Scores on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and subject matter tests: 1965 to 2003

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Table 312.

Scores on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and subject matter tests: 1965 to 2003

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
        |         |       |            |             |             |                                                               Subject matter tests
        |         |    GRE|            |             |             |______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
        |         | takers|    Verbal  | Quantitative|  Analytical | Biochemistry, |            |            |            |              |            |            |            |            |
Academic|  Number |   as a|            |             |             |cell and mole- |  Biology   | Chemistry  |  Computer  |  Education   | Engineering| Literature | Mathematics|  Physics   | Psychology
year    |      of |percent|            |             |             |cular biology  |            |            |  science   |              |            |            |            |            |
ending  |     GRE |     of|____________|_____________|_____________|_______________|____________|____________|____________|______________|____________|____________|____________|____________|____________
        |  takers | bache-|     |Stan- |      |Stan- |      | Stan-|       | Stan- |     |Stan- |     |Stan- |     |Stan- |       |Stan- |     |Stan- |     |Stan- |     |Stan- |     |Stan- |     |Stan-
        |         |  lor's| Mean| dard |  Mean| dard |  Mean|  dard|   Mean|  dard | Mean| dard | Mean| dard | Mean| dard |   Mean| dard | Mean| dard | Mean| dard | Mean| dard | Mean| dard | Mean| dard
        |         | degree|     |devia-|      |devia-|      |devia-|       |devia- |     |devia-|     |devia-|     |devia-|       |devia-|     |devia-|     |devia-|     |devia-|     |devia-|     |devia-
        |         |   \1\ |     | tion |      | tion |      | tion |       |  tion |     | tion |     | tion |     | tion |       | tion |     | tion |     | tion |     | tion |     | tion |     | tion
________|_________|_______|_____|______|______|______|______|______|_______|_______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_______|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______
1       |       2 |     3 |   4 |    5 |    6 |    7 |    8 |    9 |    10 |    11 |  12 |   13 |  14 |    15|   16|    17|     18|    19|   20|    21|   22|    23|   24|    25|   26|    27|   28|    29
________|_________|_______|_____|______|______|______|______|______|_______|_______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_______|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______
1965 ...|   93,792|   18.7|  530|   124|   533|   137|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  617|   117|  628|   114| --- |  --- |    481|    86|  618|   108|  591|    95| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  556|    91
1966 ...|  123,960|   23.8|  520|   124|   528|   133|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  610|   115|  618|   110| --- |  --- |    474|    87|  609|   106|  588|    94| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  552|    91
1967 ...|  151,134|   27.0|  519|   125|   528|   134|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  613|   114|  615|   104| --- |  --- |    476|    90|  603|   104|  582|    91| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  553|    93
1968 ...|  182,432|   28.8|  520|   124|   527|   135|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  614|   114|  617|   104| --- |  --- |    478|    87|  601|   105|  572|    91| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  547|    93
1969 ...|  206,113|   28.3|  515|   124|   524|   132|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  613|   112|  613|   104| --- |  --- |    477|    88|  591|   103|  569|    89| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  543|    89
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
1970 ...|  265,359|   33.5|  503|   123|   516|   132|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  603|   111|  613|   113| --- |  --- |    462|    92|  586|   110|  556|    90| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  532|    91
1971 ...|  293,600|   35.0|  497|   125|   512|   134|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  603|   114|  618|   117| --- |  --- |    457|    95|  587|   115|  546|    91| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  530|    92
1972 ...|  293,506|   33.1|  494|   126|   508|   136|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  606|   115|  624|   124| --- |  --- |    446|    93|  594|   119|  544|    96| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  528|    92
1973 ...|  290,104|   31.5|  497|   125|   512|   135|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  619|   110|  630|   114| --- |  --- |    459|    96|  593|   114|  545|    96| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  529|    92
1974 ...|  301,070|   31.8|  492|   126|   509|   137|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  624|   110|  634|   115| --- |  --- |    452|    93|  591|   121|  547|    99| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  530|    95
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
1975 ...|  298,335|   32.3|  493|   125|   508|   137|    † |    † |   --- |   --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- |   --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  ---
1976 ...|  299,292|   32.3|  492|   127|   510|   138|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  627|   112|  627|   107| --- |  --- |    454|    93|  594|   119|  539|   101| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  531|    93
1977 ...|  287,715|   31.3|  490|   129|   514|   139|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  625|   113|  630|   109| --- |  --- |    453|    93|  592|   115|  532|   101| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  532|    95
1978 ...|  286,383|   31.1|  484|   128|   518|   135|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  622|   113|  624|   108| --- |  --- |    452|    91|  594|   114|  530|   102| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  529|    97
