GRE Percentiles 2026: Score Percentile Chart and Comparison

Latest update: For 2026, a GRE Analytical Writing score of 5.0 ranks in the ~93rd percentile, impressing humanities programs! ETS’s latest percentiles reflect a tougher Verbal curve, so prep strategically.

Scoring well on the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) isn’t just about your raw score; it’s about how you compare to others. That’s where GRE percentiles come in. A GRE percentile tells you the percentage of test-takers who scored lower than you. For example, a 90th percentile GRE score means you scored better than 90% of candidates.

According to ETS data, a 159 in Verbal places you around the 80th percentile, while a 152 in Quant is roughly the 45th percentile. Top universities often prefer scores in the 85th percentile or above, especially for competitive programs.

This guide breaks down GRE score percentiles, including Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing, to help you understand where you stand and what to aim for. Whether you're targeting a specific GRE writing score percentile or want to know your total GRE score percentile, this article covers it all with the latest data for 2026.

What Is a GRE Percentile?

A GRE percentile tells you how your score ranks compared to other test-takers. For example, a 90th percentile GRE score means you performed better than 90% of all candidates. It’s not your actual score, but your ranking among others.

GRE Scaled Score vs. GRE Percentile:

Metric	Meaning
Scaled Score	Your actual score in a section (Verbal and Quant: 130–170, AWA: 0–6)
Percentile Score	The percentage of test-takers who scored lower than you

Example:

• 159 Verbal GRE percentile ≈ 80th percentile
• 152 Quantitative GRE percentile ≈ 45th percentile

Why Top Universities Use GRE Percentiles?

Universities rely on GRE percentiles to compare applicants fairly across different test sessions and years. A high GRE score percentile (typically 85th or above) helps you stand out in competitive programs. Percentiles eliminate score inflation or variability by showing your relative position in the applicant pool.

Want to understand how your GRE scores translate into percentiles? Check out the detailed GRE Score Calculator blog.

GRE Percentile Chart 2026 (Updated)

Understanding where your GRE scores stand in comparison to other test-takers is essential for setting realistic university targets. Below is the latest GRE percentile chart for 2026, based on ETS data, covering all three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Percentile Chart

Verbal Score	Percentile
170	99
165	96
160	86
159	80
155	69
150	48
145	28
140	12
135	5

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Percentile Chart

Quant Score	Percentile
170	91
165	81
160	69
155	54
152	45
150	38
145	21
140	11

Note: Quant scores tend to have slightly lower percentile rankings at higher scores compared to Verbal.

GRE Analytical Writing Percentile Chart

AWA Score	Percentile
6.0	99
5.0	91
4.5	82
4.0	55
3.5	42
3.0	17
2.5	7

 

Curious about what constitutes a competitive score? Explore our guide on What is a Good GRE Score? for insights into setting your target.

How Are GRE Percentiles Calculated?

Understanding how GRE percentiles are calculated can help you better interpret your scores. Percentiles show how you rank among other test-takers and are based on a rolling average of results over the past three years.

GRE Scoring System Breakdown

Before looking at percentiles, it's important to know the GRE scoring format:

• Verbal Reasoning: 130–170
• Quantitative Reasoning: 130–170
• Analytical Writing (AWA): 0–6 (scored in half-point increments)

Note: Each section is scored separately. There is no single GRE total score, but many students refer to the combined Verbal + Quant score (max 340).

How Percentiles Are Derived

Percentiles are not based on your raw score but on how many people scored below you. ETS collects performance data from all test-takers over the last three years and ranks scores accordingly.

So, if your scaled score is 159 in Verbal, and 80% of test-takers scored lower, you fall in the 80th percentile.

Example: Score-to-Percentile Mapping

Here’s a quick look at what some common scores translate to in terms of percentiles:

Section	Scaled Score	Approx. Percentile
Verbal Reasoning	159	80th percentile
Quant Reasoning	152	45th percentile
Analytical Writing	4.0	55th percentile
Analytical Writing	4.5	82nd percentile

Section-Wise GRE Percentile Analysis

Understanding GRE percentiles by section helps you identify competitive benchmarks and focus your prep more effectively. Each section of the GRE- Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing has unique scoring trends, difficulty levels, and score distributions.

Typical Score Ranges by Section

Here's what most GRE test-takers score in each section:

Section	Typical Score Range	Approx. Percentile Range
Verbal Reasoning	145–160	25th–85th percentile
Quantitative Reasoning	150–165	38th–85th percentile
Analytical Writing (AWA)	3.0–4.5	17th–82nd percentile

Note: Most students fall around the 50th percentile mark, but scores above 160 in Verbal or Quant push you toward the top 15–20%.

Difficulty Level and Percentile Impact

Each section’s percentile is impacted by how well the overall pool performs:

• Quant tends to be more competitive. Many test-takers, especially from STEM backgrounds, score high, so even a 165 may not place you in the top 10%.
• In Verbal, percentile gains increase more sharply with each point above 155.
• AWA scores have a narrower distribution, and even small jumps (e.g., 4.0 to 4.5) can significantly boost your percentile.

How to Improve Your GRE Percentile Score

Improving your GRE percentile score requires more than just studying harder; it’s about studying smarter. Since percentile rankings reflect how well you perform compared to other test-takers, even small score jumps can lead to significant percentile boosts, especially in weaker areas.

Verbal Reasoning: Sharpen Reading & Vocabulary

• Focus on Reading Comprehension by practicing complex passages daily.
• Strengthen your vocabulary with high-frequency GRE words and contextual usage.
• Solve Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence under timed conditions.

Note: 159 in Verbal places you near the 80th percentile, ideal for top programs.

Quantitative Reasoning: Prioritize Accuracy & Speed

• Master GRE math topics like algebra, geometry, and data interpretation.
• Practice timed sets with increasing difficulty to build endurance.
• Analyze errors to spot patterns in careless mistakes.

Note: A 152 Quant score is about average, but scoring 160+ pushes you into the 75th percentile and higher.

Analytical Writing: Structure Matters

• Use pre-planned essay templates to save time and stay organized.
• Practice both Issue and Argument tasks weekly.
• Get feedback or use GRE writing evaluation tools for improvement.

Note: A score of 4.5+ in AWA puts you above the 80th percentile.

Also check out: GRE Results: Understanding Your Scores, Timeline, and How to Interpret Them

Conclusion

Understanding GRE percentiles is key to evaluating where you stand among other test-takers. Whether you're aiming for a 159 Verbal GRE percentile, targeting the 90th percentile GRE score, or improving a 152 Quant percentile, your focus should be on balanced performance across all sections; Verbal, Quant, and AWA.

Top universities don’t just look at your total GRE score; they analyze your GRE score percentiles to gauge your readiness for rigorous academic programs. So, a strategic approach to each section can significantly boost your GRE total score percentile and improve your chances of admission.