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Is this a low GRE Quant score for top physics grad schools?

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:01 am
by Maxwell
Hi!

I just did the general GRE and I got V 165 Q 166. Using the ETS table, that's 95 percentile for verbal, 93 percentile for quantitative. On first sight this seems like a good score, but on second thought, could it be that 93 percentile for general GRE math is too low if I want to get into top 10 physics grad schools (since everyone takes this test, not just physics students)?

PS: If relevant, I have 980 for PGRE, which is 93 percentile.

Re: Is this a low GRE Quant score for top physics grad schools?

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:39 pm
by TakeruK
Your scores are awesome. I don't think Physics grad schools really care about the GRE Q score at all. After all, you may recall it was mostly high school / pre-calculus level math and algebra. I would argue that the Physics GRE adequately tests you on the math you would need to know in order to finish your undergrad degree in Physics (but others here may disagree). That is, if you were seriously lacking mathematical ability, you would not be able to score as high on the PGRE.

It's my opinion that as long as your GRE Q score isn't something so low that it would raise attention to it, you should be fine. I don't think a GRE Q score of 168 will help you get into a Physics grad school than a score of 163, for example. I think the PGRE score is way more important!

Re: Is this a low GRE Quant score for top physics grad schools?

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:25 pm
by Maxwell
Ah, good to hear! Thank you very much :) Relieved to hear I won't have to redo that mind-numbing test.

Re: Is this a low GRE Quant score for top physics grad schools?

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:02 pm
by bosemicrowave
Agreed with 2nd reply.I have got 98% in Q but my verbal is less than 60(I'm an international too).So I would definitely take the test one more after PGRE is over because with such pathetic V score i can't even qualify in any top 30.But yes,PGRE is the most important part and probably carries more than 50% weight in entire admission process while General GRE carries 20-25%(or even less) weight in entire admission process.