GRE score distribution: how everyone scores
Where does a GRE score actually fall among test takers? This is the full distribution from official ETS data. The mean is about 151 in Verbal and 158 in Quant, a combined 309 out of 340. The two measures are shaped very differently, which is why the same scaled score can be common on one and rare on the other. Below is the complete score-by-score table plus the share who reach each milestone.
The GRE score distribution, in one table
Each GRE measure is scored from 130 to 170 in one-point steps. The percentile is the share of test takers who scored below that scaled score, so it doubles as the distribution: read down the column to see how quickly the population thins out as scores rise. These are exact official figures, not modelled.
| Scaled score | Verbal percentile | Quant percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | 99th | 89th |
| 168 | 98th | 80th |
| 166 | 96th | 72nd |
| 164 | 93rd | 63rd |
| 162 | 88th | 57th |
| 160 | 82nd | 50th |
| 158 | 76th | 45th |
| 156 | 68th | 39th |
| 154 | 59th | 34th |
| 152 | 48th | 29th |
| 150 | 39th | 23rd |
| 148 | 30th | 19th |
| 146 | 24th | 14th |
| 144 | 18th | 10th |
| 142 | 14th | 7th |
| 140 | 10th | 5th |
To convert one specific score, including Analytical Writing, use the GRE percentile calculator, or read the fuller explanation of what each band means on our GRE percentiles page.
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Verbal · Text Completion
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What percent score above 320, 325, and 330
Combining the two measures, the share of test takers reaching each common target looks like this. The combined total is a normal-model estimate, since ETS does not publish an official table for the 260 to 340 total; treat these as close approximations rather than exact figures.
- Above 320: roughly 24% of test takers.
- Above 325: roughly 15%.
- Above 330: roughly 9%.
At the single-measure level the figures are exact. A Verbal 160 sits at the top 18% and a Verbal 165 at the top 5%. Quant is compressed: a 160 is only the top 50%, and even a 165 is the top 33%. That asymmetry is why a strong Quant score has to climb higher to stand out. Map your own target with the 320, 325, and 330 guides.
The average GRE score, and what it looks like
The mean Verbal score is about 151 and the mean Quant score about 158, which puts the average combined score near 309 out of 340. In percentile terms an average Verbal score sits around the 43rd percentile and an average Quant score around the 45th. The mean Analytical Writing score is about 3.46 on the 0 to 6 scale.
Most scores cluster within a band of the mean and thin out quickly toward the extremes, which is the usual bell shape. That is worth remembering when a target feels far away: the move from an average score to a strong one is a move across the crowded middle of the distribution, where a handful of extra correct answers shifts your percentile a lot. See what counts as strong for your field on what is a good GRE score.
How to use the distribution
The distribution is a planning tool, not a verdict. Use it in three steps: take a real, timed test to get an honest baseline, place that score on the table above to see your current percentile, then set a target that clears the bar for your specific programs. A free full-length GRE mock gives you the baseline with an instant score and your exact percentile, and the GRE scores guide covers how the whole scale works.
Source: official ETS interpretive data (Verbal, Quant, and Analytical Writing percentile tables), data window July 2022 to June 2025. Single-measure percentiles are exact; the combined total is a normal-model estimate.
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See where you actually stand
The free GRE Quick Mock Test: the first Verbal and Quant sections under official timing, with an estimated score and a worked solution for every question.