Table 327.10.

Average scores and standard deviations on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general and subject tests: 1965 through 2018

[Standard deviations appear in square brackets]
Academic year ending	Number of GRE takers		Total GRE takers as a percent of U.S. bachelor's degrees1	General test sections2								Subject tests3
				Verbal		Quanti- tative		Analytical reasoning4		Analytical writing4		Biochem- istry, cell and molecular biology		Biology		Chemistry		Computer science		Education			Engi- neering		Litera- ture		Mathe- matics		Physics		Psychol- ogy
1	2		3	4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		12			13		14		15		16		17
				Former scale (200-800)5
1965	93,792		18.7	530	[124]	533	[137]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	617	[117]	628	[114]	†	[†]	481		[86]	618	[108]	591	[95]	---	[†]	---	[†]	556	[91]
1966	123,960		23.8	520	[124]	528	[133]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	610	[115]	618	[110]	†	[†]	474		[87]	609	[106]	588	[94]	---	[†]	---	[†]	552	[91]
1967	151,134		27.0	519	[125]	528	[134]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	613	[114]	615	[104]	†	[†]	476		[90]	603	[104]	582	[91]	---	[†]	---	[†]	553	[93]
1968	182,432		28.8	520	[124]	527	[135]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	614	[114]	617	[104]	†	[†]	478		[87]	601	[105]	572	[91]	---	[†]	---	[†]	547	[93]
1969	206,113		28.3	515	[124]	524	[132]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	613	[112]	613	[104]	†	[†]	477		[88]	591	[103]	569	[89]	---	[†]	---	[†]	543	[89]
1970	265,359		33.5	503	[123]	516	[132]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	603	[111]	613	[113]	†	[†]	462		[92]	586	[110]	556	[90]	---	[†]	---	[†]	532	[91]
1971	293,600		35.0	497	[125]	512	[134]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	603	[114]	618	[117]	†	[†]	457		[95]	587	[115]	546	[91]	---	[†]	---	[†]	530	[92]
1972	293,506		33.1	494	[126]	508	[136]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	606	[115]	624	[124]	†	[†]	446		[93]	594	[119]	544	[96]	---	[†]	---	[†]	528	[92]
1973	290,104		31.5	497	[125]	512	[135]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	619	[110]	630	[114]	†	[†]	459		[96]	593	[114]	545	[96]	---	[†]	---	[†]	529	[92]
1974	301,070		31.8	492	[126]	509	[137]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	624	[110]	634	[115]	†	[†]	452		[93]	591	[121]	547	[99]	---	[†]	---	[†]	530	[95]
1975	298,335		32.3	493	[125]	508	[137]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	†	[†]	---		[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]
1976	299,292		32.3	492	[127]	510	[138]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	627	[112]	627	[107]	---	[†]	454		[93]	594	[119]	539	[101]	---	[†]	---	[†]	531	[93]
1977	287,715		31.3	490	[129]	514	[139]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	625	[113]	630	[109]	---	[†]	453		[93]	592	[115]	532	[101]	---	[†]	---	[†]	532	[95]
1978	286,383		31.1	484	[128]	518	[135]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	622	[113]	624	[108]	---	[†]	452		[91]	594	[114]	530	[102]	---	[†]	---	[†]	529	[97]
1979	282,482		30.7	476	[130]	517	[135]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	621	[117]	623	[104]	---	[†]	451		[89]	592	[115]	525	[102]	---	[†]	---	[†]	530	[97]
1980	272,281		29.3	474	[131]	522	[136]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	619	[115]	618	[105]	---	[†]	449		[90]	590	[116]	521	[105]	---	[†]	---	[†]	534	[98]
1981	262,855		28.1	473	[128]	523	[136]	†	[†]	†	[†]	†	[†]	617	[115]	615	[103]	---	[†]	453		[90]	590	[116]	520	[99]	---	[†]	---	[†]	532	[97]
1982	256,381		26.9	469	[130]	533	[137]	498	[126]	†	[†]	†	[†]	616	[114]	616	[105]	---	[†]	456		[89]	593	[115]	521	[100]	---	[†]	---	[†]	532	[97]
1983	263,674		27.2	473	[131]	541	[138]	504	[128]	†	[†]	†	[†]	623	[115]	620	[105]	---	[†]	459		[90]	599	[114]	527	[98]	---	[†]	---	[†]	542	[95]
1984	265,221		27.2	475	[130]	541	[139]	512	[129]	†	[†]	†	[†]	622	[115]	619	[102]	---	[†]	461		[90]	604	[114]	530	[97]	---	[†]	---	[†]	543	[96]
1985	271,972		27.8	474	[126]	545	[140]	516	[129]	†	[†]	†	[†]	619	[114]	621	[101]	---	[†]	459		[89]	615	[120]	531	[95]	---	[†]	---	[†]	541	[95]
1986	279,428		28.3	475	[126]	552	[140]	520	[129]	†	[†]	†	[†]	612	[114]	628	[106]	---	[†]	464		[87]	616	[119]	527	[96]	---	[†]	---	[†]	542	[97]
1987	293,560		29.6	477	[126]	550	[140]	521	[128]	†	[†]	†	[†]	616	[116]	629	[104]	---	[†]	465		[86]	619	[119]	526	[95]	---	[†]	---	[†]	536	[95]
1988	303,703		30.5	483	[123]	557	[140]	528	[128]	†	[†]	†	[†]	615	[114]	631	[108]	---	[†]	467		[85]	622	[120]	525	[94]	---	[†]	---	[†]	537	[94]
