How to Score High on the GRE: A Perfect Quant Score Is Only the 89th Percentile; Verbal and Writing Make the Difference

Let's start with a number: a perfect score of 170 on the GRE Quant section only puts you in the 89th percentile among all test-takers—meaning about 11 out of every 100 test-takers get a perfect score in Quant. For most Chinese students, scoring high in Quant isn't difficult; the real differentiators are Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing. This article first uses official ETS data to clarify where a "high score" actually stands, then explains the structure and scoring of the new GRE, and finally breaks down how to prepare for each of the three sections. The information comes from the ETS website and official documents, with sources listed at the end.

What Counts as a High Score

The GRE Verbal and Quant sections are each scored from 130 to 170, and Analytical Writing is scored from 0 to 6 (in half-point increments). ETS publishes percentile data annually. The following data is based on all test-takers from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, and represents the "percentage of test-takers who scored lower than this score":

A score of 165 in Verbal is at the 95th percentile, while a 165 in Quant is only at the 67th; a 160 in Quant is just barely above the halfway mark. The average scores for all test-takers are 151.39 for Verbal and 157.62 for Quant.

For Analytical Writing, the corresponding percentiles are: 4.0 is the 63rd percentile, 4.5 is the 85th, and 5.0 is the 93rd. The average score is 3.46.

Therefore, for Chinese applicants to STEM or business programs, a realistic benchmark is: a Quant score of 168–170 is "expected," and the real differentiators are whether you can score above 160 in Verbal and above 4.0 in Writing. The exact score required should be based on the specific requirements published by your target programs and historical admission data.

What's on the New GRE

Starting in September 2023, the GRE was shortened to a total testing time of about 1 hour and 58 minutes:

After Analytical Writing, the order of the Verbal and Quant sections is not fixed. Additionally, an unscored section or a designated research section may appear, which does not affect your score.

There are three key points to remember about scoring:

1. Section-level adaptive. The difficulty of the second Verbal and Quant sections depends on your overall performance in the first section. Your final score considers both the number of correct answers and the difficulty of the questions across both sections. Therefore, do not rush through the first section—it determines whether you advance to the more difficult, higher-scoring potential of the second section.
2. You can skip, review, and change answers within a section. Mark and skip questions you are stuck on, finish the rest, and come back to them. Do not spend the entire section's time on a single question.
3. Quant has an on-screen calculator, which can be used for all Quant questions.

Verbal: Half Reading, Half Fill-in-the-Blanks

There are three types of questions in Verbal: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. According to ETS, about half the questions are based on reading passages, and the other half are fill-in-the-blank questions.

There is one rule you need to understand first: there is no partial credit for multiple-choice or multiple-blank questions in any of these three types. For Sentence Equivalence, you must select both correct options to get credit; for Text Completion with two or three blanks, every blank must be correct; for Reading Comprehension questions that say "select one or more," you must select all the correct options.

Preparation strategies by question type:

• Sentence Equivalence: You need to select two words that keep the sentence's meaning consistent, not just two synonyms. A common trap is having a pair of synonyms in the options that don't fit the context of the sentence. First, understand what the sentence is trying to express, think of a word to fill in the blank yourself, and then find two matching options.
• Text Completion: For multiple-blank questions, don't just force your way through from the first blank. Look for the blank with the most clues in the sentence first. Transition words (although, yet, despite), cause-and-effect words, and appositive relationships are all key to determining the direction of the blank.
• Reading Comprehension: GRE reading passages are not long but have high information density. Errors in the options often hinge on a single word—"always" vs. "sometimes," "proves" vs. "suggests." You must be able to point to the evidence in the original text for every question.

Vocabulary is certainly important, but memorizing word lists in isolation has limited results. The GRE often tests uncommon meanings of familiar words and the nuanced tone of words. Learning vocabulary in the context of sentences is much more effective than just memorizing Chinese definitions.

Quant: A 170 Requires Near-Flawless Accuracy

There are four types of questions in Quant: Quantitative Comparison, multiple-choice (including single and multiple answer selection), Numeric Entry, and Data Interpretation questions based on the same set of charts.

