Good GRE Subject Test Scores

Graduate School
1

<p>What is a good score on the GRE Subject Test?</p>

<p>We know that on the General GRE you want to rank in the 80th percentile to even be in the running for the top schools, 90th if you want to be competitive. For schools which are not "top" but are still "first tier," 85th percentile is probably considered quite good.</p>

<p>But what about the subject tests? These are MUCH harder tests and presumably you are also competing against a more select group, so how low can you go and still impress a reviewer? This may vary depending upon subject, but does anyone have any ideas, either specifically for one subject or in general for all subjects?</p>

<p>I simply have no clue how to evaluate my score and whether I should submit (I got a 74th percentile in Computer Science).</p>

<p>(I'm creating this thread separate from the GRE FAQ thread because it addresses the Subject Tests specifically and I believe it is significant enough to warrant its own discussion.)</p>

2

<p>Tricky question. I think it really depends on the program and the discipline. My apps are almost all due in 2 days, so I don’t have much of a choice if I want to go to school in the fall, especially given that I took my subject test in November (none of these PhD programs offer spring admits), so I’m putting my apps and scores in (also 74th %ile). I’m also applying to top schools (5 Ivies and one safety), but I’ve got good recs (STILL waiting on one–panic, horror, trembling), a solid GPA, and strong GREs, so I’m cautiously optimistic.</p>

<p>Have you looked at the boards over at Grad Cafe? They might have more CS specific advice.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, I didn’t know about Grad Cafe. I’ll have to check that out later today.</p>

<p>I did eventually find one other post on this board asking the same thing:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/1034985-what-score-percentile-considered-good-subject-gre.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/1034985-what-score-percentile-considered-good-subject-gre.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>A couple posters said there is a sentiment that “the majority of the top scores are international students because curricula here aren’t focused on standardized tests at all. So for domestic students [in Chemistry], 50th percentile won’t keep you out of top programs and 70th percentile and above is considered very good.” However, some of the top programs contradict this, so it’s not a sure thing.</p>

<p>Don’t worry, I’m still waiting on one recommender, and it’s due today. She basically admitted to me that she wouldn’t do it until the last minute. :-)</p>

4

<p>One person from Grad Cafe says:</p>

<p>“I had one school that ‘strongly recommended’ the Physics GRE. I scored 44% and 52%. I submitted both scores and got in … However, I think if a school doesn’t require a subject GRE score, that means they probably don’t really care. For the ‘strongly recommended’ school, I decided that I’d rather show that I took the test and tried my best (since I got two consistent scores) instead of avoiding it at all.”</p>

<p>Good point about showing the effort.</p>

5

<p>Now a quote regarding the GRE Biology Test:</p>

<p>“I’ve heard that anything above 70 percentile is a good enough score as there isn’t that much weight placed on the GRE Bio test. Then again, I have no specific experience, so take this with a sack of salt.”</p>

6

<p>Another person reports that she was accepted to “two top 10 schools (one #1 USNWR in biological sciences)” with a GRE Biochem score of 67th percentile. However, I believe the rest of her application was probably very strong.</p>

<p>Still, I’m growing more confident in my 780 (74th %). I think at the worst it will be neutral, but not hurt me. Since I’m not very happy with my 3.3 GPA or the quality of my research experience, I think I will report it.</p>

7

<p>I think that’s a good call. If you scored in, say, the 99th %ile, there’d hardly be a point in grad school! Good luck!</p>