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What is a Good GRE Score out of 340?
To secure admission in the reputed grad schools for pursuing MBA or PhD or masters, a candidate needs to showcase their knowledge level by scoring high in the GRE exam. Conducted by the Educational Testing Service, the GRE General Test assesses a test taker in terms of their verbal, quant and analytical writing skills out of a GRE score total of 340. Now the big question that lies – ‘what is a good GRE score out of 340?’
There is no wonder every test taker will try hard to score the most, but it must be noted every university and most of their programs have a predetermined set of GRE scores. For further understanding of the GRE score range let us keep reading.
How does GRE Scoring Work?
To have a deep understanding of ‘what is a good GRE score out of 340?’ the method of ‘how the GRE is scored?’ should be explained.
The GRE score distribution is categorised as:
The GRE score is the composite score of GRE verbal and GRE quant out of 340. Now, the GRE analytical writing section is calculated in a distinctive way and it is also not as vital as the other two. The GRE analytical writing section is calculated on a GRE score scale of 0.0 – 6.0 and in half-point increments.
There are points to be noted about the GRE scores:
- Grad schools generally focus on a sectional GRE score – either verbal or quant
- Grad schools only concentrate on the sectional score related to the field of study the test taker is opting for
- For instance, a grad school will be inclined more towards a candidate’s GRE quant score who is applying for engineering than the verbal
Determining a Good GRE Score
There is a tendency among test takers to look for the total GRE score out of 340, but that is the ultimate way to find if it is a good GRE score. The finest way is to find through GRE score percentiles.
GRE percentiles state the percentage of candidates the test-taker performed better than. The greater the GRE percentile, the better is your performance in that section. GRE is not scored on a total of 340 in an absolute manner and therefore, it is not possible to find the percentiles of the GRE as a whole.
Note: Anything above the GRE percentile of 50th is considered sober as that states you scored better than 50% of the other test-takers.
The following table will explain the GRE score to percentile conversion:
| GRE Percentile | GRE Verbal Score | GRE Quant Score | Score Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 169-170 | 170 | Excellent |
| 90 | 162 | 166 | Very Good |
| 75 | 157 | 160 | Good |
| 50 | 150-151 | 153 | Average |
| 25 | 144-145 | 147 | Below Average |
| 10 | 139-140 | 141 | Poor |
| 1 | 132 and below | 134 and below | Very Poor |
It is quite comprehensible from the above table that the GRE verbal scores are lesser on the same percentile level than the GRE quant scores. This happens because most of the test takers score higher in the quant section making it a cutthroat competition.
Points studied from the above table:
- ‘What is a good GRE score out of 340?’ depends solely on the sectional score
- A 162 GRE score means the 90th percentile in verbal,
- Whereas, the same score is equal to 80th percentile in quant
Coming to the GRE analytical writing section, though it is not equally crucial like the other two, it is always recommended to achieve a proper score in this section too.
| GRE Percentile | GRE AW Score | Score Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | 6.0 | Excellent |
| 98 | 5.5 | |
| 92 | 5.0 | Very Good |
| 82 | 4.5 | Good |
| 59 | 4.0 | Average |
| 41 | 3.5 | |
| 17 | 3.0 | Below Average |
| 7 | 2.5 | Poor |
| 2 | 2.0 | Very Poor |
| 1 | 1.5 and below |
The above table is an indicator of the GRE AW performance along with the scores.
Now, after studying the GRE score to percentile conversions, a general performance level indicator can be ascertained from the information given.
The test takers can focus on the GRE scores stated in the picture above to understand their range of scores and improvement requirement.
Figuring out the Good GRE Score for you
The best way to determine ‘what is good GRE score out of 340?’ is to figure out which program you’re applying and in which grad school and by following the steps.
STEP 1: Design a Chart
Make a chart comprising of the list of preferred universities, their requirements, GRE verbal and quant scores. It will appear somewhat like:
| Grad Schools | What they require | GRE verbal score | GRE quant score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | - | - | - |
| University of Michigan | - | - | - |
| UC Berkeley | - | - | - |
| Harvard University | - | - | - |
STEP 2: Researching information
In this step, find out the required information like:
- Average scores: This includes the GRE scores of the previously admitted applicant.
