You’ve probably been staring at that ETS dashboard until your eyes burn. It’s a weird feeling, right? Seeing those three-digit numbers pop up on the screen and wondering if they’re actually "good" or just... there. Honestly, the obsession with the GRE test results average is basically a rite of passage for anyone trying to survive the grad school application meat grinder. But here’s the thing: a "good" score is a total chameleon. It changes based on whether you're trying to get into a tiny MFA program in Vermont or a cutthroat engineering PhD at MIT.
The GRE isn't just one test. It’s a psychological hurdle. People treat the national average like it’s a pass-fail line, but that's a trap. If you’re looking at the raw data from Educational Testing Service (ETS), the folks who actually run this whole circus, the numbers might surprise you. Most test-takers hover around a 150-ish in Verbal and a 154-ish in Quantitative. But if you walk into a top-tier CS program with a 154 Quant, you might as well have handed them a blank sheet of paper.
Breaking Down the GRE Test Results Average by the Numbers
Let's get into the weeds for a second. According to the most recent A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test report (which covers millions of testers over several years), the mean score for Verbal Reasoning is roughly 150.3, and for Quantitative Reasoning, it’s about 154.3. Analytical Writing usually sits at a 3.6.
Numbers are boring without context.
Think about it this way: if you’re applying to a Humanities program, your 162 Verbal is your golden ticket, while your 148 Quant is mostly ignored. Reverse that for STEM. I’ve talked to admissions officers who admit they barely glance at the Writing score unless it’s catastrophically low—like a 2.0. They want to know you can string a sentence together, not that you’re the next Shakespeare.
The GRE test results average is a moving target. In 2023 and 2024, we saw a slight creep in Quantitative scores, specifically among international students applying to US-based data science and AI programs. Why? Because the competition is getting absurd. When everyone has a 168 Quant, the "average" for that specific pool isn't the national average anymore. It's the ceiling.
The "Test-Optional" Elephant in the Room
You’ve likely heard that the GRE is dying. It’s a common refrain on Reddit and GradCafe. "Don't bother," they say. "Everything is test-optional now."
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Slow down.
While the "GRExited" movement gained massive steam during the pandemic, the tide is shifting back in some sectors. Some programs found that without those GRE test results average benchmarks, they had no objective way to compare a 4.0 GPA from a tiny liberal arts college to a 3.5 GPA from a massive state university. Yale, for instance, has different requirements across its various grad schools. Some want it; some don't care.
If your GPA is a bit "meh," a high GRE score is your best friend. It’s the only way to prove to a committee that you’ve got the intellectual chops to handle the workload, regardless of what happened in your sophomore year of undergrad when you discovered craft beer and stopped going to Geology.
Major-Specific Realities: Why Averages Lie
Looking at the global GRE test results average is like checking the average temperature of the entire Earth to decide what to wear in Seattle today. It tells you nothing useful.
Let's look at the disparity:
- Engineering: The average Quant score for successful applicants often hits the 162-167 range. Verbal? They’re cool with a 152.
- Education: Here, the numbers flip. You’ll see averages around 150 for Quant but higher expectations for the Verbal and Writing sections.
- Physics: If you aren't hitting the 160s in Quant, you're fighting an uphill battle.
It’s all about the "percentile." This is the number that actually matters. If you’re in the 90th percentile, you’ve outperformed 90% of people who took the test in the last three years. ETS keeps a rolling three-year average to make sure these percentiles stay accurate. If the test gets easier or harder, the percentile adjusts. That’s why a 160 today might feel different than a 160 ten years ago.
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How Much Study Time Does It Actually Take?
I’ve seen people study for six months and gain two points. I’ve seen people cram for a weekend and hit a 165. Most of it comes down to "test-taking literacy" rather than actual intelligence.
The average person who sees a significant score increase (think 5-10 points total) usually puts in about 80 to 120 hours of focused prep. This isn't just staring at a book. It's taking those grueling four-hour practice exams until your brain feels like mush. The GRE is a marathon of focus. Most people lose points in the final hour because they're tired, not because they don't know the math.
The Myth of the "Perfect" Score
Is a 170/170/6.0 possible? Sure. Is it necessary? Almost never.
Even at Harvard or Stanford, the GRE test results average for admitted students rarely sits at the literal maximum. They want humans, not calculators. If you have a 166 Quant and a 162 Verbal, you are statistically in the running for almost any program on the planet. Spending another $220 and two months of your life to try and squeeze out three more points is usually a waste of time. Spend that time on your Statement of Purpose. Seriously. A boring, generic essay will kill your application faster than a 153 Verbal ever will.
The Quantitative section, in particular, has become a bit of an arms race. Because the math tested is mostly high-school level—geometry, algebra, data analysis—it’s "learnable." This has pushed the average scores for top-tier programs higher and higher. It’s not that the students are smarter; they’re just better at the specific tricks the GRE likes to play.
What to Do if You’re Below the Average
First, don't panic. Deep breath.
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If your score is sitting below the GRE test results average for your target school, you have three real options:
- Retake it. You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in a 12-month period. Most people see their best score on the second attempt. The nerves are gone. You know where the bathroom is. You know how the scratch paper feels.
- Focus on the "ScoreSelect" feature. ETS lets you choose which scores to send. If you bombed it once but killed it the second time, the school never has to know about the first disaster.
- Address it head-on. Some applications have an "Additional Information" section. If you had a bad day—maybe you were sick or had a family emergency—you can briefly (and I mean briefly) mention it. Don't make excuses. Just state the facts.
The Financial Reality of the GRE
Let’s be real: this test is expensive. Between the registration fee, the prep books, and the cost of sending scores to more than four schools, you can easily drop $500 before you even apply.
This creates a "wealth gap" in the GRE test results average. Students who can afford private tutors or $1,000 prep courses naturally tend to score higher. If you're on a budget, don't sleep on the free resources. Khan Academy has a partnership with ETS for the math section that is genuinely excellent. Use it. Don't pay for "proprietary math secrets" when the fundamentals are available for free.
Final Reality Check
At the end of the day, your GRE score is a filter, not a final decision. It gets you into the "pile" that the admissions committee actually reads. Once you’re in that pile, the numbers stop mattering as much. They want to see your research, your letters of recommendation, and your passion.
If you’re obsessing over the GRE test results average, remember that the average person getting into grad school is just as stressed as you are. They aren't all geniuses. They’re just people who learned how to play the game.
Actionable Steps to Improve Your Standing
- Take a diagnostic test immediately. Don't study first. See where you stand raw. If you're already at the average for your target schools, stop stressing and do one week of "refresher" prep.
- Identify your "score ceiling." Look at the 75th percentile for your specific program, not the national average. That’s your target.
- Focus on the "Easy" Gains. It is much easier to raise a 145 to a 155 than it is to raise a 162 to a 168. If you’re in the low range, focus on the low-hanging fruit: vocabulary building and basic geometry rules.
- Master the Calculator. The on-screen GRE calculator is clunky. Practice using it during your mocks so you don't fumble with the mouse during the real thing.
- Check the "Test-Optional" list one last time. Before you spend the money, email the department coordinator of your target program. Sometimes the website is outdated, and they might tell you the GRE isn't required for your specific year.