Enter your Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing scores to instantly see where you rank among GRE test-takers. Percentiles show admissions committees how you compare to everyone else -- essential for setting realistic targets and choosing the right programs.
Enter your Verbal Reasoning score (130-170), Quantitative Reasoning score (130-170), and Analytical Writing score (0-6 in half-point increments) to see your percentile ranking for each section. These estimates use the most recent ETS data (July 2021 through June 2024), updated annually each July.
Each GRE section has its own separate percentile ranking -- ETS does not publish a percentile for your combined Verbal plus Quant score. A percentile of 80 means you scored better than 80% of test-takers on that section. Results also include an interpretation tier: Excellent (90th+), Very Strong (75th-89th), Above Average (50th-74th), Below Average (25th-49th), or Needs Improvement (below 25th).
Enter your GRE Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing scores to see your approximate percentile rankings for each section.
ETS converts your raw score (number correct) into a scaled score through a process called equating, ensuring a 160 on one test date represents the same ability as a 160 on another. Verbal and Quant use a 130-170 scale in one-point increments. AWA is scored 0-6 in half-point increments by human readers and an automated engine.
ETS maps each scaled score to a percentile rank showing what percentage of test-takers scored below you on that section. Percentile ranks are section-specific -- there is no official percentile for your combined Verbal plus Quant total. A student with a 320 combined must evaluate their Verbal and Quant percentiles individually.
ETS calculates percentiles using a rolling three-year window (currently July 2021 through June 2024), updated every July. This smooths short-term fluctuations while adapting to long-term shifts. Because average scores can rise or fall, the same scaled score may yield a different percentile year to year -- especially on Quant, where rising averages have caused significant percentile compression.
Percentile Lookup: What Does a 160V/165Q Mean?
You receive scores of Verbal 159, Quantitative 163, and AWA 4.5. How do you interpret them?
The average Verbal score is approximately 151.2 (46th percentile). Verbal percentiles spread more evenly than Quant: a 160 places you at the 84th percentile, 165 in the top 5%, and a perfect 170 is required for the 99th percentile. Top humanities and social science programs generally target 163+ (90th percentile).
| Scaled Score | Percentile Rank | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | 99 | Top 1% -- Exceptional |
| 165 | 95 | Top 5% -- Excellent |
| 163 | 90 | Top 10% -- Very Strong |
| 160 | 84 | Top 16% -- Strong |
| 155 | 65 | Top 35% -- Solid |
| 152 | 51 | About Average |
| 151 | 46 | Average (Mean: 151.2) |
| 146 | 30 | Bottom Third |
| 140 | 11 | Bottom 11% |
| 130 | 1 | Minimum Score |
The average Quant score is 157.6 (48th percentile) -- notably higher than Verbal, making competition stiffer. A perfect 170 on Quant is only the 92nd percentile because roughly 8% of test-takers also score 170. Compare that to Verbal, where 170 is the 99th percentile. This disparity -- called percentile compression -- has major implications for STEM and business school applicants.
| Scaled Score | Percentile Rank | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | 92 | Top 8% -- Exceptional |
| 166 | 83 | Top 17% -- Excellent |
| 165 | 76 | Top 24% -- Very Strong |
| 163 | 70 | Top 30% -- Strong |
| 160 | 61 | Top 39% -- Above Average |
| 157 | 48 | Average (Mean: 157.6) |
| 152 | 32 | Bottom Third |
| 145 | 14 | Bottom 14% |
| 130 | 1 | Minimum Score |
A 160 on Verbal is the 84th percentile, but that same 160 on Quant is only the 61st percentile. International students and STEM applicants tend to score higher on Quant, pushing the average to 157.6 (vs. 151.2 for Verbal) and compressing percentiles at the top of the Quant scale.
