How to List GRE Scores on Your Resume

GRE scores, much like SAT scores, are taken from an exam which measures the proficiency of test-takers in various areas.

What makes the GRE exam special is that it measures three very impressive fields of knowledge: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.

High results could be of interest to many potential employers.

Should you include them on a resume?

GRE scores are typically only included by university students, or those entering into graduate programs or business schools. Scores should only be included if they are impressive! It is not good practice for a working professional to include a test score over real skills.

Who should put GRE scores on a resume?

Because GRE scores are not practical “real-world” experience, they should not be included by professionals who have such experience. GRE scores do show a mental aptitude, however, so they are useful to students who need padding on their resumes.

Recent graduates often include academic achievements on their resumes such as GRE scores, SAT scores, or even GPA. These feats are alright to include in lieu of professional experience, because they can show a student was the best of the best during their educational years.

GRE scores are sometimes a requirement of graduate programs, so those seeking entrance to these programs should absolutely include these scores on a resume.

Is listing GRE scores on a resume a good idea?

For most people, it is not a good idea to include GRE scores on a resume. Listing GRE test scores is very uncommon for working professionals because these scores do not show a specific aptitude. General testing becomes unimportant once one has moved on to a professional field.

Job specific tests such as the one for a CFA designation or Six Sigma are considered more valuable, because they provide experience in niche fields and result in certifications.

At best, an employer may skim over a GRE score on a resume. At worst, they may question the maturity of the person who thought it pertinent to list it. The most important thing is to only list your best and most relevant achievements on a resume, and this doesn’t often include GRE scores.

What is a good GRE score worth listing on a resume?

The maximum possible scores for the verbal and quantitative sections are 170 points, for a combined total of 340 possible points. The writing section is a maximum of 6 points.

Schools and programs tend to focus on the verbal and quantitative sections the most.

They are the most competitive sections, so be sure to compare these scores to the national average (check your percentile) before deciding to include them.

Generally, a score above 150 for each section is worthy of including, a score above 160 is impressive. Anything below 150 is not particularly good, and may give off a negative impression on a resume.

For more information about analyzing GRE test scores, see what test-taking experts from Magoosh recommend!

How to include GRE Scores on a Resume

Once you have determined that it is relevant and important to include your GRE scores on a resume, you need to know where to include it. Putting a score in the wrong section can make a resume look less unified, so it’s vital to be organized in your placement.

GRE scores should be put in either the education section or the achievements section. If a new graduate has at least one other achievement, it is best to keep GRE scores in an achievements section. If GRE scores are a requirement of a higher education program, keep them in the education section.

How to format GRE scores in the education section

The education section is often placed towards the top of a resume, making it one of the first things a potential employer will see. Scores should be kept precise, yet clear.

GRE tests and scores are broken up into three sections. These sections are:

Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Analytical Writing

These three phrases can already take up a lot of space on a resume, so you need to decide if the employer really and truly cares about each and every section individually.

In most cases, it is acceptable to simply total the verbal and quantitative scores to get an “overall score”. The writing score is typically not included as it is scored on a much different scale.

When listing the date of the score, be sure to include the month and year. These scores are considered “valid” for five years, but tend to lose their meaning after two or three.

When listed properly, overall GRE scores are listed as follows:

Education

Boston University BS in Chemistry – Minor in Chemical Science (9-2013) – (5-2017)

GRE Overall Score: 320 (December 2016)

When scores are listed individually (particularly when they are requested by a graduate school or program) they should be formatted as follows:

Education

Boston University BS in Chemistry – Minor in Chemical Science (9-2013) – (5-2017)

GRE Test Scores – (December 2016)
- Verbal: 160 Quantitative: 160 Analytical Writing: 4.5

Include percentile rankings only if specifically asked.

How to include GRE scores in the achievements section of the resume

If you have more than one achievement you wish to list on a resume, then this section is perfect for a GRE score. Do not create a new section only for GRE scores, as sections with little content look incomplete.

Achievements sections are typically kept brief, and it is not advised to use more than one line in the descriptions unless it is vital to describe something in detail.

When listed properly, this looks like the following:

Achievements

GRE Overall Score: 320 (December 2016)
Dean’s List (Summer and Winter 2016)
Varsity Basketball: Silver Medal (May 2015)

If a program specifically wants to know each score individually, they can be listed as follows: