The GRE and GMAT are standardized tests that assess the quantitative and verbal skills of graduate candidates in order to put their analytical and critical thinking abilities into perspective. These exams are not the only requirement, but one point in a series of elements that make up a larger admissions process.
With this in mind, “passing” the exam is not enough, and neither is getting a good score. In addition to the other application elements being flawless, it is important that you get an outstanding score, but what is this really?
Well, for the GRE, the verbal reasoning section is scored on a scale from 130 to 170 with increments of one point, the quantitative one with the same scale, and the analytical writing section from 0 to 6 with half-point increments. Given this, if an average were 306 points, it would not be enough to reach that level to be considered within a program, the desired score must be well above this.
In the case of the GMAT, the verbal and quantitative parts are scored from 0 to 60 respectively, the AWA from 1 to 6 and the reasoning from 1 to 8. As a result, the applicant can obtain a score of between 200 and 800 points.
However, the example of that average is somewhat crude, the university you want to apply to plays a great role. There are more demanding universities than others and there are also some that have historically gained importance and prestige, this influences that the admission standards may be higher and that therefore the candidate needs a better career and a higher score.
You can also think of the results as percentages. If the GRE wanted to pass with, say, 90% in verbal results and 82% in the quantitative sector, the score would be above 162 points while those of the essay could not lower than 4.5 if it is taken as target a percentile of 82%. In the case of the GMAT, if one seeks to be above 73% in percentiles, the candidate should obtain more than 650 points.
There will be programs that, due to experience and prestige, already have some expectation of results and that have, either explicitly or tacitly, minimum limits on the scores of these standardized tests as a condition for admission. Here are some tips: first define three program options to apply and then look for information on the internet about the scores that the program of interest is looking for (since much of this is shown on different sites); If you can’t find this information on the internet, try to contact someone who studies there and can give you an idea. Finally, measure your skills, making diagnostics and drills is extremely important to attack the weak points and obtain a high score. See Topschoolsintheusa.com for highest possible GRE score.
In conclusion, an outstanding score is not fixed and will vary between universities, guiding you by percentiles can guide you but it is necessary to inform yourself in three things: the program, the format of the exam and your current skills. That is why it is important to obtain the highest possible score that one can achieve even if it means spending many more hours of preparation. There will be times when you are advised to postpone your admissions process to target areas of weakness and have a better chance of being accepted in the future. Being clear about the required score for the program you are applying to can be confusing; in a Tryout session for the experts to guide you to clarify doubts about the application requirements, your profile compared to that of the applicant competition and what should be obtained as an adequate score.