AWA uses a 0-6 half-point scale, scored by human readers and the e-rater engine. The average is approximately 3.65 (38th-60th percentile). Most scores cluster in the 3.0-4.5 range, and AWA percentiles show dramatic jumps at certain score points -- making even small improvements highly impactful.
| AWA Score | Percentile Rank | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 99 | Top 1% -- Exceptional |
| 5.5 | 97 | Top 3% -- Outstanding |
| 5.0 | 93 | Top 7% -- Excellent |
| 4.5 | 83 | Top 17% -- Very Strong |
| 4.0 | 60 | Top 40% -- Good |
| 3.5 | 38 | Below Average |
| 3.0 | 18 | Bottom Fifth |
| 2.0 | 3 | Bottom 3% |
Going from AWA 3.0 (18th percentile) to 4.0 (60th percentile) is a 42 percentile-point gain for one point of score improvement -- the biggest return of any GRE section. The coarse half-point scale creates large gaps, and scores cluster heavily around 3.0-4.5, so crossing from 3.0 to 4.0 leapfrogs a huge portion of test-takers.
Recent trend: unlike Quant percentiles, AWA percentiles have increased slightly. A 4.5 now places you at the 83rd percentile (up from 81%), suggesting that strong writing is becoming an even more valuable differentiator.
Percentile compression means the same scaled score corresponds to a lower percentile over time. A Quant 160 was the 72nd percentile three years ago; today it is the 61st -- an 11-point drop with no change in the test or your ability. Because percentiles are relative, when more people score higher, your ranking drops even if your performance stays the same.
The biggest driver of compression is GRE-optional admissions. When programs make scores optional, only confident test-takers submit, removing lower scores from the pool. This self-selection drives up averages and compresses top percentiles. The impact is sharpest on Quant, where a perfect 170 now places you at the 91st-94th percentile -- down from the 98th a decade ago. Verbal has been less affected.
Score Comparison: Engineering vs. Humanities Applicants
How a Quant score of 160 has shifted due to percentile compression:
You need higher scores than a few years ago to reach the same percentile, especially on Quant. Aim 2-3 points higher than older resources recommend -- a student targeting the 75th percentile on Quant should now aim for approximately 165, whereas 161-162 would have sufficed previously. Verbal targets from older resources remain reasonably accurate.
There is no single answer to "what is a good GRE percentile" because the definition varies dramatically by field. Expand each program type below for specific Verbal, Quant, and AWA benchmarks based on admissions data from top-tier programs.
Admissions committees compare your section percentiles against the averages of their most recently admitted cohort. Some set hard minimum cutoffs (e.g., 50th percentile per section), while others use them as soft benchmarks alongside GPA and research experience. Many schools prioritize percentiles over raw scores because they enable cross-test comparisons between the GRE and GMAT.
The most frequent mistake is assuming a high score means a high percentile -- a 165 on Quant is only the 76th percentile. Another error is seeking a single percentile for a combined score; "what percentile is a 320?" depends entirely on the Verbal-Quant split. Finally, remember that percentiles reflect the entire test-taking population. A 60th percentile Quant may suffice for humanities but would be a weakness for a computer science application.
ETS does not publish percentiles for combined GRE scores. However, a 320 total (such as 160 Verbal plus 160 Quant) places you roughly around the 75th to 80th percentile overall. Your actual standing depends on the Verbal-Quant split, since each section has its own separate percentile ranking.
ETS calculates GRE percentiles using a rolling three-year window of test-taker scores. For each scaled score point, ETS determines what percentage of test-takers scored below that mark. The current percentile tables are based on all individuals who tested between July 2021 and June 2024, and they update every July.
A perfect 170 on Quantitative Reasoning places you around the 91st to 94th percentile because approximately six to nine percent of test-takers also achieve a perfect Quant score. This happens due to percentile compression -- as more students prepare effectively for Quant, the top score bands become increasingly crowded.
Yes, GRE percentiles change annually. Every July, ETS updates the percentile tables using the most recent three-year data window. Since average scores fluctuate year to year, your percentile rank for the same scaled score may rise or fall. Quant percentiles have notably declined in recent years.
The same scaled score yields a lower percentile on Quant because more test-takers score high on that section. The average Quant score of 157.6 is notably higher than the average Verbal score of 151.2. This means Quant competition is stiffer, and you need a higher scaled score to reach the same percentile.
ETS does not publish official percentiles for combined Verbal plus Quant scores. You can estimate your overall standing by averaging your section percentiles, but this is only an approximation. Admissions committees typically evaluate your section percentiles separately rather than looking at a combined number.