The concepts are generally not difficult for Chinese students. To get a 170, the key is to avoid careless mistakes:

• Quantitative Comparison: You are comparing two quantities, A and B, and one of the options is "cannot be determined." As long as you can find one scenario where A is larger and another where B is larger, the answer is "cannot be determined." Many people make the mistake of plugging in just one number and jumping to a conclusion.
• English Prompts: For word problems, read carefully to see what the question is actually asking—how much it increased vs. what it increased to; a percentage vs. percentage points.
• Data Interpretation: First, check the units, axes, and titles of the charts before answering. Most errors come from misreading the graph, not miscalculating the numbers.
• Numeric Entry: Pay attention to the question's requirements for precision and format.

In terms of timing, you have an average of about 1 minute and 45 seconds per question in Quant Section 1, which is actually quite generous. Use the saved time to check your work, especially in the first section.

Analytical Writing: ETS Has Published the Entire Topic Pool

Analytical Writing consists of only one Issue essay, with 30 minutes to state and defend your position on a given topic. It is scored by both a trained human rater and the ETS automated scoring system.

ETS has published the entire Issue topic pool on its website, and the actual test prompts are drawn from this pool. The official description of a 6-score essay is: provides insightful analysis of a complex issue, supports its position with persuasive reasons and examples, is well-organized, and demonstrates varied sentence structure and precise vocabulary.

A highly effective practice method is:

1. Pick a prompt from the official pool and write a full essay within a 30-minute time limit, typing on a computer.
2. Compare your essay against the official scoring rubrics to see if your position is clear, your reasons are specific, and whether you have addressed counterarguments.
3. Read the scored sample essays and rater comments provided by ETS, especially the 5- and 6-score samples, to see how high-scoring essays organize their arguments.

We do not recommend memorizing full templates. The topic pool is public, and raters read a massive number of essays every day that use the exact same structure and examples. Empty clichés are unlikely to get a high score. It is much more useful to accumulate a few examples that you are truly familiar with and can use from different angles.

Test Logistics

• Take the official practice tests first. ETS provides two free POWERPREP full-length practice tests with the same interface and features as the actual test, which can be found in your ETS account.
• You can take the test multiple times. The GRE can be taken once every 21 days, up to 5 times within any continuous 12-month period.
• You can choose which scores to send. Through ScoreSelect, you can send only your most recent scores, all your scores, or any specific test date(s). Scores are valid for 5 years.
• Test-takers in mainland China can take the test at a test center or at home. According to ETS, mainland China test-takers taking the test at home must follow the dedicated China page (takethegre.cn) for registration and test-day requirements.

Final Thoughts

For Chinese students, achieving a high GRE score is often a matter of "shoring up weaknesses": keeping Quant steady at 168 or above, and spending your time on Verbal and Writing. Verbal relies on long-term reading and familiarity with question rules, while Writing relies on repeated practice with the official topic pool and scored samples. Because you can take the test multiple times and choose which scores to send, your first test can absolutely be treated as a formal diagnostic.

If you are unsure where your current weaknesses lie, you can take a diagnostic test first, and our counselors will help you analyze each section according to ETS scoring standards.

Verification Note: The percentiles, average scores, test structure, scoring methods, question rules, writing topic pool, and retake and score reporting rules in this article were verified against the following official ETS web pages and documents on September 26, 2026. Percentile data is updated annually; policies are subject to change, so please refer to the official ETS website.

References:

• ETS: GRE General Test Interpretive Data (Percentiles and Averages)
• ETS: Interpreting Your GRE Scores 2026–27
• ETS: GRE General Test Structure
• ETS: Understanding Your GRE General Test Scores
• ETS: Verbal Reasoning Overview (Question Types and Partial Credit Rules)
• ETS: Analyze an Issue Task (Topic Pool and Scored Samples)
• ETS: POWERPREP Official Practice Tests
• ETS: Sending Your GRE General Test Scores (ScoreSelect)
• ETS: Taking the GRE General Test at Home