New GRE Score Conversion

The New GRE point scale is confusing, to say the least. You’ll receive a score from 130 to 170 for each section math and verbal rather than a score based on the previous scale of 200 – 800. What do those scores mean? And what are you supposed to do with them…?

Converting your new GRE score

Many colleges and universities still publish average GRE scores based on the old scale for their admitted students. In order for you to truly understand your score in context you need to convert your new score back to the old scale. I’ve included tables for math and verbal below which will help you with this process.

Math Conversion Table

New Score	Old Score
170	800
169	800
168	800
167	800
166	800
165	790
164	790
163	780
162	770
161	770
160	760
159	750
158	740
157	730
156	720
155	700 – 710
154	690
153	680
152	660 – 670
151	640 – 650
150	630
149	610 – 620
148	590 – 600
147	570 – 580
146	550 – 560
145	530 – 540
144	500 – 520
143	480 – 490
142	460 – 470
141	430 – 450
140	400 – 420
139	380 – 390
138	350 – 370
137	330 – 340
136	300 – 320
135	280 – 290
134	260 – 270
133	240 – 250
132	220 – 230
131	200 – 210

Verbal Conversion Table

New Score	Old Score
170	760 – 800
169	740 – 750
168	720 – 730
167	710
166	700
165	680 – 690
164	660 – 670
163	650
162	630 – 640
161	620
160	600 – 610
159	590
158	57 – 580
157	560
156	540 – 500
155	530
154	510 – 520
153	500
152	480 – 490
151	460 – 470
150	450
149	430 – 440
148	420
147	410
146	390 – 400
145	380
144	370
143	360
142	340
141	330
140	320
139	310
138	300
137	290
136	280
135	280
134	270
133	260
132	250
131	240
130	200 – 230

Understanding your score percentile

In addition to knowing your score based on the old scale, it’s also important to understand what your percentile rank is. This score percentile table which comes from the concordance table over at ETS, the makers of the GRE, provides you with the percentiles for each score. You can also see your percentile rank on your official score report.

Should you retake the GRE?

Now that you have a better sense of what your score on the new GRE means, you need to decide whether or not to retake the GRE. If your score is above the average for math and verbal for your target program and school, you should focus on the rest of your application. However, if you are at or below the average, I recommend re-taking the test.