GRE is the main standard confirmation test on the planet, along with the its archenemy GMAT, that is acknowledged for admission to business projects and graduate courses incorporating MS programs in colleges abroad. Thus, on the off chance that you wish to concentrate abroad, taking the GRE General Test must be in your arrangements.

However, just taking the GRE isn't adequate. You need a decent GRE score, particularly whether you expect to get into the top-tier Business Schools. See our guide on The GRE average score at Top 25 Business Schools 2020 Ed to know everything about it.

Aside from these preliminary considerations, it is still awkward to me that people approach this so important yet difficult exam aiming to a top score - which is perfectly legit and the dream of many students - without knowing answer to a simple question: How is the GRE Score Calculated ??

Pretty weird ah ?? As a matter of fact, the answer is YES, sort of.



The GRE test score is calculated on the basis of the student’s performance in 3 basic areas, which are:

• Verbal reasoning which has a 130-170 score scale with a 1 point increment
  
  
• Quantitative reasoning which has a 130-170 score scale with a 1 point increment
  
  
• Analytical writing which has a 0-6 score level with a \(\frac{1}{2}\) point increment.

How is the GRE Sectional Score Calculated?

See All you need to know about the GRE Test - 2020 Edition - strongly recommended reading BEFORE you start your journey


Both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning segments have 2 measures. All the inquiries posed inside them merit similar focuses. How well you score in verbal and quantitative thinking relies on:

• Execution on the Questions Asked - our reasonable assumption is this means the GRE score algorithm takes into account if you are above or the average the difficulty of the questions during the two sections. To make clear to you the idea: the level of difficulty of the GRE questions range for the minimum (which is 1) to the maximum (which is 5). The average throughout each of the two section, both quant and verbal, is \(\approx 3.35\). So the GRE accounts you where you stand: if your level of the questions answered is for instance 4.0 or rather 2.80.
  
  
  
• The Number of Questions Answered in the Time Allotted - this is much more simple to grasp of the first concept explained above: the GRE takes into account litelly the numbers of questions you answer correctly in each of the two sections, both quant and verbal.

From a mathematically standing point

Keep in mind that the sections that pop up in front of you, usually, do not have a systematic order: usually you first have the AWA, then the verbal section and then the quant section. However, this unfolding could be a variation.
However, at the end of the day the GRE exam always will have two AWA sections, two quant sections, and two verbal sections.

Now, considering the GRE test kicks off, regardless the section you do have in front of you the score is calculated as follow:

1) The first section is always on a medium level, no matter how or what. On average will be on 3-3.5 level on a scale from 1 (the easiest question) to 5 (the hardest).

2) In the second section (both quant and verbal) IF your correct answers in the first section were in that range 0-6 correct upon 20 questions the second section will be easy level.

Alike, if in the first section your correct answers were from 7-14 range, then your second section will be medium level.

More, if in the first section you pick 15-20 range questions correct, then your second section of the test will be HARD Level.


So, suppose the student

• in the first section nails just 6 questions correct

He/She will end up to get an easy verbal section as the second portion of the test with 11 questions right (11 is just an example, could be even 20). That means the score should be the follow

First Verbal Section + Second Verbal section = \(6+11=17\)

The base score is \(130 + 17 = 147\)

However, HE/SHE will get only V 143.

147-143=4

This four is a fist in his mouth. This is the way the ETS algorithm works: if you get a medium or hard second section, in the end, ETS rewards you with 2 or 3 points of bonus plus your real score.



That's it

An important side note is that the GRE will not assign any penalty for a question answered incorrectly. As such, it is important that even if you do not know to solve a question, making an educated guess of it is also an important strategy to have. For instance, solving a problem solving - single answer choice - the probability to get it right is 0.20% (1/5). So, guys pick one answer and move on. you do not know. Maybe, you are lucky enough to get one more question correct :wink:


How is the GRE AWA Section Score Calculated?


The AWA has two articles - the "Issue" task and the "Argument" task. An expert surveys and scores you based on the general nature of each exposition. He/She gives significant accentuation on basic reasoning and logical composing aptitudes rather than language structure and mechanics, for example spelling. Other than the prepared peruser, a PC program, known as e-rater, likewise audits the papers.

Presently, There are 2 Possibilities:

• The human peruser and the modernized program designate you comparative scores in an exposition. For this situation, the normal of the two scores turns into your last score for that specific errand.
  
  
  
• The human expert and the e-rater award you fluctuated scores in a paper. For this situation, another human peruser is brought in to audit the exposition. The last score for that errand is the normal of the imprints given by the two experts. I.E: if the first grader and the computer disagree consistently, a third figure - another human expert - steps in to evaluate your AWA.

The imprints you get on the two expositions are then found the middle value of to report a solitary score. It turns into your last Analytical Writing score. Basically, the average of the two grades or the three.

See also here GRE Shorter AWA - All You Need to Know to Score 6 on the Issue Essay 2023 for a top-notch and well developed essay.


The official conversion table of your GRE score into percentile

Here the official ETS GRE table conversion of your score into a percentile