1989	326,096		32.0	484	[125]	560	[142]	530	[129]	†	[†]	†	[†]	612	[114]	642	[117]	---	[†]	465		[87]	626	[116]	528	[91]	---	[†]	---	[†]	538	[95]
1990	344,572		32.8	486	[123]	562	[143]	534	[128]	†	[†]	---	[†]	612	[114]	662	[123]	---	[†]	461		[84]	617	[111]	523	[92]	---	[†]	---	[†]	537	[95]
1991	379,882		34.7	485	[122]	562	[141]	536	[129]	†	[†]	---	[†]	609	[113]	660	[123]	---	[†]	457		[85]	611	[111]	523	[93]	---	[†]	---	[†]	535	[95]
1992	411,528		36.2	483	[120]	561	[140]	537	[129]	†	[†]	---	[†]	605	[113]	654	[128]	---	[†]	462		[82]	610	[117]	525	[92]	---	[†]	---	[†]	536	[95]
1993	400,246		34.4	481	[117]	557	[140]	541	[129]	†	[†]	---	[†]	606	[114]	662	[133]	---	[†]	462		[80]	602	[115]	516	[94]	---	[†]	---	[†]	536	[97]
1994	399,395	6	34.2	479	[116]	553	[139]	545	[129]	†	[†]	---	[†]	620	[116]	627	[113]	---	[†]	493	7	[104]	601	[115]	517	[95]	---	[†]	---	[†]	538	[96]
1995	389,539	6	33.6	477	[115]	553	[140]	544	[131]	†	[†]	---	[†]	622	[116]	675	[138]	---	[†]	488	7	[102]	596	[113]	513	[96]	---	[†]	---	[†]	544	[98]
1996	376,013	6	32.3	473	[114]	558	[139]	549	[131]	†	[†]	---	[†]	614	[114]	678	[135]	---	[†]	489	7	[104]	604	[119]	512	[97]	---	[†]	---	[†]	547	[99]
1997	376,062	6	32.1	472	[113]	562	[139]	548	[129]	†	[†]	---	[†]	620	[115]	684	[143]	---	[†]	487	7	[103]	602	[114]	525	[100]	---	[†]	---	[†]	554	[99]
1998	364,554	6	30.8	471	[113]	569	[141]	543	[133]	†	[†]	---	[†]	628	[113]	686	[137]	---	[†]	477	7	[100]	609	[118]	530	[100]	---	[†]	---	[†]	563	[100]
19998	396,330		33.0	468	[114]	565	[143]	542	[133]	†	[†]	---	[†]	626	[114]	684	[137]	---	[†]	†		[†]	604	[115]	527	[100]	---	[†]	---	[†]	559	[99]
20008	387,422		31.3	465	[116]	578	[147]	562	[141]	†	[†]	---	[†]	629	[114]	686	[133]	---	[†]	†		[†]	---	[†]	530	[99]	---	[†]	---	[†]	563	[98]
2001	433,109		34.8	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	†	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	†		[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]
2002	536,523		41.5	473	[123]	597	[151]	571	[139]	†	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]	---	[†]
20039,10	440,982		32.7	470	[121]	598	[148]	†	[†]	4.2	[1.0]	517	[100]	635	[114]	682	[125]	712	[97]	†		[†]	†	[†]	538	[98]	620	[131]	669	[151]	580	[101]
20049,10,11	446,661		31.9	469	[120]	597	[148]	†	[†]	4.2	[1.0]	517	[101]	643	[115]	675	[120]	715	[93]	†		[†]	†	[†]	537	[97]	621	[130]	665	[148]	586	[101]
20059,10,11	474,594		33.0	467	[118]	591	[148]	†	[†]	4.2	[0.9]	518	[100]	647	[117]	675	[117]	715	[91]	†		[†]	†	[†]	540	[97]	623	[130]	672	[151]	592	[101]
20069,11,12	508,445		34.2	465	[117]	584	[149]	†	[†]	4.1	[0.9]	519	[99]	650	[118]	677	[116]	717	[92]	†		[†]	†	[†]	541	[97]	627	[129]	678	[153]	598	[101]
20079,11,12	561,014		36.8	462	[119]	584	[151]	†	[†]	4.0	[0.9]	521	[97]	650	[120]	689	[115]	715	[91]	†		[†]	†	[†]	542	[98]	636	[130]	686	[155]	600	[101]
20089,11,12	545,311		34.9	457	[121]	586	[152]	†	[†]	3.9	[0.9]	525	[97]	651	[120]	694	[116]	712	[92]	†		[†]	†	[†]	541	[98]	640	[131]	692	[156]	603	[101]
20099,11,12	600,702		37.5	456	[120]	590	[150]	†	[†]	3.8	[0.9]	523	[97]	650	[120]	699	[115]	708	[91]	†		[†]	†	[†]	541	[97]	648	[134]	692	[156]	605	[103]
20109	630,028		38.2	---	[†]	---	[†]	†	[†]	---	[†]	525	[97]	651	[121]	700	[115]	702	[96]	†		[†]	†	[†]	542	[98]	650	[134]	692	[157]	609	[103]
				Revised scale (130-170)5
20119,13	700,755		40.8	151	[8.5]	151	[8.7]	†	[†]	3.7	[0.9]	525	[97]	651	[122]	703	[114]	698	[99]	†		[†]	†	[†]	547	[98]	655	[135]	689	[156]	612	[103]
20129,13	586,370		32.7	151	[8.4]	152	[8.8]	†	[†]	3.6	[0.9]	526	[95]	658	[123]	703	[115]	693	[100]	†		[†]	†	[†]	549	[99]	657	[136]	696	[158]	616	[102]
20139,13	663,439		36.0	151	[8.4]	152	[8.8]	†	[†]	3.6	[0.9]	524	[94]	664	[121]	700	[114]	†	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	551	[98]	658	[136]	702	[156]	616	[102]
20149,14	684,345		36.6	150	[8.0]	152	[9.0]	†	[†]	3.6	[0.9]	522	[92]	671	[121]	699	[113]	†	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	546	[99]	659	[137]	705	[156]	615	[102]
20159,15	551,366		29.1	150	[8.5]	152	[8.9]	†	[†]	3.5	[0.9]	522	[92]	668	[119]	694	[112]	†	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	544	[100]	658	[136]	705	[156]	614	[103]
20169,15	547,413		28.5	150	[8.5]	153	[9.0]	†	[†]	3.5	[0.9]	†	[†]	668	[118]	693	[115]	†	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	543	[99]	660	[140]	707	[157]	615	[103]
20179,15	538,105		27.5	150	[8.4]	153	[9.1]	†	[†]	3.5	[0.9]	†	[†]	667	[120]	687	[114]	†	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	543	[100]	661	[141]	712	[158]	617	[104]
20189,15	530,404		26.8	150	[8.4]	153	[9.2]	†	[†]	3.6	[0.9]	†	[†]	670	[120]	690	[118]	†	[†]	†		[†]	†	[†]	543	[102]	661	[147]	712	[160]	618	[106]

