GRE Results 2026: Test Scores, Score Validity, Total Marks, How to Calculate

GRE

Raj Vimal
Updated on Jan 18, 2026 21:39 IST

By Raj Vimal, Assistant Manager Editorial

Getting your GRE Results is a big step forward in your study abroad journey. After taking the test, most students receive their official GRE exam results from ETS about 8 to 10 days later. The organization sends an email notification when your scores are ready. You just need to log in to your ETS account online and view your GRE Results there.

Your GRE exam results are important because they remain valid for five years. This helps Indian students apply to universities at any time within that period. Scorecard is available on your ETS account whenever you need it. This makes the application process easier. Remember to keep your login details safe so you can access your scores easily.

Usually, a score above 320 in this test is a good GRE score. It is seen as competitive for top programs. Each university and course may have different GRE exam cutoffs. Be sure to check section wise requirements for your target programs.

GRE Score & Result
Table of contents
  • GRE Scores 2026
  • GRE Scoring Services
  • How to Send Your GRE Score to Universities
  • What is GRE Score card?
  • Understanding your GRE Scores (Section-wise)
GRE Logo

GRE Scores 2026

GRE score is an important eligibility to pursue MS or MBA courses abroad. After taking the GRE General Test at the exam centre, you will receive an unofficial scorecard immediately after completing the test. This scorecard covers the results of the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections only. AWA section scores will be available once the official scorecard is released by ETS after 8 to 10 days.

Your total score ranges from 260 to 340 combining Verbal and Quant. AWA is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 6. You can send your official GRE scores to up to 4 universities for free on test day. The fee for this is included in your GRE registration fee. You can send scores to more than 4 universities or request additional scorecards later by paying a fee.

The final score is the combination of Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning section scores. The Analytical Writing section is scored separately and does not contribute to the combined score.

Related Reads

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I know about the countries who ask for GRE scores?
A: 

Graduate Record Examination is a widely accepted exam. More than 90 countries in the world accept GRE Exam scores for graduate school admissions. Some of them are USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Japan, etc.

However, it is not the only eligibility to get admission. Many universities do not require GRE scores to offer enrollment in graduation courses.

Q:   When are GRE scores declared?
A: 

You see your unofficial scores immediately after finishing GRE 2026. Your full official report, including writing score, arrives in your account within 8 to 10 days. You will receive an email notification for this.

Q:   Do Universities in Canada require GRE score for MS in computer? Which are the good Universities for the same?
A: 

Yes, Canadian universities accept GRE scores for offering admission in MS in computer course. However, it is not one of the primary eligiblity for offering admission. You can still apply for admission, if you fulfill the other eligibility.
Some of the well-reviewd universities for this course are mentioned below:

  1. University of British Columbia
  2. University of Toronto
  3. University of Saskatchewan
  4. McGill University
GRE Logo

GRE Scoring Services

ETS offers some services to students related to GRE Scoring. The intent behind this is to offer insights to students about their test performance. 

  1. GRE Diagnostic Service: This service is to give you an overview of your performance in the Verbal and Quantitative sections. It helps you to understand your strong points and weaknesses. This service is completely free.
  2. Question and Answer Review Services: This service is paid and only for test takers in New York City. The Question and Answer Services allow you to review the test questions in the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections that you answered incorrectly. The fee for this service is USD 50.
  3. Analytical Writing Score Review:  If you think ETS gave you a lower score than you deserve on the essay of AWA section, this service is for you. The test taker can request a recheck at a fee of USD 60.

 

 

 

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to get a good GRE exam score?
A: 

Here are prep tips for GRE:

  • Plan your study. Set a score goal for your ideal school.
  • Use good materials. Get real prep books and flashcards.
  • Find weak spots. Start by fixing what you don't know well.
  • Write often. Make your writing clear and easy to follow.
  • Learn new words. Grow your vocabulary every day.
Q:   When Will I Receive My GRE Scores?
A: 

GRE total scores are available in 8 to 10 days after test date. Once their GRE scorecard is available on their ETS account, the conducting body would send the candidate an email notification informing them of the same. This applies to both in-person and GRE at Home tests.

Q:   What are some top universities around the world that do not require GRE score?
A: 

Multiple universities in the world offer admission in a few selected courses without asking about GRE Exam 2026 result. We have mentioned some of the popular universities where you can get admission without appearing for GRE exam. 

