Find your GRE percentile rank for Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing sections. See how you rank among graduate school applicants.
GRE percentiles tell you where your score ranks relative to all test takers over a recent multi-year period. Because different graduate programs value different sections, understanding your percentile for Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing independently is essential for evaluating your competitiveness.
This calculator maps each of your GRE section scores to its approximate national percentile using the latest ETS data. Enter your Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing scores and instantly see how you stack up against the full pool of graduate school applicants.
Percentiles are particularly useful for cross-field comparisons. A Quantitative score of 160 is at the 76th percentile overall, but may be well below average for engineering programs. Context-specific evaluation against your target programs is always recommended.
Students, parents, and educators all gain valuable perspective from precise gre percentile data when planning academic paths, managing workloads, or setting realistic performance goals. Return to this calculator each semester or grading period to stay on top of evolving academic targets.
Raw GRE scores lack context without percentile information. A Verbal score of 155 sounds modest, but at the 67th percentile it means you outperformed two-thirds of test takers. Percentiles help you set realistic expectations, compare across sections, and evaluate your positioning against specific program requirements. Real-time results let you test different scenarios instantly, helping you set achievable goals and build an effective plan for academic success.
Percentile = lookup(Section Score) Each section has its own percentile distribution based on ETS data. Verbal and Quantitative percentiles use 1-point score bands; AW uses half-point bands.
Result: V: 76th, Q: 78th, AW: 80th
A Verbal score of 158 is approximately the 76th percentile, a Quantitative score of 162 is the 78th percentile, and an Analytical Writing of 4.5 is the 80th percentile. This student performs consistently above average across all sections.
Verbal Reasoning percentiles are relatively evenly distributed, with each point between 145–165 representing a 3–5 percentile change. Quantitative Reasoning is more compressed at the top, with scores of 165–170 spanning only the 89th–96th percentiles due to many high-scoring STEM applicants.
The AW section has a unique distribution: 3.5 is the 42nd percentile, 4.0 is the 56th, 4.5 is the 80th, and 5.0 is the 92nd. The jump from 4.0 to 4.5 represents a much larger percentile gain than other half-point increments.
Overall GRE percentiles may not reflect your competitive positioning within a specific field. ETS publishes field-specific data showing that engineering applicants average Q=159 while education applicants average Q=149. Look up your intended field's scores for meaningful comparison.
List your target programs, find their average admitted student GRE scores, and convert those to percentiles. If your percentiles exceed the program averages, you're in a strong position. If they fall short significantly, additional preparation or alternative programs may be warranted.
Your GRE percentile indicates the percentage of test takers who scored at or below your score on a given section. A 75th percentile means you outperformed 75% of all GRE test takers.
No. Each section has its own percentile distribution. A score of 155 may be at different percentiles for Verbal vs. Quantitative because the score distributions differ.
A Verbal score of approximately 163–164 corresponds to the 90th percentile. This is significantly above the average Verbal score of 150.
A Quantitative score of approximately 166–167 corresponds to the 90th percentile. The Quant section has more high scorers, so the 90th percentile threshold is higher.
Most programs publish average or median scores of admitted students rather than percentile cutoffs. You can look up these averages and convert to percentiles for comparison.
ETS updates percentile data annually based on scores from the three most recent testing years. This calculator uses the latest available ETS data.
The GRE Quantitative section has more test takers scoring at the high end (particularly from STEM fields), compressing the percentile distribution. Small score changes at the top have outsized percentile effects.
It depends on the program. Less competitive programs may accept 50th percentile scores, but competitive programs typically expect 70th+ percentile. Research your specific programs' averages.