1979 ...|  282,482|   30.7|  476|   130|   517|   135|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  621|   117|  623|   104| --- |  --- |    451|    89|  592|   115|  525|   102| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  530|    97
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
1980 ...|  272,281|   29.3|  474|   131|   522|   136|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  619|   115|  618|   105| --- |  --- |    449|    90|  590|   116|  521|   105| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  534|    98
1981 ...|  262,855|   28.1|  473|   128|   523|   136|    † |    † |   --- |   --- |  617|   115|  615|   103| --- |  --- |    453|    90|  590|   116|  520|    99| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  532|    97
1982 ...|  256,381|   26.9|  469|   130|   533|   137|   498|   126|   --- |   --- |  616|   114|  616|   105| --- |  --- |    456|    89|  593|   115|  521|   100| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  532|    97
1983 ...|  263,674|   27.2|  473|   131|   541|   138|   504|   128|   --- |   --- |  623|   115|  620|   105| --- |  --- |    459|    90|  599|   114|  527|    98| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  542|    95
1984 ...|  265,221|   27.2|  475|   130|   541|   139|   512|   129|   --- |   --- |  622|   115|  619|   102| --- |  --- |    461|    90|  604|   114|  530|    97| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  543|    96
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
1985 ...|  271,972|   27.8|  474|   126|   545|   140|   516|   129|   --- |   --- |  619|   114|  621|   101| --- |  --- |    459|    89|  615|   120|  531|    95| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  541|    95
1986 ...|  279,428|   28.3|  475|   126|   552|   140|   520|   129|   --- |   --- |  612|   114|  628|   106| --- |  --- |    464|    87|  616|   119|  527|    96| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  542|    97
1987 ...|  293,560|   29.6|  477|   126|   550|   140|   521|   128|   --- |   --- |  616|   116|  629|   104| --- |  --- |    465|    86|  619|   119|  526|    95| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  536|    95
1988 ...|  303,703|   30.5|  483|   123|   557|   140|   528|   128|   --- |   --- |  615|   114|  631|   108| --- |  --- |    467|    85|  622|   120|  525|    94| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  537|    94
1989 ...|  326,096|   32.0|  484|   125|   560|   142|   530|   129|   --- |   --- |  612|   114|  642|   117| --- |  --- |    465|    87|  626|   116|  528|    91| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  538|    95
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
1990 ...|  344,572|   32.8|  486|   123|   562|   143|   534|   128|   --- |   --- |  612|   114|  662|   123| --- |  --- |    461|    84|  617|   111|  523|    92| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  537|    95
1991 ...|  379,882|   34.7|  485|   122|   562|   141|   536|   129|   --- |   --- |  609|   113|  660|   123| --- |  --- |    457|    85|  611|   111|  523|    93| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  535|    95
1992 ...|  411,528|   36.2|  483|   120|   561|   140|   537|   129|   --- |   --- |  605|   113|  654|   128| --- |  --- |    462|    82|  610|   117|  525|    92| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  536|    95
1993 ...|  400,246|   34.4|  481|   117|   557|   140|   541|   129|   --- |   --- |  606|   114|  662|   133| --- |  --- |    462|    80|  602|   115|  516|    94| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  536|    97
1994 ...|\2399,395|   34.2|  479|   116|   553|   139|   545|   129|   --- |   --- |  620|   116|  627|   113| --- |  --- |\3\ 493|   104|  601|   115|  517|    95| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  538|    96
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
1995 ...|\2389,539|   33.6|  477|   115|   553|   140|   544|   131|   --- |   --- |  622|   116|  675|   138| --- |  --- |\3\ 488|   102|  596|   113|  513|    96| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  544|    98
1996 ...|\2376,013|   32.3|  473|   114|   558|   139|   549|   131|   --- |   --- |  614|   114|  678|   135| --- |  --- |\3\ 489|   104|  604|   119|  512|    97| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  547|    99
1997 ...|\2376,062|   32.1|  472|   113|   562|   139|   548|   129|   --- |   --- |  620|   115|  684|   143| --- |  --- |\3\ 487|   103|  602|   114|  525|   100| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  554|    99
1998 ...|\2364,554|   30.8|  471|   113|   569|   141|   543|   133|   --- |   --- |  628|   113|  686|   137| --- |  --- |\3\ 477|   100|  609|   118|  530|   100| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  563|   100
1999\4\ |  396,330|   33.0|  468|   114|   565|   143|   542|   133|   --- |   --- |  626|   114|  684|   137| --- |  --- |     † |    † |  604|   115|  527|   100| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  559|    99
        |         |       |     |      |      |      |      |      |       |       |     |      |     |      |     |      |       |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |      |     |
2000\5\ |  363,932|   29.4|  465|   116|   578|   147|   562|   141|   --- |   --- |  629|   114|  686|   133| --- |  --- |     † |    † | --- |  --- |  530|    99| --- |  --- | --- |  --- |  563|    98
2001 ...|     --- |   --- | --- |  --- |  --- |  --- |   ---|   ---|   --- |   --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- |     † |    † | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  ---
2002 ...|  462,528|   35.8|  473|   123|   597|   151|   571|   139|   --- |   --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- |     † |    † |   † |    † | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  --- | --- |  ---
2003\6\ |  563,787|   41.8|  470|   121|   598|   148|\7\---|\7\---|    517|    100|  635|   114|  682|   125|  712|    97|     † |    † |   † |    † |  538|    98|  620|   131|  669|   151|  580|   101
________|_________|_______|_____|______|______|______|______|______|_______|_______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_______|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______|_____|______

