GRE Score Percentiles

A 165 Quant percentile of 67 means 67 percent of the reference group scored lower in Quant. It does not mean 67 percent of questions were correct, and it does not mean a 67 percent chance of admission.

The comparison group and date range matter. Percentiles can shift when the testing population changes, even though the 130–170 scaled score stays the same.

Each measure has its own distribution. At 160, the official rank is 84th percentile in Verbal but 50th in Quant. At 165, it is 95th in Verbal and 67th in Quant. This reflects who takes the test and how scores cluster, not a claim that one section is universally easier.

ETS also publishes distributions by intended graduate field. Those can show how a score compares with applicants who report similar goals. Program-specific class profiles and requirements remain more directly useful when they are available.

Quant and Verbal scores can be added to a 260–340 total, but ETS interpretive tables report the section percentiles separately. A combined score alone hides the split, so evaluate both measures before drawing conclusions.

Correct: ‘A 165 Quant score is at the 67th percentile in the ETS table based on July 2021–June 2024 test takers.’ This names the measure, rank, source, and reference period. Incorrect: ‘I got 67 percent on Quant’ or ‘165 means a 67 percent admissions chance.’

Correct: ‘A 160 ranks differently by measure: 84th percentile in Verbal and 50th in Quant.’ Incorrect: ‘160 is an 84th-percentile GRE score’ without naming the section. Precise language prevents a chart from implying more than the data supports.

The ranking can help compare performance, but programs choose how to use scores. A field may contain many high Quant scorers, causing a strong scaled score to have a lower-looking general percentile. A department may also value evidence not captured by the test.

Use percentiles to understand relative standing, section imbalance, and the size of a potential improvement. Use program requirements and curriculum demands to decide whether that difference matters.

When you compare charts from different websites, inspect the stated ETS reference period before comparing numbers. Two pages can show different ranks for the same scaled score simply because one is using older interpretive data. Prefer the current ETS-linked table and retain the date in your notes.

Finally, report the scaled score alongside the percentile. The pair is clearer, easier to verify, and less likely to be misunderstood than either number presented alone.