GRE Score Range, Percentiles, and Averages by Major

GRE score range

The GRE General Test gives you three scores:

Verbal Reasoning: 130 to 170, in one-point steps.
Quantitative Reasoning: 130 to 170, in one-point steps.
Analytical Writing: 0 to 6, in half-point steps.

When people quote a single GRE score, like 320, they mean Verbal plus Quant, so the total runs from 260 to 340. The highest possible GRE score is 170 Verbal, 170 Quant, and 6.0 Writing. ETS reports the three scores separately and does not publish a percentile for the total.

Source: ETS, GRE Information Bulletin 2026-27.

GRE percentile chart

A percentile is the share of test takers who scored lower than you. A 160 in Verbal is the 82nd percentile, so 82 percent of test takers scored below 160.

The same score means different things on the two sections. A 160 in Quant is only the 50th percentile, because more test takers score high in Quant. Even a perfect 170 in Quant is the 89th percentile, which means 11 percent of test takers got a 170.

Percent of test takers scoring lower, by scaled score
Score	Verbal	Quant
170	99	89
169	99	85
168	98	80
167	97	75
166	96	72
165	95	67
164	93	63
163	90	60
162	88	57
161	85	53
160	82	50
159	79	47
158	76	45
157	72	42
156	68	39
155	64	37
154	59	34
153	54	31
152	48	29
151	43	26
150	39	23
149	34	21
148	30	19
147	27	16
146	24	14
145	21	12
144	18	10
143	16	9
142	14	7
141	11	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	Below 1
131	1	Below 1
130	Below 1	Below 1

Analytical Writing
Score	Percentile
6.0	99
5.5	98
5.0	93
4.5	85
4.0	63
3.5	40
3.0	16
2.5	7
2.0	3
1.5	1
1.0	1
0.5	Below 1
0.0	Below 1

Source: ETS, GRE General Test Interpretive Data, Table 1A. Based on all test takers who tested from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025. These are the percentiles that appear on score reports sent now.

Average GRE scores

Across all 790,864 test takers, the average scores were 151.39 Verbal, 157.62 Quant, and 3.46 Writing. Those round to 151, 158, and 3.5.

Averages differ a lot by field. Here are ETS's eight broad groups:

Intended field	Verbal	Quant	Writing
Business	154	160	3.7
Education	152	150	3.7
Engineering	151	160	3.4
Humanities and Arts	153	160	3.4
Law	154	152	3.9
Life Sciences	150	150	3.7
Physical Sciences	152	162	3.4
Social and Behavioral Sciences	154	155	3.8

Source: ETS, Interpreting Your GRE Scores, Tables 1 and 2. The field averages are for college seniors and graduates who named an intended major.

Average GRE scores by intended major

ETS also reports averages for 196 specific fields. Search the table for yours. N is the number of test takers in that field.

ETS does not list physician assistant, physical therapy, or occupational therapy as separate fields. Its fields follow the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, which puts physician assistant under Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, and puts physical therapy and occupational therapy under Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. Speech-language pathology is under Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.

