What is a Good GRE Score

The GRE test is an exam for testing eligibility for getting an admission into the best US universities. The article throws light on what is a good GRE score.

Students often end up in a confusion regarding how to assess the GRE score. They have many questions such as what is a good GRE score, and how will the score fetch them admission into a particular US university or college. To get clear answers to such questions, it is essential to understand the various elements of the GRE test and the basis on which the scores are calculated.

Score Evaluation in the GRE Test

The scores in the GRE verbal and quantitative reasoning segments are determined on a scale of 200-800, with a 10 points increase. The other segment is the GRE analytical writing whose score is assessed on a 0-6 scale, with a ½ point increase. The marks of the verbal and quantitative segments count on the performance of the questions you were asked to answer, and on the aggregate number of questions answered in the allotted time.

The verbal and quantitative sections of the test are assessed in a format similar to the Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT). This format allows the score assessment on the basis of how the questions are responded to. An easy question is given first, which is followed by increasingly difficult questions, but only if the preceding question if answered correctly. But if the first question is answered incorrectly, easier questions are asked. The main aim of this format is to give questions according to the person's aptitude and Intelligence Quotient (IQ). One will not be able to go back and change the selected answers to the previous questions. You must compulsorily answer every question to take the test forward.

What is a Good GRE Score?

The concept of what should be an acceptable GRE score largely varies from school to school and university to university. A particular college may consider a score of 600 as an acceptable score, but the other colleges may not. A satisfactory GRE score also depends on program to program, as the requirement criteria for different programs vary at the time of admission. A university may require a high score in a specific test section, but may accept average scores in other sections.

There are some colleges which also evaluate GPA and your research experience for considering your entry into a college course. To know more on a good GRE score, you may obtain information from students who are already studying in a university you are looking to get admission into. The simplest way of getting the related information is to look for the minimum GRE score requirement on the university's website.

The GRE score is a major aspect considered to judge the level of knowledge and understanding which you have gained in your undergraduate studies. If you are looking forward to a graduate course in life sciences, a 568 in mathematics and 464 in the verbal section is an acceptable score. If you seek admission in a physical science course, 694 in mathematics and 491 in the verbal section is recommended. In case of a graduate course in engineering, 721 in mathematics and 474 in the verbal section is considered acceptable. For a social science graduate program, a satisfactory score would be 548 in mathematics and 484 in the verbal section.

If you are still wondering what is a good GRE score, you simply need to refer to the GRE score requirements of the course you seek admission to.