GRE Overall Score Percentile: How does it work?

Hi everyone! I'm slightly confused about GRE overall score percentiles. How do they work and what's a good percentile to aim for to be competitive in grad school applications? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi there! GRE overall score percentiles are a way to compare your performance on the GRE to that of other test-takers. Percentiles indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored lower than you did. For instance, if you are in the 90th percentile, it means that you scored higher than 90% of test-takers.

There are three sections on the GRE: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Percentiles are calculated separately for each section, and they can help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses.

A "good" percentile is subjective, and can depend on the specific programs you're applying to. In general, though, to be more competitive in grad school applications you'll want to aim for at least the 75th percentile in each section - and the more competitive the program you're applying to is, the higher.

However, keep in mind that GRE scores are just one aspect of your grad school application, and different programs have differing expectations. It's essential to research your target schools' average admitted student GRE scores and reach out to their admissions offices for further guidance.

In summary, GRE percentiles help contextualize your scores relative to other test-takers. Aiming for a high percentile will strengthen your application, but make sure to consider the specific requirements of the programs you're interested in to ensure you know what each school's expectations are. Good luck on your grad school journey!