Written BySayantani Barman Experta en el extranjero
With the competition elevating every year with 2018 witnessing around 80,000 Indian students taking the GRE, the GRE scores demanded by the abroad universities have also started boosting. Just like UC Berkeley accepts a GRE percentile of 90th in quant and 75th verbal and 3.5 in analytical writing. This states, the candidate has to score better than the 90th percentage of other GRE test takers and result in around 164 in quant. The GRE score calculation is based on the performance of the three sections of the GRE syllabus: verbal, quant, and analytical writing
GRE Score Overview
The GRE scores are directly beneficial to a candidate’s admission in one of the top universities for pursuing a master’s degree. To know the calculation which goes behind a GRE verbal or quant or analytical writing, let us understand the sections of the GRE general test first.
GRE Score Calculator for Verbal and Quant Sections
The GRE total score is marked counting the verbal and quant sections only. The GRE 2023 scores of verbal and quant sections are measured considering the performance level on each sections and how efficiently the candidate has managed the time. There are two factors that play a role in the GRE score calculation:
The GRE exam has sections known as ‘measures’ and each verbal and quant sections comprises of two. Now, adaptive testing is only applicable for the computer-delivered GRE test. The adaptive testing determines the difficulty level of the second question based on the performance of the first one.
The first measure of both verbal and quant comprises of questions of moderate complexity and the second measure displays either easy or moderate or complex questions – totally based on how the test-taker performed in the previous one.
- If a candidate has made two/three mistakes in the first verbal measure, they’ll be noticing the second measure is filled with challenging questions.
- The types of questions a candidate has answered inaccurate won’t count, instead the whole section will be counted. For instance, if the arithmetic questions are wrong, not necessarily only the arithmetic part will be easier in the second measure.
Few things to note about GRE adaptive-testing:
- Scoring a 10/20 in the first measure and 20/20 in the second will result in a moderately high score but not very high;
- Whereas, someone scoring a 19/20 in the first measure and 11/20 in the second will have comparatively higher score;
- Despite the total score being similar – 30/40 questions of both the candidates, the second candidate after scoring a 19/20 in the first measure had been given harder questions for the second measure;
- Therefore, the second candidate’s final score is higher.
GRE Score is Calculated Based on Equating
Equating is the process of how to calculate GRE scores by making the scores accurate and rational for all the test takers taking their tests in more than 1,000 GRE test centres in over 160 countries. For instance,
- GRE taken in August usually has complicated questions; whereas the one was taken in September has a comparatively easier one;
- The August test-takers will not be penalized with lower scores neither the September ones will be benefitted with higher scores;
- If the September quant section has test-takers achieving a 30 out of 40 questions correct then they might receive a GRE scaled score of 160 or 130 + 30. Whereas the August test takers who also have similar right answers might receive a 161 or 161 because of the tougher questions.
The GRE equating process is not clearly showed by ETS or Educational Testing Service but it clearly states that every candidate should try hard to make every single answer correct. There are three main steps of the GRE equating process:
Check GRE Score Report
How GRE score is calculated: Analytical Writing
The two essays in the GRE AW section is marked on a single score scale of 0 – 6. Things to be noted about GRE analytical writing:
- Each essay is read by a trained rater and then marked on 0 – 6
- Then it is read by an e-reader which is an ETS made software and marked on the basis of multiple areas
- If the human and the e-rater’s scores are within one point then the final score is the average of those two scores
- In case of disagreement, a second human reader is allotted to do the marking
The GRE Analytical Writing is marked based on score descriptors:
| Score 6 | Outstanding |
| Score 5 | Strong |
| Score 4 | Adequate |
| Score 3 | Limited |
| Score 2 | Seriously Flawed |
| Score 1 | Fundamentally deficient |
GRE Score Calculator for Subject Test Scores
The GRE subject tests are paper-delivered tests and are offered in six subjects. The GRE subject tests measures the competency level of a candidate in a particular field of study and also examines their knowledge level of the undergraduate level. The six subjects are: Biology, Physics, Literature in English, Chemistry, Maths, and Psychology.
GRE Score Calculator: Subject test scores
Each GRE subject score is marked on a total score scale of 200 to 990 in 10 points increments. The GRE subject test is also calculated based on the equating method.
- In the Biology test, the number of questions answered accurately for every content area adds to the subscore,
- For the Physics and Psychology part, the subscore comprises the accurately answered questions of each content area and the number of correct answers of the whole test,
Thus, when all the information about how to calculate GRE score is explained, it will be helping the test takers in preparing for the GRE exam
*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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