A GRE percentile tells you the percentage of test takers who scored lower than you on a given section. Under the tables ETS uses on score reports for 2026-27, which are based on everyone who tested between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025, a 160 in Verbal Reasoning is the 82nd percentile, a 160 in Quantitative Reasoning is only the 50th percentile, and a 4.0 in Analytical Writing is the 63rd percentile. Because so many test takers score high in Quant, even a perfect 170 Quant sits at the 89th percentile.
This guide gives you the full official tables for all three sections, the current mean scores, a practical way to decide what counts as a "good" score for your goals, and how to read the percentiles on your own score report.
What a GRE percentile means
Your GRE scaled score (130-170 for Verbal and Quant, 0-6 for Analytical Writing) shows your level of performance. Your percentile rank shows how that score compares with a reference group. ETS defines the percentile rank as the percent of test takers in that group who obtained scores below a specified score. So a 76th percentile Verbal score means you outscored 76% of the reference group.
Three points are easy to miss:
- The reference group is a three-year window. The current tables cover all test takers from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025: 788,021 people for Verbal, 790,864 for Quant and 785,720 for Analytical Writing.
- Percentiles move; scores do not. ETS notes that a given score represents roughly the same level of ability no matter when it was earned, but its percentile rank can change as the reference group changes. ETS updates the interpretive data every year.
- Sections are not comparable by raw score. Each measure is scaled separately, so a 160 Verbal and a 160 Quant are not "the same". Use percentiles to compare your relative performance across sections.
GRE Verbal and Quant percentiles (current ETS table)
The table below reproduces the ETS percentile ranks used on GRE score reports, based on test takers from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025. "Not reported" means ETS left the cell blank because there were no test takers above or below that score range for a percentile to be reported.
| Scaled score | Verbal Reasoning percentile | Quantitative Reasoning percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | not reported |
| 131 | 1 | not reported |
| 130 | not reported | not reported |
Read the two columns side by side and the pattern is clear. A 165 is the 95th percentile in Verbal but the 67th in Quant. To reach the top quarter of Quant scorers you need a 167 (75th percentile), while a 158 already puts you in the top quarter for Verbal (76th percentile).
GRE Analytical Writing percentiles
Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point steps. These are the current percentile ranks from the same ETS reference group.
| 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 | not reported |
| 0.0 | not reported |
The jump between 3.5 (40th percentile) and 4.0 (63rd percentile) is the largest in the table. If your practice essays sit around 3.5, moving up half a point changes your standing more than at any other level.
Mean GRE scores
ETS also publishes the mean (average) and standard deviation for each section. For test takers from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025:
| Section | Number of test takers | Mean | Standard deviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 788,021 | 151.39 | 8.43 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 790,864 | 157.62 | 9.90 |
| Analytical Writing | 785,720 | 3.46 | 0.85 |
The Quant mean is about six points higher than the Verbal mean, which is why the same scaled score lands at a much lower percentile in Quant. ETS reports a correlation of .44 between Verbal and Quant scores, .52 between Verbal and Writing, and .08 between Quant and Writing.
Mean scores by intended graduate field
A more useful benchmark is how people heading into your field perform. The table below comes from the Interpreting Your GRE Scores 2026-27 guide and covers college seniors and non-enrolled graduates who tested between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025.
| Intended broad field | Verbal mean | Quant mean | Writing mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
What is a good GRE score?
There is no single "good" score. A score is good if it is competitive for the programs you are applying to. Here is a practical way to set a target:
- Start with your programs. Many graduate and business schools publish the average or middle range of GRE scores for admitted students. That is your real benchmark, not the overall percentile table.
- Check the section that matters most. ETS advises schools to treat Verbal, Quant and Writing as three separate measures, because programs need different skills. Engineering and economics programs will look hardest at Quant; humanities and law programs at Verbal and Writing.
- Use percentiles as a reality check. The table below turns common percentile targets into scaled scores from the current ETS data.
| Target | Verbal score needed | Quant score needed | Writing score needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above about half of test takers | 153 (54th) | 160 (50th) | 4.0 (63rd) |
| Top quarter (75th percentile or higher) | 158 (76th) | 167 (75th) | 4.5 (85th) |
| Top 10% (90th percentile or higher) | 163 (90th) | Not reachable: 170 is the 89th | 5.0 (93rd) |
The last row surprises many applicants: under the current tables, no Quant score reaches the 90th percentile. If a program asks for "90th percentile Quant", ask the admissions office which tables they use, or simply aim as close to 170 as you can.
ETS does not publish a percentile for the combined Verbal plus Quant score (260-340). Be careful with any website that gives one: it is an estimate, not official data.
How precise is a GRE score?
Every test has measurement error, and ETS publishes it. According to the GRE Guide to the Use of Scores 2026-27, the standard error of measurement (SEM) for an individual score is 3.17 points for Verbal, 2.56 for Quant and 0.40 for Analytical Writing. ETS gives an example: a test taker with a Quant score of 153 can be 68% confident that their true score lies between 150 and 155.
For comparing two people, the SEM of score differences is 4.48 points for Verbal and 3.62 for Quant. In practice this means a one or two point gap between two applicants is not a meaningful difference in ability, and a one point improvement on a retake may be noise rather than progress.
How to read the percentiles on your score report
- Each section has its own percentile. Your report lists Verbal, Quant and Analytical Writing scores, each with a percentile rank from the current ETS tables.
- Schools should use the latest tables. ETS tells institutions that when comparing applicants, they should use the most recent percentile tables, since percentiles shift as the three-year reference group changes. The percentile you saw on test day may differ from what a school sees later, even though your scaled score is the same.
- Scores last five years. GRE scores are reportable for five years after your test date, and with the ScoreSelect option you can choose which test dates to send.
- Timing. ETS says General Test scores now reach test takers 8 to 10 days after the test date.
Common questions about GRE percentiles
Are GRE scores curved?
No, not in the sense of being graded against the people who test on the same day. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores through equating, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between test editions and between the second sections people receive. ETS states that a given scaled score reflects the same level of performance regardless of which second section you got and when you took the test.
Why does the same score have a different percentile this year?
Because the reference group changed. Each year ETS recalculates percentiles from the latest three-year window of test takers. Your scaled score keeps its meaning; only its rank against the group moves.
Is there a best time of year to take the GRE?
Not for percentile reasons. Your percentile is calculated against the full three-year reference group, not against the people in your test session. The best time is when your practice scores have reached your target and you still have time to retake before deadlines.
Should I report a GRE or GMAT score for business school?
Many business schools accept both. Compare the two tests on our GMAT vs GRE comparison page. If you are weighing law school options, see GRE vs LSAT.
Plan your GRE target
Once you know your programs' benchmarks, work backwards to the section scores you need. You can check where you stand with our free GRE diagnostic review, read more about studying abroad with the GRE on our GRE study abroad page, or look at our GRE preparation course. To talk to an advisor, book a consultation or call 097 586 1994.
Sources
- ETS: GRE General Test Interpretive Data (Tables 1A, 1B, 1C), based on test takers from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025
- ETS: GRE Guide to the Use of Scores, 2026-27 (percentile definition, reliability and SEM, score reporting policies)
- ETS: Interpreting Your GRE Scores, 2026-27 (mean scores by intended broad graduate major field)
- ETS: Understanding Your GRE General Test Scores
Information checked on 6 November 2026.