Search the table

Field	N	Verbal	Quant	Writing
Agricultural, Animal, Plant, Veterinary Science, and Related Fields	4,911	150	151	3.5
Agricultural Business and Management	616	153	157	3.5
Agriculture, General	510	149	155	3.1
Animal Sciences	1,143	148	147	3.4
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services	64	151	153	3.2
Food Science and Technology	473	150	157	3.4
Plant Sciences	171	151	153	3.3
Soil Sciences	44	153	153	3.4
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences	133	150	151	3.5
Veterinary Medicine	1,741	150	149	3.6
Natural Resources and Conservation	294	153	152	3.7
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy	35	156	154	4.2
Forestry	111	150	153	3.4
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	33	156	151	3.9
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management	97	154	150	3.6
Architecture and Related Services	2,339	152	156	3.6
Architecture	1,799	151	156	3.5
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning	230	155	157	3.9
Interior Architecture	31	148	157	3.0
Landscape Architecture	96	152	156	3.5
Real Estate Development	123	155	156	3.9
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies	46	155	151	4.3
Area Studies	40	154	150	4.2
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs	2,164	152	156	3.6
Communication and Media Studies	1,479	152	156	3.6
Journalism	196	152	155	3.6
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	296	152	158	3.5
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other	181	150	156	3.4
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services	41	150	163	3.2
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services	68,235	151	162	3.4
Computer and Information Sciences, General	257	151	162	3.3
Computer Programming	181	150	161	3.1
Computer Science	66,635	151	162	3.4
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	35	152	163	3.0
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management	137	151	158	3.3
Data Processing	95	150	164	3.4
Information Science/Studies	727	151	161	3.4
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other	116	153	160	3.4
Education	3,774	152	150	3.7
Curriculum and Instruction	69	151	148	3.7
Education, General	566	156	159	3.8
Educational Administration and Supervision	508	152	150	3.7
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research	1,449	150	148	3.7
Special Education and Teaching	183	148	147	3.4
Student Counseling and Personnel Services	419	149	145	3.5
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	398	151	152	3.5
Education, Other	182	156	155	3.9
Engineering	49,144	151	161	3.4
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	4,025	154	159	3.7
Agricultural Engineering	80	150	157	3.0
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	1,863	154	159	3.8
Chemical Engineering	2,137	151	160	3.5
Civil Engineering	5,021	150	160	3.2
Computer Engineering	7,616	150	161	3.3
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	11,581	151	163	3.3
Engineering Physics	189	154	161	3.7
Engineering Science	124	155	161	3.7
Industrial Engineering	1,928	150	160	3.4
Manufacturing Engineering	84	150	157	3.4
Materials Engineering	708	151	161	3.4
Mechanical Engineering	10,970	151	160	3.4
Metallurgical Engineering	34	150	162	3.3
Mining and Mineral Engineering	64	149	156	3.1
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering	59	150	158	3.4
Nuclear Engineering	253	156	159	3.9
Ocean Engineering	43	155	158	3.8
Operations Research	436	157	163	4.0
Petroleum Engineering	333	148	157	3.1
Polymer/Plastics Engineering	37	151	163	3.2
Systems Engineering	347	154	157	3.8
Textile Sciences and Engineering	42	149	159	3.3
Engineering, Other	1,158	151	160	3.5
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	872	155	157	3.8
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	125	161	154	4.4
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	58	155	161	3.8
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	52	155	161	3.6
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	276	155	155	3.9
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	258	153	157	3.6
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other	53	152	161	3.5
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences	705	150	150	3.7
Apparel and Textiles	45	149	150	3.4
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General	69	148	147	3.5
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services	403	150	151	3.7
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	177	151	149	3.8
Legal Professions and Studies	2,572	154	152	3.9
Law	2,565	154	152	3.9
English Language and Literature/Letters	1,006	155	153	3.9
English Language and Literature, General	421	154	156	3.7
Literature	350	157	152	4.0
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	109	158	150	4.1
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other	126	154	153	3.8
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	49,428	152	161	3.3
Library Science	241	157	151	3.9
Library Science and Administration	212	157	151	4.0
Biological and Biomedical Sciences	17,983	152	153	3.7
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	1,560	154	156	3.8
Biology, General	7,380	150	151	3.7
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology	1,079	155	161	3.8
Biotechnology	1,297	150	155	3.4
Botany/Plant Biology	93	154	154	3.7
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences	1,166	153	155	3.8
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	608	156	154	3.9
Genetics	260	154	155	3.8
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	305	153	156	3.8
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	1,421	154	154	4.0
Pharmacology and Toxicology	179	153	152	3.8
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	463	151	154	3.7
Zoology/Animal Biology	379	154	152	3.7
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other	1,793	150	151	3.7
Mathematics and Statistics	12,373	154	165	3.6
Applied Mathematics	3,301	154	165	3.6
Mathematics	3,842	154	164	3.6
Statistics	5,052	154	165	3.6
Mathematics and Statistics, Other	178	153	165	3.4
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	56,265	151	156	3.5
Data Analytics	4,835	152	160	3.5
Natural Sciences	61	148	149	3.5
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	51,356	150	155	3.4
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology	11,377	147	147	3.6
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	11,371	147	147	3.6
Philosophy and Religious Studies	785	159	156	4.2
Philosophy	682	160	157	4.2
Religion/Religious Studies	103	159	153	4.3
Theology and Religious Vocations	299	158	151	4.2
Physical Sciences	7,970	154	159	3.7
Astronomy and Astrophysics	546	155	160	3.9
Chemistry	2,436	153	158	3.7
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	1,741	154	156	3.8
Materials Sciences	555	153	163	3.6
Physics	2,644	154	162	3.7
Psychology	18,606	152	149	3.8
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology	12,252	152	149	3.8
Psychology, General	4,880	151	149	3.7
Research and Experimental Psychology	1,183	154	152	3.9
Psychology, Other	291	152	149	3.8
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services	847	148	145	3.5
Criminal Justice and Corrections	776	148	145	3.4
Homeland Security	61	152	149	3.7
Public Administration and Social Service Professions	4,460	156	155	4.0
Public Administration	1,112	154	154	3.9
Public Policy Analysis	2,756	158	157	4.2
Social Work	592	150	147	3.5
Social Sciences	25,503	155	160	3.8
Anthropology	679	155	150	3.9
Archaeology	113	156	151	3.9
Economics	17,976	155	163	3.7
Geography and Cartography	216	153	155	3.7
International Relations and National Security Studies	1,959	157	155	4.1
Political Science and Government	2,765	156	153	4.2
Social Sciences, General	159	153	157	3.6
Sociology	1,561	155	153	4.0
Urban Studies/Affairs	77	155	158	3.9
Social Sciences, Other	46	152	151	3.8
Visual and Performing Arts	1,066	154	156	3.7
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management	91	153	159	3.6
Design and Applied Arts	344	153	159	3.6
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	45	156	154	3.8
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	174	154	154	3.8
Fine and Studio Arts	183	155	153	3.8
Music	199	155	152	4.0
Health Professions and Related Programs	63,913	150	149	3.7
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences	265	149	154	3.4
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	394	148	148	3.6
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	21,261	151	150	3.8
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	43	149	153	3.1
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	3,656	149	146	3.7
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	396	149	149	3.6
Health and Medical Administrative Services	284	150	149	3.5
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities	51	155	154	3.9
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	3,149	148	148	3.6
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs	419	151	151	3.8
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	36	152	148	3.6
Optometry	289	148	148	3.5
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration	613	150	155	3.4
Public Health	3,300	152	153	3.8
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	5,479	151	149	3.7
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	23,867	148	148	3.6
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	391	151	151	3.7
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services	54,348	154	160	3.7
Accounting and Related Services	3,773	151	163	3.3
Business Administration, Management and Operations	20,515	156	158	4.0
Business/Managerial Economics	1,103	154	162	3.5
Construction Management	578	148	156	3.2
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations	213	155	155	3.9
Finance and Financial Management Services	15,992	153	163	3.5
Hospitality Administration/Management	167	151	157	3.4
Human Resources Management and Services	733	151	156	3.4
Insurance	190	151	164	3.3
International Business	890	152	158	3.5
Management Information Systems and Services	2,630	149	158	3.3
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	1,719	153	163	3.5
Marketing	3,801	152	159	3.5
Real Estate	172	153	156	3.7
Taxation	62	151	163	3.0
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other	1,802	155	158	3.8
History	1,083	157	151	4.0