- Recommended scores: The scores advised by the schools to be maintained to secure admission
- Minimum required scores: The lowest possible GRE scores one can get to apply to that program
For instance, in the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, a test taker applying for Ed.M. will have to achieve a GRE verbal score of 155 and quant score of 156 and GRE AW 4.1. Whereas the University of Michigan demands a verbal score of 157, the quant score of 152 and AW score of 4.5 in the same educational program.
Where to find the information about the scores:
- University webpage in the admission/program pages
- Never rely on the unofficial website
- If you’re not getting average scores, search for recommended or minimum scores
STEP 3: Finally fill out the Chart
After searching for all the information, it may happen that the university has published the average scores and few have published percentiles.
STEP 4: Calculate the GRE scores
Now when the test taker has all the information, find out the highest GRE score for both quant and verbal. Start preparing hard for GRE so that you can achieve that score. Once you achieve that score, applying in other grad schools will also become easier.
Hence, all this information about ‘what is a good GRE score out of 340?’ will help the test takers in achieving high GRE scores.
GRE 2024 : 6 Answered QuestionsView All
Ans. In case you are enquiring about the CAT percentile let me clarify that ISB Hyderabad does not take into consideration CAT scores. It accepts GMAT/GRE scores only. Most importantly, the ISB Shortlisting process is profile-based. This means even with a lower percentile you can manage to get shortlisted provided you have an excellent profile. There is no fixed cutoff for GMAT. However, a 700+ GMAT score isn't a must-have for ISB if your application is strong in other areas. According to an ISB spokesperson, candidates were admitted to the 2021 cohort with scores as low as 580, and as high as 780. So the GMAT score range for ISB is 580-780. Read more
Ans. ISB Hyderabad accepts both examination scores. So, you can opt for either of GMAT or GRE. Your chances of selection or rejection will remain the same. Go through the examination pattern and syllabus and choose the one in which you feel that you will be able to score better. Ultimately having a good score is what matters during admission. As per the recent trends, ISB Hyderabad cutoff for GMAT is 600, while for GRE it is 311. Read more
Ans. There are a few institutes that offer classroom coaching for GRE preparation in Bhubaneswar. Given below are information about a few such institutes: Offshore Education Academy This institute is a one-stop point for good counseling and preparation of GRE exams in Bhubaneswar. Merit scholarships are given to students who perform well in the online admission test. The minimum time to be devoted will be 4 months although it can be extended to 5 months in case an individual wants more time to prepare. Prajna Prep Prajna Prep offers comprehensive class sessions on Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing. You can also take GRE Practice Tests to improve your preparation. Manya-The Princeton Review Manya-The Princeton Review is another excellent choice for GRE preparation. This institute offers different types of GRE courses and you can choose the one which suits you best. There is also an option for learning in groups or in one on one sessions. Besides classroom coaching, self-preparation is also a good option if your current academics are above average. Read more
Ans. Of the two entrance exams, GMAT and GRE, the former is a better option. ISB Hyderabad has recently started accepting GRE scores. This doesn’t mean that taking the GRE is a bad idea. Many business schools apart from ISB are now accepting GRE scores. The best part is that ISB won’t be converting your GRE scores to GMAT for comparison during the MBA admissions. GRE is suitable for students who are considering other PG options apart from MBA like MS or MA. For someone who is sure of their career in an MBA, the GMAT is a better choice because GRE is much more dynamic. GMAT shows your commitment to MBA and thereby increases your chances of admission in comparison to GRE which shows that you are open to various options. ISB Hyderabad prefers GMAT over GRE also because the former is a more quantitatively challenging exam than the latter. Certain firms may ask for your GMAT score before shortlisting you for your interview. These include the biggest firms in the corporate world like McKinsey So from these points, we can safely conclude that GMAT is a better option for MBA students provided that you are sure of your course. Read more
Ans. Firstly, GRE scores are not accepted for the PGP MBA program. Only CAT/GMAT scores are accepted. To apply through the GMAT route you need sufficient work experience in a foreign country. For the FPM program, like any other doctoral program, the quality of the application matters the most and there is no cut-off for the GRE scores. Other factors that are actually considered are Profile Past research Publications There is no specific GRE score that would guarantee a call-up from IIM Ahmedabad. Read more
Ans. There is a long list of countries that allow students to apply for Ph.D. without GRE or TOFEL scores. Some of these countries are as follows. France Singapore Malaysia Dubai Poland China Japan Thailand Latvia Georgia United Kingdom Malta However, you need to have a good academic record in English to show your proficiency. Some of these countries may also need other language proficiency test scores for admission. Read more
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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