Mastering the GRE Verbal Section: Key to Achieving a 150 Score
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal section is a crucial component of the exam that assesses your language proficiency and logical reasoning skills. This section is scored on a scale of 130 to 170 in one-point increments, with a score of 150 being about average on this scale. To achieve a score of 150, you generally need to answer approximately 60-65 questions correctly out of the 40 questions in each of the two subsections.
How Many Questions Should I Get Right?
The GRE verbal section consists of two subsections, each containing 20 questions. Therefore, to achieve a score of 150, you should aim to answer roughly 24 to 26 questions correctly out of the 40 total questions.
Note that scoring can vary slightly based on the specific test version and the performance of other test-takers. However, aiming for this range should give you a good chance at a 150.
Understanding the GRE Verbal Scoring
Each of the two subsections of the GRE verbal section is individually scored, with scores ranging from 130 to 170. To achieve a Verbal score of 140, you should aim for the 17th percentile, meaning you need to answer more questions correctly than roughly 17 percent of test-takers.
It's important to recognize that the scoring procedure takes into account various factors, including the difficulty level of the questions. ETS, the organization that administers the GRE, does not release the precise number of questions necessary to get a specific scaled score. The exam uses an adaptive testing approach, which means the difficulty of the questions varies based on your performance in the earlier problems.
Based on past trends, correctly answering about half of the questions is often necessary to achieve a Verbal score of around 140. However, this is only an estimate, and the actual number of correct responses can vary significantly based on the specific exam version and its difficulty level.
Key Factors to Consider
Many test-takers are concerned about the scale of their answers in relation to achieving their desired score. While target percentages can be a rough guide, it's ultimately more important to focus on mastering the content covered in the GRE verbal section and using effective test-taking strategies. Consistent practice and familiarizing yourself with the different types of GRE Verbal questions are crucial.
Additionally, taking authorized GRE practice exams can help you evaluate your performance and identify areas that need improvement. Regular practice and a strategic approach to the exam are key to achieving your target score.
Conclusion
While the exact number of correct answers required for a specific score can vary, aiming for around 24 to 26 correct answers out of 40 in each of the two subsections will greatly increase your chances of achieving a 150 on the GRE verbal section. Remember that consistent practice and a deep understanding of the exam content are the most effective strategies for success.