What Is a “Good” GRE Score? Benchmarks by Program Type (and How to Set Your Target)

If you’re aiming for grad school, “good” is not a universal number. It’s the score that strengthens your application for the specific programs you care about, given your major, degree level, and selectivity. The fastest way to move from vague hopes to a plan is to convert program expectations into percentiles, then into concrete Verbal and Quant targets you can train toward.

Since September 22, 2023, the GRE General Test is shorter (about 1 hour 58 minutes) but scored exactly the same: Verbal and Quant on 130–170 scales and Analytical Writing on 0–6. You’ll see one essay (“Analyze an Issue”), two Verbal sections, and two Quant sections. The test is section-level adaptive, so how you do in the first section of a measure influences the difficulty of the second; your final scale score reflects both how many you got right and the difficulty level. Official scores typically post in 8–10 days and are valid for five years.

Programs compare applicants across years and majors using percentiles, not just raw scores. A percentile tells you the share of test takers you outperformed. For example, on recent ETS data, Verbal 160 is around the 84th percentile, while Quant 160 is around the 50th percentile; Quant 165 is about the 67th, 168 about the 81st, and 170 about the 91st. Verbal 165 lands near the 95th. AWA 4.0 is roughly the 63rd percentile and 4.5 about the 85th. Use these anchors to translate program guidance into numbers.

Every department sets its own priorities. Treat the ranges below as helpful targets to be competitive; always check each program’s current policy and any posted score ranges.

Primary focus: Quant. Competitive target: Quant 165–169 (roughly 67th–86th percentile), Verbal 153–160. Very selective programs may expect Quant 168+. Solid floor if other materials are outstanding: Quant ~160, with evidence of strong math elsewhere (transcripts, research, recommendations). AWA 4.0–4.5 is usually fine; higher helps for research-heavy writing.

Primary focus: Quant near the top of the scale. Competitive target: Quant 166–170 with Verbal 155+ and AWA 4.5+. Many economics departments scrutinize math rigor on your transcript; the GRE should reinforce that strength.

Primary focus: Quant; Verbal matters but typically less. Competitive target: Quant 164–168, Verbal 150–156, AWA 4.0–4.5. Mathematics applicants often trend higher in Quant (165+).

Balanced but Quant still matters. Competitive target: Quant 155–160, Verbal 153–158, AWA 4.0–4.5. Programs valuing reading-heavy coursework may prefer stronger Verbal.

Balanced profile. Competitive target: Verbal 156–162 and Quant 152–158, AWA 4.0–4.5. Quant expectations climb for quantitatively intensive social science (e.g., political methodology).

Balanced with evidence of data literacy. Competitive target: Verbal 155–160 and Quant 155–160, AWA 4.0–4.5. Stronger Quant can offset a lighter math background; stronger Verbal can offset less policy writing experience.

Balanced but many adcoms lean slightly Quant. Competitive target: Quant 160–166 and Verbal 156–164, AWA 4.0+. Top programs value high percentiles on both measures; bolster weaker areas with work experience, recommendations, and a compelling story.

Primary focus: Verbal. Competitive target: Verbal 160–167, Quant 150–157, AWA 4.5–5.0. Strong writing samples and faculty fit carry major weight; the GRE confirms verbal reasoning and analytical writing strength.

Primary focus: Verbal and AWA. Competitive target: Verbal 150–156, Quant 145–152, AWA 4.0–4.5. For research-focused or measurement/ed-psych tracks, raise Quant expectations.

1. Shortlist 5–8 programs. Note whether GRE is required or optional and capture any published class ranges. 2) Decide your competitiveness goal: for a stretch school, aim at or above the 85th percentile on your field’s priority section; for a match, 75th; for a safety, 60th+. 3) Convert those percentiles into scores using recent ETS mappings: Quant 160≈50th, 165≈67th, 167≈76th, 168≈81st, 169≈86th, 170≈91st; Verbal 155≈65th, 158≈77th, 160≈84th, 165≈95th. 4) Make it two numbers: a primary target (e.g., Quant 167 for CS MS) and a floor for the other section (e.g., Verbal 155). 5) Add an AWA threshold: 4.0 minimum for most, 4.5+ for writing-heavy fields.

Take a timed diagnostic under test-like conditions to get section scores and percentiles. If your baseline already meets or exceeds your floor on one measure, concentrate on the other. Use your intended field’s averages as context, not as goals; a competitive target is typically one to two buckets above the field’s mean on the priority section.

Gap to target 0–3 points on your priority section: 2–4 weeks of focused timing work and error-reduction drills. Gap 4–6 points: 6–8 weeks to shore up 3–4 weak subskills and build stamina with mixed sets. Gap 7–10 points: 10–12 weeks, rebuilding core content and section strategy. Gap 11+ points: extend the timeline, adjust school list, or plan a two-phase prep (foundation, then score push).

Weeks 1–2: Diagnose, prioritize 3–5 subskills, learn or refresh concepts, then do small, untimed sets to reach 80–90% accuracy. Weeks 3–4: Shift to timed sets; introduce mixed-question blocks; start weekly mini-mocks. Weeks 5–6: Emphasize hardest question types; add two section-length drills per week; tighten pacing. Weeks 7–8: Alternate section-length drills with one full mixed mock; finalize guessing strategy; schedule the official test.

Start with Exambank’s diagnostic to establish your Verbal and Quant baselines and see topic-level strengths and weaknesses. Then let your AI tutor build a Learn → Solve Together → Test Yourself path around your goals and schedule. Lessons teach concepts and strategies; guided, step-by-step walkthroughs show how to crack real GRE-style problems; short quizzes lock in retention. Adaptive practice serves questions at your level and ratchets difficulty as you improve, targeting “tricky bits” and creating personalized review sets from your history. Progress dashboards compare accuracy by topic, show streaks, and project score trajectories so you can tell if you’re on pace to hit your target by test day.

Because the test is section-level adaptive, your first section on each measure influences the difficulty of the second. Warm up before you start, front-load accuracy in the first section, and have a clear triage plan for time sinks so you earn the harder second section without sacrificing overall accuracy.

You can retake the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period. ScoreSelect lets you decide which test administration(s) to send to schools within the five-year validity window. Build a retake cushion into your calendar if your application deadlines allow, and use your performance data to target the specific subskills that will move your percentile most.

Chasing perfection on a single question while the clock drains; neglecting your non-priority section so the overall profile looks lopsided; practicing only untimed or only full-length without section-length drills; skipping regular review of your error log; ignoring AWA until the last week.

Define the score that actually matters for your programs, convert it to percentiles and section targets, and then train toward those numbers with a plan that fits your timeline. Use your baseline and weekly data to adjust the plan, not your goal. Consistency compounds.