Source: ETS, GRE General Test Interpretive Data by Graduate Major Field, Table 3B. Seniors and college graduates who tested from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025. Bold rows are ETS's group totals. ETS leaves out fields with fewer than 30 test takers. N shown is for Quant; Verbal and Writing counts are within a few percent.

What is a good GRE score?

A good GRE score is one that fits the programs you are applying to. Here is how I would figure out yours:

Check each program's admissions page. Many list a minimum, a recommended score, or the average for their last admitted class. That number matters more than anything on this page.
Compare yourself to your field. The averages above include everyone who planned to apply in that field, not just the people who got in. I would treat your field's average as a floor, not a goal.
Look at the section that matters most. Applicants in engineering, computer science, economics, and finance average 160 or higher in Quant. In fields like philosophy, history, law, and public policy, applicants average higher in Verbal than in Quant.
Check whether you need the GRE at all. Many programs have made it optional. If a program you like does not require it, a lower score may hurt you more than sending nothing.

If you are not sure where to start, aim to be above the average for your field on the section your programs care about most, and above the 50th percentile on the other one.

Want to raise your score? My Personalized GRE Study Plan is $495. We build your schedule on a 45-minute Zoom call, I update the plan every week based on your progress, and you can email me as often as you want. It also cuts the material you do not need from GregMat or Magoosh, which saves you dozens of hours.

Two free resources that help most people: my complete GRE math concept list, which links every tested concept to a free Khan Academy lesson, and my guide to the official ETS PowerPrep tests, which are the only practice tests written by the people who write the real GRE.

For the test itself, see my GRE format, length, and cost guide. If you are applying to business school, my GMAT vs. GRE comparison shows how the two tests differ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GRE score range?

Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored from 130 to 170 in one-point steps. Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point steps. Verbal plus Quant gives a total from 260 to 340.

What is the highest possible GRE score?

170 Verbal, 170 Quant, and 6.0 Writing, which is a 340 total. A 170 in Verbal is the 99th percentile, a 170 in Quant is the 89th percentile, and a 6.0 in Writing is the 99th percentile.

What is the average GRE score?

For test takers from July 2022 to June 2025, ETS reports averages of 151.39 Verbal, 157.62 Quant, and 3.46 Writing.

What percentile is a 320 on the GRE?

ETS does not publish percentiles for the total score, only for each section. A 320 split as 160 Verbal and 160 Quant would be the 82nd percentile in Verbal and the 50th in Quant. The same 320 split as 155 Verbal and 165 Quant would be the 64th and 67th.

How long are GRE scores valid?

GRE scores are reportable for five years after your test date. ETS gives the example that scores from a test taken on July 3, 2022, are reportable through July 2, 2027.

When do GRE scores come out?

Official scores are available in your ETS account about 8 to 10 days after you test. If you choose to report your scores, you see unofficial Verbal and Quant scores as soon as you finish the test.

Can I send only my best GRE scores?

Yes. With ScoreSelect you can send your most recent scores, all your scores from the last five years, or any test dates you choose. Your test fee includes four free score recipients.

How often can I retake the GRE?

You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period.

How long is the GRE?

The GRE takes 1 hour and 58 minutes. It has one 30-minute Analytical Writing task, two Verbal sections (12 questions in 18 minutes, then 15 questions in 23 minutes), and two Quant sections (12 questions in 21 minutes, then 15 questions in 26 minutes). For the full breakdown, see my GRE format, length, and cost guide.

Every score figure on this page comes from ETS. I am a GRE tutor and am not affiliated with ETS. I will update the tables when ETS publishes new ones. Last checked October 23, 2026.

GRE Scores: Percentiles, Averages by Major, and What Counts as Good

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Frequently asked questions