The GRE score validity 2024 is limited to 5 years. Candidates willing to get admitted into top graduate schools through GRE must consider the score validity of the GRE before applying.
GRE score validity 2024 is five years from the date when the candidate appeared for the exam. On the completion of 5 years, the GRE conducting authority deletes the scores automatically. Therefore, candidates must consider the validity of GRE score 2024 while planning to take the GRE exam.
GRE Score Validity 2024
The validity of GRE score is five years from the date when the candidate took the exam. Let us say the candidate appeared for GRE on April 1, 2024; then, their GRE test score shall remain valid till April 1, 2028. Hence, any candidate planning willing to take GRE must consider the GRE score validity 2024 in advance.
Why is GRE Test Score Validity Limited to 5 Years
There will be a change in the competency levels of the candidates appearing for the GRE over a period of 5 years. The test takers can upskill in this period in all three sections. This is how they can improve their test scores, leading to increased chances of selection.
ETS keeps updating the format of the exam from time to time which is another reason for the GRE score expiration 2024. Therefore, the validity of GRE exam 2024 score or the GRE test score duration is limited to 5 years.
Also read: GRE Exam pattern
GRE Eligibility Criteria
Now that students know the GRE score validity 2024, let us look into the eligibility criteria. As such, no specific criteria apply for taking GRE. However, the basic requirements are as follows.
- The candidates must have a bachelor’s degree as the GRE exam is organised for admission into graduate & doctoral programs.
- The age of the candidates should be at least 18 years.
- A candidate can appear for GRE up to 5 times in a period of 12 months with a gap of 21 days between 2 consecutive attempts.
Read More: GRE Eligibility Criteria 2024
GRE Scores
The GRE raw score of the candidate is a measure of their performance on the test. The maximum score for GRE is 340, and 260 is the minimum score. However, take note that the composite score given here is the sum of the Verbal & Quant section GRE marks. The score of the Analytical writing section is provided separately.
GRE Score Range
To understand how the scoring pattern works for the GRE exam & the GRE score range, go through the table below.
| Section | Range of GRE Scores | Mean |
| Verbal Reasoning | 130-170 | 150 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130-170 | 152 |
| Analytical Writing | 0-6 | 3.6 |
| Total | 260-340 | - |
Also, Check: How to Crack GRE?
GRE Score Evaluation and Calculation
It is crucial to note that GRE scoring takes place for individual sections only, and there is no concept of total score in the GRE. Students can gain more clarity on GRE score evaluation and calculation through the below points.
- The raw score obtained in GRE is scaled through a process called Equating. Therefore, the raw scores are equated to the number of correct questions that are answered accurately.
- For every right answer, there is an increment in the score.
- No marks are awarded for the questions that are not attempted.
- No additional marks are awarded in case the candidate marks more than one answer for any question.
GRE Results and Scores Report
Candidates confused about how to access their GRE results and scores after the exam must go through the following points.
- After 10-15 days of the GRE General test date, candidates can view their results & scorecards through their accounts if they opt to report their scores.
- The unofficial verbal & quant test raw scores are available on the exam day after the test completion.
- Analytical writing scores are accessible later, along with the official GRE score report. A notification regarding the release of the final score is sent by ETS.
- GRE test score validity is five years which implies that ETS will maintain a record of the candidate’s GRE score report for five years from the test date.
- The GRE score for each section is scaled individually, so it is not possible to compare the scores. However, percentile ranks can be utilised to determine section-wise performance.
Note: Post GRE test completion, candidates get a choice to report or cancel their GRE scores. Therefore, if they are not satisfied with their performance and cancel the scores, the official scores will not be recorded or sent further to the universities.
Read More: GRE Result 2024
How to Send the GRE Score Report to Universities
Students can send their GRE score reports to up to 4 universities for free. Here are the simple steps to be followed for the same:
- Step 1: First, candidates must log into their ETS account.
- Step 2: They must choose the "Send Additional Score Reports" option below the scores section on the homepage.
- Step 3: Now, the candidates will find the on-screen test registration option. They must click on it.
- Step 4: The GRE score report can be sent using the above-mentioned option.
Also read: GRE counselling
Details Mentioned on the GRE Score Report
The details that are included in the GRE score report are mentioned below.
- Contact information of the student
- Student’s birth date
- Gender of the student
- Test date of GRE
- Intended graduate major of the student
- GRE test scores & percentile ranks
- Past five years' cumulative score record
Also read: GRE Cutt off
What is a Good GRE Score?
Since each university will have its own GRE cutoff, it is difficult to provide a certain number that qualifies as a good GRE score. Therefore, candidates should aim to secure the best possible marks to boose their chances of admission into their dream university.
Read More: What is a Good GRE Score 2024?
Average GRE Scores
The average score required in GRE for admissions is completely based on the guidelines set by the respective universities. However, we have compiled the average scores required based on trends.
| GRE Section | GRE Average Scores |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 152.57 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 149.97 |
| Analytical Reasoning | 3.48 |
Overview of Section-Wise GRE Scores
Let us now look into the GRE section-wise scores & how they are calculated. Students must refer to the section-wise analysis shown below.
GRE Verbal Reasoning & Quantitative Reasoning Scores
For these two sections, the scores are computed based on the total number of right responses marked by the candidate. Thus, students will get their raw scores which will be finally changed to a scaled score through the equating process.
GRE Analytical Writing Score
For each essay in this section, a score will be received from 1 trained rater & 1 e-rater created by ETS. In case both these scores are the same, the final score will be the average of the two scores. Alternatively, if the two scores are not the same, a human-trained rater comes into the picture & the final score becomes the average of 2 human scores.
GRE ScoreSelect Option
This option has recently been launched by ETS for the benefit of GRE test takers. As the name suggests, the GRE ScoreSelect option enables students to choose their best GRE scores from all the tests taken & send them to their universities of preference. This will help candidates present their best scores and improve their admission possibilities.
List of Top Universities Accepting GRE
Candidates can check below the names of top universities across the world that accept GRE scores for admitting students into their graduate courses.
- Harvard University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- London Business School
Also read: Best GRE Coaching in Delhi