If you’re preparing for the GRE and wondering how your score stacks up, this page explains what GRE percentiles mean and how they factor into MBA admissions decisions. You’ll also find a quick-reference chart and guidance on how to interpret your results before setting your personal score goals.
Check out our companion blog post, What Your GRE Percentile Really Says About Your MBA Readiness, to learn how business schools interpret GRE scores, what percentiles are truly competitive, and how to align your test results with your overall MBA strategy.
Q: What GRE percentiles are competitive for MBA programs?
We’re often asked whether top business schools truly consider the GRE a valid admissions test. The answer is precisely what MBA program websites state: the GRE is accepted and welcome, and there’s no downside to submitting a GRE score.
That said, opting for the GRE instead of the GMAT doesn’t mean any score will do. The GRE result—especially your quantitative performance—matters and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Here’s the fine print: MBA programs generally expect a higher GRE percentile because the test is considered slightly easier on the quantitative side. We encourage our clients to aim higher on a percentile basis relative to the Quant percentile on the GMAT.
Below are the GRE percentiles associated with scaled scores for Verbal and Quantitative. Without factoring in an applicant’s career path or educational background, we typically recommend targeting at least the 70th percentile or higher to strengthen your odds of admission at top MBA programs. Note that the GRE Analytical Writing section is not included in your total GRE score.
GRE PERCENTILES: VERBAL AND QUANT
| Verbal Score | Verbal Percentile | Quantitative Score | Quantitative Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | 99 | 170 | 94 |
| 169 | 99 | 169 | 91 |
| 168 | 98 | 168 | 87 |
| 167 | 97 | 167 | 83 |
| 166 | 96 | 166 | 80 |
| 165 | 95 | 165 | 76 |
| 164 | 94 | 164 | 73 |
| 163 | 92 | 163 | 70 |
| 162 | 89 | 162 | 68 |
| 161 | 87 | 161 | 65 |
| 160 | 84 | 160 | 61 |
| 159 | 81 | 159 | 58 |
| 158 | 77 | 158 | 55 |
| 157 | 73 | 157 | 52 |
| 156 | 70 | 156 | 49 |
| 155 | 65 | 155 | 46 |
| 154 | 60 | 154 | 42 |
| 153 | 56 | 153 | 39 |
| 152 | 50 | 152 | 36 |
| 151 | 46 | 151 | 33 |
| 150 | 41 | 150 | 30 |
| 149 | 36 | 149 | 27 |
| 148 | 32 | 148 | 24 |
| 147 | 29 | 147 | 21 |
| 146 | 25 | 146 | 18 |
| 145 | 22 | 145 | 15 |
| 144 | 19 | 144 | 13 |
| 143 | 17 | 143 | 11 |
| 142 | 15 | 142 | 9 |
Q: What do the GRE percentiles mean?
The GRE percentiles represent the percentage of test takers who scored below a specific scaled score, based on ETS’s most recent test-taker data. (This table can also serve as a quick GRE conversion reference to see where your Verbal and Quant scores fall relative to peers.)
Q: Why can’t I simply aim for the average reported GRE score listed on the MBA program website?
The GRE percentiles published on MBA program websites aren’t entirely representative of any individual applicant’s chances because they reflect overall class averages. These averages capture only a portion of each admitted class and don’t account for key factors such as demographics, function, industry, career path, undergraduate institution, or quantitative background.
Each year, business schools admit students with lower GRE percentiles, as well as those with exceptionally high scores. We encourage our clients to aim for their personal best rather than benchmark against published averages.
At SBC, we routinely see perfect or near-perfect GRE results among our applicant pool, giving us real-time insight into the full score range reflected in the chart above. Business schools are seeing similarly broad distributions in their incoming classes.
Q: What are good GRE scores for a school such as HBS?
Here is a sampling of GRE scores from our HBS admits from the recent admissions cycle to demonstrate the range:
| V161, Q167 | V160, Q163 |
| V160, Q159 | V168, Q166 |
| V166, Q170 | V170, Q170 |
| V169, Q164 | V165, Q165 |
(If you’d like to interpret these results more precisely, refer back to the GRE percentile chart above for detailed GRE score conversion.)
Q: What about the GMAT Focus Edition?
Our latest intel on test prep for the GMAT Focus Edition here:
Here are additional helpful test prep articles
Test retaking, reporting, cancellations and online test options
GMAT vs GRE: What’s the right strategy?
Should I take the GMAT or opt for a test waiver?
What practice test options are there?
GMAT Score Chart: How to Use It?
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