By Vince Kotchian. Full-time GRE tutor since 2007, author of Barron's 6 GRE Practice Tests, three perfect 170 verbal scores on the real GRE, and moderator of r/GRE.
A Deep Dive into GRE Test Takers: Analysis of ETS's Report (2018-2023)
Introduction
If you're getting ready for the GRE, it helps to know who else takes it and how they score. ETS's latest report, "A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test (July 2018 - June 2023)," breaks down test takers by demographics, scores, and trends. Below are the key findings and what they mean for you.
Overview and Purpose
ETS publishes the report to help schools understand GRE scores and use them appropriately, and it stresses fairness in how the test is given. The data covers five testing years and includes demographic and score data for the whole test-taker population.
Volume and Demographics of Test Takers
Declining Numbers
From 2018 to 2023, the total number of GRE test takers dropped from 532,826 to 319,101. That's a drop of more than 200,000 test takers. Likely reasons: changing grad admissions policies, other testing options, COVID-19 making the test harder to take, and students rethinking grad school.
Gender Distribution
In 2022-23, men were 53% of test takers and women 47%, a less even split than in earlier years. At the end of the 2022-23 testing year, ETS added "non-binary" and "prefer to self-describe" options, but very few people selected them during the reporting period.
Age Trends
Most GRE test takers are 30 or younger, and a big chunk are 18-22. Younger test takers generally scored higher, especially in Quant, probably because school math and standardized tests are still fresh for them. Older test takers are a smaller group with more varied backgrounds and reasons for going to grad school, which can affect how they prep and score.
Performance Insights
Gender Differences
Men scored higher on average in both Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning, while women slightly outperformed men in Analytical Writing. Differences in educational background and prep habits, such as how many test takers come from STEM majors, may explain some of the gap.
Citizenship and Scores
Non-U.S. citizens, who make up 69% of test takers, generally scored higher in Quantitative Reasoning but lower in Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing compared to U.S. citizens. That likely reflects how many international test takers are headed for STEM programs, plus the challenge of taking Verbal and the essay in a second language.
Racial and Ethnic Group Performance
U.S. Citizens
Among U.S. citizens, Asian test takers scored highest in Quantitative and Analytical Writing. White, Asian, and Other racial/ethnic groups outperformed others in Verbal Reasoning. Gaps like these likely reflect differences in access to good schools and in socio-economic conditions.
Fields of Study and Degree Objectives
Popular Majors
Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences are still the top intended graduate fields. Test takers aiming for Engineering and Business scored higher in Quant, which makes sense given how math-heavy those fields are.
Degree Objectives
A majority of test takers intend to pursue a Master’s degree, with a smaller percentage aiming for doctoral programs. That makes sense, since so many kinds of graduate programs use the GRE. People usually get a master’s to move up or specialize in their careers, while doctoral programs are for people headed into academic or high-level research careers.
Regional Trends
Global Distribution
India, the United States, and China have the highest number of GRE test takers. However, there are significant differences in age distribution and performance across these regions. For instance, a higher percentage of test takers from China are aged 18-22 compared to their U.S. and Indian counterparts. That may be because more students in China apply to grad school right out of undergrad.
Analysis and Implications
Understanding the Competition
These numbers can help you set realistic goals. If you’re aiming for a top program, plan on scoring above the average for test takers like you. The data also gives you context for your practice scores and shows where you might need more work.
Targeted Preparation
Figure out your strengths and weaknesses first. If your Quant scores are below the average for your intended field, put more of your prep time there. Diagnostic tests will show you which question types are costing you points, and targeted practice on those types is how you fix them.
For current percentiles and the average scores for nearly 200 intended fields, see my GRE score percentiles and averages by major, based on ETS data for test takers from July 2022 to June 2025.
Leveraging Resources
Use official ETS materials, and consider a tutor if you're stuck on specific problems. Tutors, like those at Vince Kotchian Test Prep, can build a plan around your weak spots instead of handing you a generic one, and help with strategy, timing, and how you study.
Conclusion
The ETS report has a lot of data you can use to plan your GRE prep. Knowing who else takes the test helps you judge where you stand and make smarter decisions about how you study. And keep it in perspective: the GRE matters, but it’s only one part of your application, so give the rest of your application real effort too.
For personalized GRE prep and expert guidance, consider reaching out to experienced tutors who know this test inside and out. Good luck, and may you achieve the scores you’re aiming for!
Appendix: Detailed Data Analysis
Here are more specific numbers from the report.
Examinee Population by Gender
In the 2022-23 testing year, out of 319,101 examinees, 53% were men, and 47% were women. Men had higher mean scores in Verbal Reasoning (151.7 vs. 150.7) and Quantitative Reasoning (160.3 vs. 155.8) compared to women. However, women scored slightly higher in Analytical Writing (3.5 vs. 3.4).
U.S. Citizenship Status and Gender
Among U.S. citizens, men scored higher in Verbal Reasoning (153.9 vs. 150.5) and Quantitative Reasoning (153.5 vs. 148.6) compared to women. For non-U.S. citizens, the trends were similar, with men outperforming women in Quantitative Reasoning (162.2 vs. 160.6).
Age Group and Performance
Younger test takers (18-22 years) generally scored higher in Quantitative Reasoning (160.0) compared to older age groups. That's likely because their math classes are more recent. Analytical Writing scores were more consistent across age groups, which suggests writing skills hold up better over time.
Country of Citizenship
India, the United States, and China were the top three countries by the number of test takers. Indian test takers excelled in Quantitative Reasoning (mean score 161.5), while U.S. test takers performed better in Analytical Writing (mean score 3.9). Chinese test takers also had high Quantitative Reasoning scores (mean score 166.2), reflecting the strong emphasis on STEM education in China.
Intended Graduate Major Field
Engineering was the most popular intended graduate major field among GRE test takers, followed by Business and Social Sciences. Those intending to pursue Engineering scored the highest in Quant, which isn't surprising. If you know your intended field, use its averages to set a realistic score goal.