanced on paper. But the percentiles tell a different story. Programs know this, which is why they tend to look at section percentiles separately rather than combining them.
How Percentiles Vary by Field
The overall percentile tables include everyone who took the GRE®. But the pool for your specific field may look very different.
ETS publishes separate data broken down by intended graduate major. The differences matter.
For Verbal Reasoning, the average scores by field cluster within a relatively narrow range — typically 150 to 153. Humanities and social sciences applicants tend to score slightly higher. Engineering and physical sciences applicants tend to score slightly lower. The spread is maybe 3 to 4 scaled points across fields.
For Quantitative Reasoning, the spread is much wider. Engineering applicants average around 160. Physical sciences around 159. Business and economics around 158. Education and arts applicants average closer to 148 to 150. That's a 10-point spread — which, in percentile terms, is the difference between the 50th percentile and the 24th.
This is why a 160 Quant means something different depending on where you're applying. For an engineering program, 160 is right at the average for applicants in that field. For an education program, 160 is well above the typical applicant.
When you're evaluating your scores, compare them against the norms for your specific field, not just the overall pool. ETS publishes this data in their Snapshot of Test Takers report and in Table 4A of the interpretive data, both available on the ETS website.
How Programs Actually Use Percentiles
Admissions committees don't have a universal formula for evaluating GRE® scores. Different programs use percentiles in different ways.
Some programs publish minimum percentile requirements. A program might say "applicants should be at or above the 50th percentile in Verbal and Quant." These are usually minimums, not guarantees of admission — meeting them just means your application won't be filtered out.
Some programs use percentiles as a screening tool. If a program receives hundreds of applications, they may use a percentile cutoff to narrow the pool before reviewing files in detail. This is more common at large public universities than at smaller programs.
Some programs weight section percentiles differently depending on the field. An engineering program may focus primarily on Quant percentile. A literature program may care almost exclusively about Verbal. A public policy program may want both above a certain threshold.
And some programs don't use the GRE® at all. A growing number of graduate programs have made the GRE® optional or dropped it entirely. Before you invest heavily in studying, check whether your target programs actually require it.
The best way to start is to look at their admissions pages. Many publish the median or average scores of admitted students. Some publish full ranges. If a program doesn't publish this data, forums like GradCafe can give you a rough sense of what admitted students are reporting.
A good target is to land at or above the median for admitted students at your target programs. That puts you in the middle of the pack or better — not a guarantee of admission, but not a red flag either.
Why Quant Percentiles Have Been Declining
If you're reading older GRE® prep content — blog posts from 2020, forum threads from 2022 — you may notice that the Quant percentiles don't match what you see here.
That's because Quant percentiles have been declining year over year. A 160 Quant was around the 61st percentile a few years ago. Today, it's the 50th.
The reason is the composition of the test-taker pool. The number of international test-takers from STEM-heavy academic backgrounds has grown significantly, particularly from India and China. These test-takers tend to score high on Quant. As they make up a larger share of the pool, the same raw score gets you a lower percentile.
This trend has important implications for your prep. If you're applying to a quantitative field and relying on older content for percentile benchmarks, the older numbers may overstate how competitive your score is. Check the current ETS interpretive data rather than relying on outdated forum posts.
Verbal percentiles have been more stable. The Verbal pool hasn't shifted as dramatically, so a given score today is close to where it was a few years ago.
What Your Percentile Means for Your Application
Here's how to think about your percentiles in the context of your application.
If you're above the 80th percentile in the section your programs care about most, you're in strong shape. Your score is unlikely to be a limiting factor in your application. Focus your energy on other components — your statement of purpose, research experience, letters of recommendation.
If you're between the 50th and 80th percentile, you're competitive at many programs but may be below the median at the most selective ones. Whether this matters depends on the strength of the rest of your application. A strong GPA, compelling research experience, or excellent letters can offset a score that's slightly below the median.
If you're below the 50th percentile in the section your programs care about, a retake may be worth considering — especially if you believe your preparation approach could improve. The good news is that most people can raise their scores with a better study plan. The limiting factor is almost never ability. It's usually the approach.
If you're below the 50th percentile in a section your programs don't weight heavily, it may not matter much. An engineering program probably won't be concerned about a 152 Verbal (48th percentile) if your Quant score is strong. But you should check what your target programs actually expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good GRE® percentile?
A "good" percentile depends on your target programs and field. For competitive programs, aim for the 70th percentile or higher in the section your field cares about most. For less selective programs, the 50th percentile may be sufficient. Check the published scores of admitted students at your target programs to find the percentile you need.
How are GRE® percentiles calculated?
ETS calculates percentile ranks using data from all test-takers over a three-year period. The current tables cover July 2021 through June 2024. A percentile rank tells you what percentage of test-takers scored below a given scaled score. ETS updates these tables annually.
Why is my Quant percentile lower than my Verbal percentile at the same score?
The Quant test-taker pool skews higher than the Verbal pool. A large proportion of GRE® test-takers come from quantitative fields, including many international students with strong math backgrounds. This compresses the Quant distribution at the top, meaning you need a higher raw score to achieve the same percentile.
Do graduate programs look at overall percentiles or percentiles by field?
Most programs look at overall percentiles, but they interpret them in the context of their applicant pool. An engineering program knows that most of their applicants have strong Quant scores, so a 50th percentile overall Quant score may be below average for that program's specific pool. Some programs also reference ETS field-specific data to contextualize scores.
Are GRE® percentile tables updated every year?
Yes. ETS publishes updated interpretive data annually. The percentile for a given scaled score can shift slightly from year to year as the test-taker pool changes. Quant percentiles have been trending downward in recent years due to changes in the test-taker pool.
What percentile do I need for a top MBA program?
Most competitive MBA programs that accept the GRE® look for percentiles in the 70th to 90th range or higher in both Verbal and Quant. Programs like Stanford, Wharton, and Harvard typically see admitted students with scores well above the 80th percentile in both sections. Check each program's class profile for specific data.
Should I retake the GRE® if my percentiles are below 50?
If your percentiles are below the 50th in the section your target programs care about most, and you believe your preparation approach could improve, a retake may be worth it. If you're below the 50th percentile in a section your programs don't weight heavily, it may not matter. Consider the strength of the rest of your application before deciding.
How long are GRE® scores and percentiles valid?
GRE® scores are valid for five years from the test date. The percentile associated with your score is fixed at the time you take the test — it doesn't change even if ETS updates their percentile tables later. However, some programs may re-contextualize your score against current percentiles when evaluating your application.
Can I find percentiles for my specific intended major?
Yes. ETS publishes percentile data broken down by intended graduate major in their Snapshot of Test Takers report and in Table 4A of the interpretive data. Both are available on the ETS website. This data can help you understand how your score compares to other applicants in your field.
Want to learn even more?
If you're trying to figure out what score you need for your target programs, our guide on what makes a good GRE® score breaks it down by field and program type. For a full study framework, check out our complete GRE® study guide. And if your scores have stopped improving, our guide on breaking through a GRE® score plateau covers what to change when your prep stalls.
If you want help figuring out whether your current scores are competitive for your target programs, you're welcome to book a complimentary strategy session. We'll look at your situation and help you build a plan from there.