University

  1. University of Toronto
  2. University of Oxford
  3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  4. University of Melbourne
  5. McGill University
GRE Logo

How to Send Your GRE Score to Universities

Check out easy process to send your GRE scores to right colleges:

  • Send 4 Scorecards for Free: You can choose up to four universities to receive your scores. This service is completely FREE. You will get this option at GRE test centre or during your online exam. Select your colleges carefully.
  • Sending Scores Later (Paid Option): Do you need to send scores to more colleges later? Pay more and no problem!

Log in to your ETS account online - Go to “Send Additional Score Reports” - Select your colleges and pay fee.

  • Choose Which Scores to Send: Did you take GRE more than once? Took GRE more than once? You can select test scores you want to send to college. This helps you share only your best performance.
  • How Long Does It Take: Transfer process is quick. After you send colleges usually receive your GRE scores within 5 to 10 days.

Tips for Sending Your GRE Scores

  • Check exact name of college and department codes before sending.
  • If you need help, ask college admissions team or check ETS GRE support.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I send my GRE scores after I submit my application?
A: 

Yeah, you can. On exam day, sending to 4 universities is free. If you wait, you pay. Log in later and pay the extra fee. It is like $35 per school. Watch out for the deadline. Colleges are strict.

Q:   What should I do if I send my GRE score to the wrong university code?
A: 

If you send your GRE scores to the wrong university code, you can not reverse it. You must resend them through your ETS account using correct code. ETS charges an additional fee for every new report, so double-check details before sending next time.

Q:   How to Check GRE Score Online?
A: 

The GRE scores for General and Subject tests can be checked online. Generally, ETS declares the scores of the GRE General Test after 10 -15 days of the test. The official scores can be viewed in the ETS Account created by the aspirants at the time of registration.

Also, the result of the GRE Subject test is declared almost after five weeks after the test date. Candidates are informed through email, so they can check their ETS account and send the official score reports to the score recipients.

GRE Logo

What is GRE Score card?

Now that we’ve covered the key aspects of GRE scoring, let’s look at a sample GRE scorecard.

Sample GRE Scorecard

GRE Result Sample 1

Page 1

GRE Result Sample 2

Page 2

GRE Result Sample 3

Page 3

Note: the image(s) have been sourced from ETS

What Does Your GRE Scorecard Contain?

First-time candidates appearing for the GRE test are often intrigued by the contents of their GRE scores. GRE scorecards of candidates contain the following information

  • Candidate contact information
  • Candidate's date of birth
  • Candidate gender
  • The intended graduate major of the candidate 
  • GRE test date
  • GRE test score(s) and the associated percentile ranks
  • A cumulative record of scores reported within the last five years

Candidates should note that a number of important details are available on the GRE score report. Not all make it to the university. The university GRE Score Report has the following information:

  • Candidate contact information
  • Intended graduate major of the candidate 
  • Complete GRE scores the candidate selects to report

What is the GRE Score Select Option?

The GRE ScoreSelect option lets you choose which test scores you want to send to universities (If you have taken GRE multiple times). You will have the option to send the best scores and send only those. This helps you show your strongest performance and gives you more control over what the universities see.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What GRE score is required for Michigan State University MS in CS?
A: 

Michigan State University GRE requirements are optional for international students to study MS in the CS program. If students choose to submit it then the median GRE scores for recently admitted graduate students are 164 quantitative, 153 verbal, and 3.0 analytical writing.

Q:   What is the alternative to the GRE exam?
A: 

If you do not want to take the GRE exam. You can take GMAT instead. GMAT is a popular choice for business programs. Many universities around the world now prioritize a student’s overall profile such as academic performance, work experience, and LOR, over standardized test scores.

Q:   How many times can I retake the GRE test?
A: 

Candidates can appear for GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12 months or 365 days period. Other than this, there is no any rule to appear in the Graduate Record Examination.

GRE Logo

Understanding your GRE Scores (Section-wise)

In this segment, we are going to understand how the various sections of the GRE test are scored. We will also study the GRE score range and total GRE Score.

In this section, we will know about how the various sections of the GRE general test are graded.

  • GRE Verbal Reasoning Score & GRE Quantitative Reasoning Score are reported based on the number of correct responses the test taker provides. This is the raw score of the candidate that tells the candidate about the total number of questions answered correctly by them. The GRE raw test score would be later converted to a scaled score called Equating. 
  • GRE Analytical Writing Score: For the Analytical Writing section, each essay would receive a score from one trained rater and an e-rater developed by ETS. If both scores are identical, average of two scores would be used as the final score. In case, two scores, one from trained rater and the other from the ETS developed e-rater, are not identical, a third, a human-trained rater, would be brought in, and the final score would be the average of the two human scores.

