Scores for the GRE CAT

You’ll receive three scores for the GRE CAT:

* Quantitative scaled sub-score, ranging from 200 to 800 (these are math questions).
* Verbal scaled sub-score, ranging from 200 to 800 (tests reading comprehension, antonyms and sentence completion).
* Writing Assessment scaled sub-score 0 to 6 (essays on analysis of issue and argument).

The GRE is graded on a preset curve so that your scaled score will correspond to a certain percentile. An overall score of 630, for example, approximately corresponds to the 90th percentile, meaning that 90 percent of test takers scored at or below this level.


Highest GRE Scores

California Institute of Technology average GRE Math: 767
Sample approximate percentiles within the score range of 200-800. Percentiles may vary from year to year.

96-99th percentile 720
79-90th percentile 630
61-75th percentile 570
37-50th percentile 500


Different Uses for the GRE

The importance of your GRE scores varies from graduate school to graduate school and from field to field. State schools will often have minimum GRE score requirements. More competitive programs will often put more value on the GRE score. Certain technical majors, such as Engineering, also tend to put more value on the GRE.

Some graduate schools will not include a section and only require two sections, meaning a score potential from 400 to 1600. Technical graduate programs may require high Quantitative scores. Psychology programs and those that emphasize reasoning skills often have minimum Analytical scores.

Graduate Program Quant Verbal

Cal Tech Engineering 767
Iowa State Engineering 765
Columbia U. Education 628 564
Lehigh U. Education 560 526


International Students

International students who have studied at non-U.S. schools and are applying to a U.S. graduate school should put more emphasis on the GRE because graduate school admissions officers need an objective way to compare students from different backgrounds. In addition, graduate schools may need to asses the student’s verbal skills if he or she is a non-native speaker.

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