---Not available.

†Not applicable.

1 GRE takers include examinees from inside and outside of the United States, while the bachelor's degrees include only those conferred by U.S. institutions.

2 General test scores for 2011 and later years are not comparable with scores from previous years.

3 Subject test scores are reported on a 200 to 990 scale, in 10-point increments, although the score range for any particular subject test is usually smaller. The education subject test was administered for the final time in April 1998. The engineering subject test was administered for the final time in April 2001.

4 The analytical reasoning section of the GRE, a multiple-choice test, was discontinued in September 2002 and replaced by the analytical writing section, an essay-based test. Scores for the analytical writing section range from 0 to 6, in half-point increments.

5 Prior to 2011, GRE scores for the verbal and quantitative sections ranged from 200 to 800, in 10-point increments, as did scores for the analytical reasoning section until it was replaced by the analytical writing section in 2002. On August 1, 2011, the GRE revised general test was introduced. Scores for the revised verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections range from 130 to 170, in 1-point increments. In the revised general test, the score scale for the analytical writing section continues to range from 0 to 6, in half-point increments.

6 Total includes examinees who received no score on one or more general test measures.

7 Data reported for 1994 through 1998 are from the revised education test.

8 Subject test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between October 1 three years prior to the reported test year and September 30 of the reported test year. These data are not directly comparable with data for most other years.

9 Subject test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year. These data are not directly comparable with previous years, except for 1999 and 2000.

10 Analytical writing test score data reflect the average for all examinees who tested between October 1, 2002, and June 30 of the reported test year.

11 Verbal and quantitative test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year. These data are not directly comparable with previous years.

12 Analytical writing test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year.

13 For all three sections of the revised general test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing), score data for 2011, 2012, and 2013 reflect the average for all examinees who tested between August 1, 2011, and April 30 of the reported test year.

14 Score data reflect the average for all examinees who tested between August 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014.

15 Score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year.

NOTE: GRE data include test-takers from both within and outside of the United States. Some data have been revised from previously published figures.

SOURCE: Graduate Record Examination Board, Examinee and Score Trends for the GRE General Test, 1964-65 through 1985-86; A Summary of Data Collected From Graduate Record Examinations Test-Takers During 1986-87; Guide to the Use of Scores, 1987-88 through 2019-20; GRE Volumes by Country, 2000-2015; Interpreting Your GRE Scores, 2005-06 through 2011-12; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2013-June 2016; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2012-June 2017; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2013-June 2018; and A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2014-June 2019. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys, 1964-65 through 1985-86; Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), "Completions Survey" (IPEDS-C:87-99); and IPEDS Fall 2000 through Fall 2018, Completions component. (This table was prepared March 2020.)