GRE Scores & Results 2025: Validity, Calculation, Sending Scores

Did you know that your GRE scores are a significant part of how you get into the best master’s degree colleges worldwide? The scoring system of the GRE Exam aims to see how ready you are for college at the graduate level. So, understanding it fully can make or break your chances of getting into the university of your dreams.

Knowing your GRE scores and how colleges use them is essential, whether you want to enter a specialised field or a private university. A high GRE test score can help you get into prestigious universities or even get scholarships. It is an essential part of your application process. In this article, we will go into detail about understanding competitive GRE scores.

Why Do GRE Scores Matter?

GRE scores help judge applications for graduate universities in many different areas, including law, business, engineering, and the sciences. See is why your GRE scores are so important:

• Global Acceptance: Thousands of public and private universities worldwide consider the GRE scores as an entrance criterion. It gives people who want to study abroad a lot of options. Please note that the GRE is an aptitude test and is not accepted as a substitute for a separate English proficiency exam, such as TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic, for non-native English speakers.
• Standardised Assessment: GRE scores are a standard way to compare people with different levels of education. This standardisation is essential so that admissions panels can compare candidates fairly.
• Competitive Edge: High scores can help you stand out from other applicants in competitive universities, where every point counts. For instance, the average GRE scores for top-tier universities are frequently well above the 90th percentile. Thus, every extra point is valid.
• Programme-Specific Requirements: Some universities set minimum GRE test score requirements. Most of the time, you need to meet these standards for your application’s consideration.

For instance, some engineering or maths courses may put a lot of weight on good Quantitative Reasoning scores. On the other hand, for arts courses, the scores in verbal reasoning are usually considered to be more important.

Along with these factors, the GRE scores can also affect your chances of getting scholarships and internships. It makes them even more critical in the application process.

Section-Wise GRE Scores Range

To understand your scores and set reasonable goals, you need to know the GRE score levels for each part of the test. There are three parts to the GRE General Test: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. Here's a list of the GRE score range for each part:

Clarity on the GRE score range can help you determine how you performed on each part and how to best prepare for the test.

For example, knowing that the best score on the Verbal and Quantitative parts of the GRE is 170 can help you assess your performance and aim for a better percentile ranking. A breakdown of GRE scores by part can help you focus your study on the areas where you need to do the most work.

How GRE Scores are Calculated

The GRE scoring system aims to give you a complete picture of how well you can do in Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Here's how the GRE scores are calculated:

GRE Scores for Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning

Each part has one-point increments ranging from 130 to 170. Your score is based on how many correct answers you get, considering the difficulty of the questions. The GRE is a section-level adaptive test: how well you perform on the first section (Verbal or Quantitative) determines the difficulty level of the second section for that measure, which ultimately affects your overall score.

GRE Scores for Analytical Writing

Scores for this part range from 0 to 6, with a half-point increment. Two separate people read your articles and then take the average of their scores. It takes a third reader to settle a significant disagreement between two readers’ scores.

GRE Score Percentile

You will also get a GRE percentile ranking for each part, along with your raw scores. It shows how your scores stack up against those of other test-takers.

For instance, if your GRE test score is in the 90th percentile, you did better than 90% of people who took the test. To understand your results and find areas for improvement, you must be familiar with GRE score calculation and percentile ranks.

Here’s a breakdown of GRE scores in numbers to help you understand where you stand:

GRE Scores Validity and Reinstatement

Learning about the GRE score validity time and the process for score reinstatement can help you get the most out of them. Understanding how long your test scores remain valid is important for planning whether you intend to apply immediately after taking the test or a few years later.

Validity: Your GRE scores are valid for five years.

GRE Score Reinstatement Process: Anytime you want to get your scores back after cancelling them, just log in to your ETS account and ask for them within 60 days. As part of this process, you must pay a restoration fee. After this, you can see your grades and send the GRE scores to top universities.

When and How to View GRE Results?

As soon as you finish the exam, you start to look forward to getting your results. The following steps will show you how to get to your GRE scores:

• Timeline: GRE scores are available 8-10 days after your test date.
• ETS Account: Log in to your ETS account, where you will receive an email notification once your scores are available.
• View Scores: Navigate to the ‘View Scores’ section in your ETS account to get the score access.

Remember that you will not get a paper copy of your GRE score report, so you must check your results online immediately.

What Does Your GRE Scorecard Contain?

There is more to your competitive GRE scores than just how well you did on the test. It has a lot of important information that you need for your application. Here's what you can expect to see on your GRE score report:

• Candidate Information: Your name, registration number, and other personal details
• GRE Scores: Section-wise scores for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing
• Percentile Ranks: Your performance relative to other test-takers, provided as a percentile rank
• Score Validity: All the scores from tests taken within the period of 5 years
• Score Recipients: Information about the institutions that have received your scores.

In the GRE scorecard details, you will see all scores you have earned within the five-year validity period. Crucially, the ScoreSelect option allows you to choose which set of scores (from which specific test date) you want to send to institutions, either your Best score, Most Recent score, or All scores taken within the last five years. This control over reporting your scores allows for a more strategic application process.

How to Send GRE Scores to Universities​?

Sending your test scores to universities is integral to the application process. Here’s how to report GRE scores to universities:

• On Test Day: On the test day, you can share your GRE scores with up to four universities for free.
• After Test Day: You can send your numbers to more than one university through your ETS account. However, there is a fee for each report.

When choosing colleges, you should consider the GRE score requirements for each one. Some universities may have a certain GRE score level, especially in the Quantitative or Verbal parts.

Retaking Exam & Improving Your GRE Scores

If you are not happy with your first GRE test score, you can retake it. The GRE retake policy states that every 21 days, you can retake the exam up to five times in 12 months. It gives you more than one chance to raise your grades.

How to Improve GRE Scores?

To improve your GRE score, you must focus on three things: a foolproof study plan, good sources, and time management with enough time for reflection. 

Step 1: Plan
Create a personalised study plan that focuses on your weak areas.

Step 2: Use Quality Reference
Practice consistently with a mix of materials.

Tip 3: Give Yourself Time
Take full-length timed practice tests to build stamina and time management skills.

Tip 4: Reflect
Review your mistakes regularly to avoid repeating them.

ProTip: Use the GRE Diagnostic Service
Using this tool before setting up a redo would help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. It lets you focus on your GRE test preparation for your next try.

Points to Remember Before GRE Retake

To reiterate, here are the important things to remember before your retake to improve your GRE scores:

• Frequency: Retake every 21 days, up to five times a year, starting from the date you register for the GRE.
• Diagnostic Service: You can use it to look at past results and focus on areas that need work.
• Strategic Planning: You should only retake the test if you think you can do much better this time.

Understanding and managing your GRE scores well can open doors to the top universities worldwide. Every step in the application process is essential, from understanding the GRE score range and GRE score calculation to ensuring quick score submission. Remember that getting a good GRE test score is not just about getting a high score; you also need to know how the GRE scoring system works and how to use that knowledge to your advantage.

The professional counsellors at AECC can help you through the complicated process of picking the right university or understanding the different GRE score requirements. Contact AECC to get into your dream college.