Skip to content
GREMockTests
Mock test
Score targets

What is a good GRE score?

A common rule of thumb is that a good GRE score is about 160 or higher on each section, or roughly 320 total, which is around the 76th percentile. The average is about 151 Verbal and 158 Quant, near 309 in total. But "good" really means clearing the bar for your programs, and that bar moves by field: engineering leans on Quant, humanities on Verbal. The table below rates every total from 290 to 340, and the percentile calculator shows where any exact score lands.

Check your percentileHow to hit 320
The short answer

Good is relative to your field and program

Most competitive programs look at your Verbal and Quant scores separately, not just the total. The same number means very different things in each section.

As a rough rule, a total around 320 is a solid, above-average score that keeps you in range for many strong programs. But a 320 made of Verbal 165 plus Quant 155 reads very differently to an engineering committee than to an English department.

~309
average total score (ETS)
~151
average Verbal
~158
average Quant

Aim to clear the 50th percentile comfortably in both sections, then push hard in the section your program cares about most.

By the numbers

What each score actually means in percentiles

Official ETS percentiles show why the section split matters. Quant is far more competitive at the top because of the large STEM-heavy applicant pool.

ScoreVerbal percentileQuant percentile
16082nd50th
16595th67th
17099th89th
Source: ETS official percentile ranks. The same scaled score ranks much higher in Verbal than in Quant.

The takeaway: a Quant 165 is good but not exceptional (67th), while a Verbal 165 is near the ceiling (95th). Use the percentile calculator or the score simulator to map your own target.

Is 300, 310, 320 or 330 a good GRE score? The table rates every total from 290 to 340 against the field. The average total is about 309, so anything above it beats most test takers, and the tiers below say how far above. Totals are normal-model estimates, since ETS publishes section percentiles but not a combined total table.

Total scoreApprox. total percentileIs it a good GRE score?
340~98thExcellent: competitive almost anywhere
335~95thExcellent: competitive almost anywhere
330~91stVery good: competitive for selective programs (how to get 330)
325~85thVery good: competitive for selective programs (how to get 325)
320~76thGood: competitive for many programs (how to get 320)
315~65thAbove average
310~53rdAround average
305~40thAround average
300~28thBelow average
295~18thBelow average
290~11thBelow average
Total percentiles are estimates from a normal model (using the official ETS Verbal-Quant correlation of .44), not an official ETS table. Section percentiles are exact.
By field

Rough targets by program type

These are general targets, not cutoffs. Programs rarely publish hard minimums, so always confirm on the program page. Health programs are the exception: they often do publish a combined minimum, and the GRE for PA school covers how to read one.

FieldSection that matters mostReasonable target
Engineering / CSQuantQuant 165+ (67th+)
Physical sciences / mathQuantQuant 165 to 170
Economics / financeQuantQuant 165+ with solid Verbal
Humanities / EnglishVerbalVerbal 160+ (82nd+)
Social sciences / policyBothBalanced 158+ each
Health programs (PA, PT, nursing)BothBalanced, about 305 to 310 total
Targets are directional. Many strong applicants come in above or below these.

Do not treat any number here as a guaranteed cutoff. Requirements vary by program and change year to year. Check the official program page before you set a goal.

Goal setting

How to set your own target

Work backward from your shortlist instead of chasing a generic number.

  1. List your 4–8 target programs and find their admissions or FAQ page.
  2. Note any published average or median scores. Many list a class profile rather than a cutoff.
  3. Identify the section your field weights most (Quant for STEM, Verbal for humanities).
  4. Set a target a few points above the program's stated average in that section.
  5. Add a buffer if you are also chasing funding, since scholarship-competitive scores tend to run higher.

A higher GRE rarely overrides a weak application, but a score below a program's range can quietly cost you. Treat the GRE as a checkbox to clear, then invest the rest of your time in essays and research fit. For an elite school, see the realistic bar in our GRE score for Stanford guide.

Reality check

When the GRE matters less

Many programs are now test-optional, but the picture is mixed and shifting.

A large share of US graduate programs now make the GRE optional or waive it, especially in professional master's and online programs. At the same time, several competitive STEM departments have reinstated the requirement since 2024, citing the link between Quant scores and first-year performance.

If your programs are optional, a strong score can still help, and a weak one is better left off. See is the GRE required and GRE waivers to check your specific situation.

Questions

Common questions.

Yes, for most programs. A 320 total sits around the 76th percentile (an estimate, since the exact figure shifts with the test-taker pool) and keeps you competitive for many strong programs. For top-10 programs in your field, you may want to push higher, especially in the section that matters most. See how to get 320, or aim higher with how to get 330.
A 300 is below average: about the 28th percentile, roughly 9 points under the average total of about 309. That can still be enough where the GRE is optional or a minimum is published around 300, which is common in health programs. For most competitive programs it is a starting point rather than a target. See how to get 320.
A 310 is just above average, around the 53rd percentile (an estimate). It is solid for many master's programs and for programs that weight the GRE lightly, but below what selective programs usually see. The section split decides how it reads: check each section's percentile, not only the total.
Yes. A 330 is roughly the 91st percentile, the top 9% or so of test takers, and competitive almost anywhere. Past this point the section that matters to your field counts for more than the total. See how to get 330.
Quant carries most of the weight. Aim for Quant 165 or higher, which is the 67th percentile, and ideally closer to 168 to 170 for the most competitive programs. Verbal still counts, but a Quant below the 60th percentile is the bigger risk. Practice on the Quant section.
Verbal is the priority. A Verbal 160 is already the 82nd percentile, and 165 reaches the 95th. Quant matters less, though you still want to clear the program's stated range. Build vocabulary and reading skills in Verbal practice.
The two sections have different applicant pools. Quant draws a large, STEM-heavy international group that scores high, so a 160 is only the 50th percentile in Quant but the 82nd in Verbal. Always read your percentiles by section, not just your total.
Almost never. A 340 is rare and unnecessary for the vast majority of programs. A balanced score in your program's range, paired with strong essays and research fit, matters far more than a perfect total.
Work backward from your shortlist. Check each program page for published averages or class profiles, identify the section your field weights most, and set a target a few points above that average. Confirm requirements on the official page, since they change and vary by program.

See where your score lands

Plug in any Verbal and Quant combination to see your percentiles by section and total, then build a plan to close the gap.

Open the percentile calculatorStart a free GRE mock test