Section-wise GRE Score Range

In this section, we will know about how the various sections of the GRE general test and the GRE score range they follow.

GRE Sections

GRE Score Range

GRE Verbal Reasoning Section

130–170, in 1-point increments

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section

130–170, in 1-point increments

GRE Analytical Writing Section

0–6, in half-point increments

Competitive GRE Scores for Top US Universities (2026)

Do not rely on generic university averages. A 159 in Quant might get you into a Humanities program at Stanford, but it will likely result in a rejection for Computer Science. Below is the program-specific breakdown of GRE scores required for a strong application to top-tier US universities.

University Program / Stream Target Quant Score Target Verbal Score Target AWA
MIT Engineering & CS 166 - 170 158 - 162 4.5+
Stanford University Computer Science 167 - 170 160 - 165 4.5+
Stanford University Humanities / Education 155 - 160 164 - 168 5.0+
Harvard University Engineering & Applied Sci 165 - 169 160 - 165 4.5
UC Berkeley Engineering (EECS/Mech) 165 - 169 155 - 160 4.0+
Carnegie Mellon (CMU) Computer Science 168 - 170 160+ 4.5
Princeton University STEM Programs 165 - 170 160 - 165 4.5
UPenn (Wharton) MBA / Finance 162 - 166 160 - 164 4.5
Yale University Arts & Sciences 160 - 165 165 - 170 5.0+
UCLA Data Science / Analytics 166 - 170 158 - 162 4.0+

Note: "Target" scores indicate the 75th-90th percentile of admitted students. For highly competitive courses like CS at CMU or Stanford, a Quant score of 169 or 170 is often the norm, not the exception.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When can I expect my GRE results?
A: 

Students can check their GRE General Test results 8 to 10 days after taking test. For the GRE Subject Test, ETS announces specific result release dates. Students can check the actual date on the official website. The result date for both exam varies.

Q:   When Can I Take the GRE Test Again?
A: 

You can take GRE test again after 21 days. You can appear in the test a maximum of 5 times. This 5-time limit applies within any 12 months. There is no limit on total lifetime attempts.

Q:   Which country other than USA accepts GRE score?
A: 

Beyond USA, GRE scores are widely accepted for graduate programs in over 90 countries. Top study destinations include Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Singapore, France, and the Netherlands. Many universities in these countries ask for the GRE scores at the time of Master's, PhD, and MBA admissions. Always check specific university requirements.

Score Predictor

Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!

Share 12th Board, Percentage, english score
Get estimated scores or IELTS, TOEFL & PTE









Explore popular study destinations
Resources for you
Understand the process step by step by referring to these guides curated just for you
qna

Comments

(506)

R

Rutul Kumar

a year ago

Hi I am unable to book my GRE Physics Test in Ahmedabad, even though test centre are initially showing, but at the time of registration it is showing this error since last two months "No test centers found based on your search criteria. Change search criteria or enter a specific city location and tr

...Read more

Reply to Rutul Kumar

A

Abhay kumar

a year ago

go for GRE at home, only Arizona state university doesn't accept GRE at home except them every college in USA accept GRE at home

R

Rutul Kumar

2 years ago

When should I apply for GRE Physics April Session in Ahmedabad, India?

Reply to Rutul Kumar

H

Hari

2 years ago

How is physically handicapped dear and dumb?

Reply to Hari

R

Rahul Singha

a year ago

Hello Hari. Kindly elaborate on your query for me to be able to assist you better.

R

Reshmi Kadamati

2 years ago

hi i am architectural student so i need to join cullen university of space architecture college , i.e, university of houston , USA .

Reply to Reshmi Kadamati

R

Rahul Singha

2 years ago

Hello Reshmi. If you are looking for assistance with university admissions, do reach out to our team of Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply You can know all about the University of Houston, here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa/universities/university-of-hous

...Read more

A

Akshat Mishra

2 years ago

Hey Studyabroad.shiksha! The dates given for 2023 for gre 2023 are in Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr,May,June. What if I wish to appear in Sep-Oct? Will this be possible? Does ETS reveal new dates as the months pass by?

Reply to Akshat Mishra

R

Rahul Singha

2 years ago

Hello Akshat. Yes, GRE dates for September to December have been updated on our GRE exam dates page: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/exams/gre/important-dates Please feel free to go ahead with your GRE slot booking.