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How To Get a Good GRE Score? - Know GRE Score Range, Total Score

Exam

Aditya Jha

Updated on 07th August, 2023 , 4 min read

GRE Total Marks: GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination. It is a standardized test that is commonly required for admission into graduate school in the United States and other countries. The GRE Exam measures skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The GRE Exam is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is offered as a computer-based or paper-based test.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Exam is scored on a scale of 130-170 for both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, in one-point increments. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0-6, in half-point increments. The total score of the GRE Exam is the sum of the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores, which can range from 260 to 340. The Analytical Writing section is scored separately, and the score ranges from 0 to 6.

Also Read: GRE Exam Fee In India

GRE Total Marks: A Good GRE Exam Score

A good GRE Exam score depends on the requirements of the graduate program to which you are applying. Generally, a good GRE Exam score is one that falls within or above the range of scores for the graduate program you are applying to. A score of 160 or higher in both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections is generally considered to be a good score, and a score of 5 or higher in Analytical Writing is also considered good.

The range of a good GRE Exam score is:

  • GRE Verbal Section: 163 - 170
  • GRE Quantitative Section: 165 - 170
  • GRE Analytical Writing: 5.0 – 6.0

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What is a Good GRE Score?

GRE Total Marks: A Suitable GRE Exam Score

The range of a suitable Exam score is as follows:

  • GRE Verbal Section: 158 - 162
  • GRE Quantitative Section: 159 - 164
  • GRE Analytical Writing: 4.5

GRE Total Marks: Improving GRE Score

There are many ways to improve your GRE score, including studying with prep materials, taking practice tests, and seeking help from tutors or study groups. Additionally, focusing on your weaknesses and developing a targeted study plan can help you improve your score.

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GRE Total Marks and Exam Pattern:

The following table helps in comprehending the GRE Exam exam pattern and other special features:

SectionPaper-Based GREComputer-Based GREScore ScaleIncrements
Analytical Writing

2 Sections, 2 tasks

[60 minutes]

1 Section, 2 tasks

[60 minutes]

0-6In Half-Points
Verbal Reasoning

2 Sections, 50 questions

[70 minutes]

2 Sections, 40 questions

[60 minutes]

130-170In 1-Point
Quantitative Reasoning

2 Sections, 50 questions

[80 minutes]

2 Sections 40 questions

[70 minutes]

130-170In 1-Point
UnscoredUncertain & UnmarkedUncertain & Unmarked  
ResearchUncertain & UnmarkedUncertain & Unmarked  

GRE Total Marks: Analytical Writing 

The Analytical Writing section of the GRE exam consists of two tasks - Analyze an Issue and Analyze an Argument. In both tasks, the test-taker is evaluated on their ability to analyze complex ideas, develop well-reasoned arguments, and express their ideas in a clear and organized manner.

The Analytical Writing score is reported separately from the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores and is an important factor considered by many graduate schools in the admission process.

TypeSectionsTotal TasksTime
Computer-Based1230 Minutes (per task)
Paper-Based21 Task in Each30 Minutes (per section)

GRE Total Marks: Verbal Reasoning

The section consists of two types of questions: Reading Comprehension and Text Completion/Sentence Equivalence. The Verbal Reasoning section is scored on a scale of 130-170, in one-point increments. A strong performance on the Verbal Reasoning section can demonstrate to graduate schools that a test-taker has strong reading comprehension skills and a broad vocabulary, which are essential skills for success in many graduate programs.

TypeSectionsTotal QuestionsTime
Computer-Based220 in each section30 Minutes (per section)
Paper-Based225 in each section35 Minutes (per section)

GRE Total Marks: Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section consists of two parts, each containing 20 questions, and the total testing time for this section is 70 minutes. The Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE Exam measures an applicant's ability to apply mathematical concepts and solve problems using quantitative reasoning. It tests both basic and advanced math skills and requires the test-taker to interpret and analyze quantitative information.

TypeSectionsTotal QuestionsTime
Computer-Based220 in each section35 Minutes (per section)
Paper-Based225 in each section40 Minutes (per section)

GRE Total Marks: Unscored and Research Section

The unscored section, also known as the experimental section, is an extra section that ETS includes in the exam to test out new questions for future tests. The research section is also an additional section, but it is used by ETS for research purposes only. It is not scored, and it does not count toward the candidate's score. It's important to note that test-takers cannot distinguish between the scored, unscored, and research sections during the exam, so they should approach each section with equal importance and effort.

GRE Total Marks: Things To Remember

For an applicant, it is essential to keep the following pointers in mind:

  • The total marks of the GRE Exam are not indicative of the applicant's intelligence or academic potential. The GRE is just one of many factors considered by graduate schools when evaluating applicants for admission. 
  • Other factors, such as undergraduate grades, letters of recommendation, and relevant work experience, are also taken into consideration.
  • The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are computer-adaptive, meaning that the difficulty level of the questions adjusts based on the test-takers performance on previous questions. 
  • The first section of Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning is of average difficulty, and the level of difficulty of the second section is determined by the performance of the first section.

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