---Not available.
†Not applicable.
\1\GRE takers include examinees from inside and outside of the United States, while the bachelor's degree recipients include U.S. institutions only.
\2\Total includes examinees who received no score on one or more general test measures.
\3\Data reported for 1994 through 1998 are from the revised education test.
\4\Subject test score data for 1999 reflect the three-year average for all examinees who tested between October 1, 1996 and September 30, 1999 and are not directly comparable with previous years.
\5\Subject test score data for 2000 reflect the three-year average for all examinees who tested between October 1, 1997 and September 30, 2000 and are not directly comparable with previous years.
\6\Subject test score data for 2003 reflect the three-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2003 and are not directly comparable with previous years.
\7\The analytical writing assessment, previously a separate test of the GRE, is now part of the general test as the analytical writing section.

NOTE: GRE data include test takers from both within and outside of the United States. GRE scores for the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections range from 200 to 800. The range of scores is different for the various subject tests - from 200 to 990. The analytical section of the general test was administered for the final time in September 2002. The education subject test was administered for the final time in April 1998. The engineering subject test was administered for the final time in April 2001. Some data have been revised from previously published figures.

SOURCE: Graduate Record Examination Board, Examinee and Score Trends for the GRE General Test, various years; A Summary of Data Collected From Graduate Record Examinations Test-Takers During 1986-87; Guide to the Use of Scores, various years; Sex, Race, Ethnicity, and Performance on the GRE General Test, various years; GRE Volumes by Country 2000-04, 2005; and unpublished data; and U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys, 1964-65 through 1985-86 and 1986-87 through 2002-30 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), "Completions survey" (IPEDS-C: 87-99), and Fall 2000 through Fall 2003. (This table was prepared April 2005.)

2004 Tables and Figures

All Years of Tables and Figures

Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest

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(74KB)

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National Center for Education Statistics - http://nces.ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education

Institute of Education Sciences
National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education