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Last Updated on November 6, 2023
Students studying for the GRE often wonder, are you penalized for wrong answers on the GRE? Understandably, they want to know how answering a question incorrectly will affect their scores. They also want to know the number of questions they can answer incorrectly and still earn good GRE scores. In fact, the effect of wrong answers is one of the most common worries among GRE test-takers.
The effect of wrong answers is one of the most common worries among GRE test-takers.
In this article, we’ll discuss whether there is a GRE wrong answer penalty, how many wrong answers you can have and still earn a 160 on the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections, whether you’ll be penalized for guessing on GRE questions, and more. I’ll also give you a simple strategy to help you maximize the number of questions you answer correctly.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- GRE Score Basics
- Do You Lose Points on the GRE for Wrong Answers?
- Answer Every Question to Maximize Your GRE Score
- How Many Questions Can I Miss on the GRE to Get a 160?
- In Conclusion
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s go over the basics of how the GRE is scored.
GRE Score Basics
On the GRE test, the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections are both scored in one-point increments on a scale of 130 to 170. These two section scores add up to your GRE total score. The Analytical Writing section is scored separately (in part by a human). That score is given in half-point increments on a scale of 0 to 6.
So, whether you take the GRE at home or at a test center, immediately after your exam, you’ll see unofficial scores consisting of Verbal section score, your Quant section score, and your total score (the sum of the two section scores). You won’t receive your writing score until your official scores are posted on your ETS account.
KEY FACT:
The GRE Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections are scored in one-point increments on a scale of 130 to 170. Added together, those two scores form your total score.
How Much is Each GRE Question Worth?
Since there are 27 questions each in the GRE Quant and Verbal sections, test-takers often assume that, starting from the lowest possible section score of 130, the GRE simply awards one point for each of the questions you answer correctly. In that case, answering 30 out of 40 Verbal questions correctly would yield a Verbal score of 160, right? Well, you may be surprised to learn that GRE scoring isn’t quite that straightforward.
Your “raw scores” — the scores that the computer algorithm starts with when calculating the scores you’ll receive — are in fact the number of questions you answered correctly in each section, with each question worth one point. However, because the GRE is a section-adaptive test, your raw scores are adjusted to produce the scores you receive. Let’s discuss exactly what we mean by “section-adaptive” and why this feature of the GRE matters for your score.
The GRE Is Section-Adaptive
The GRE Quant section and Verbal section are each composed of two sections containing a total of 27 questions: 12 in the first section, and 15 in the second section. So, the GRE is section-adaptive in that your performance on your first Quant section determines the difficulty of your second Quant section, and the same goes for your first and second Verbal sections on the GRE. In other words, the number of questions you answer correctly in the first section determines the difficulty of your second section.
If you get a small number of questions correct on the first section, you get an easy second section. If you get around half the questions correct on the first section, you get a medium second section. With a high number of questions correct on the first section, you get a hard section.
Here is where the super-secret special sauce of the GRE scoring algorithm goes to work. No one (except for, presumably, some people at ETS) knows exactly how the scoring algorithm works. However, there is one important thing that we do know. The adjustments the algorithm makes to your raw scores take the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly and incorrectly into account.
Thus, while no single question within a section is “worth more points” than any other question in that section, the overall difficulty of the sections you see affects the GRE scores you ultimately receive.
KEY FACT:
No one question within a section is “worth more points” than any other question in that section. However, the overall difficulty of the sections affects your final scores.
So, now we understand the basics of how the GRE scored. However, the question remains, are you penalized for wrong answers on the GRE?
Do You Lose Points on the GRE for Wrong Answers?
Here is a bit of great news: the GRE does not penalize you for selecting an incorrect answer choice. So, if you’re wondering, “Is there negative scoring in GRE tests?,” the answer is no! The GRE uses a positive scoring system. In a positive scoring system, you receive credit for questions you answer correctly and are not penalized for wrong answers.
KEY FACT:
You do not lose points for wrong answers on the GRE.
Does the GRE Have a Penalty for Guessing?
The GRE test can’t tell that you got a question correct because you guessed correctly. Likewise, it can’t tell that you answered a question incorrectly because you guessed incorrectly. All the computer knows is that you selected a correct answer choice or you did not.
So, since the GRE does not penalize wrong answers, there is no penalty for wrong guesses either. Similarly, there is no deduction from the amount of points you’re awarded for a correct answer that was a guess.
Note that the policy related to wrong answers also applies to skipped questions (questions for which you did not select an answer choice). In other words, on the GRE, an unanswered question is the same as a question you got wrong.
KEY FACT:
Whether you guess incorrectly or leave a question blank, the question is marked wrong.
So, you won’t have points deducted because you leave questions blank. However, you won’t get the points you would have gotten if you had answered those questions correctly. Also, you’ll reduce the probability of your getting a medium or hard second section and the bonus that comes with it. Thus, your final score could be lower than it would’ve been had you answered more questions.
With this point in mind, let’s discuss a strategy that could help you maximize your GRE score.
Answer Every Question to Maximize Your GRE Score
One great feature of the GRE is that it allows you to mark questions to return to later within a section. So, when a question has you stumped, you have the opportunity to take another shot at it after you’ve gone through the rest of the section, provided you have time remaining in the section.
Given this feature, many test-takers simply leave questions blank when they aren’t sure how to answer them, in hopes of returning to them later. Here’s where they make a critical error. Never leave a question blank, even “temporarily.”
The fact is, you have no guarantee that leaving a question blank will be a temporary measure. After all, you can’t predict what questions you’ll see next and how much time you’ll take answering them. For example, you could leave 4 questions blank in the verbal section, with the intention of returning to them later. However, it could turn out that you have enough time left to return to only 2 of those questions. You just cost yourself 2 possible correct answers!
An Easy Solution
Always select an answer rather than leave the question blank. Even if you take a wild guess, select an answer before flagging the question for later review and moving on to the next question. Your aim will still be to return to the question if you have time at the end of the section. However, now you’ve given yourself an insurance policy. If you don’t end up having time to return to the question, at the very least, you’ve given yourself a 20% chance of getting the question correct.
On the other hand, if you simply flag the question but leave it blank, you’ve given yourself no chance of having a correct answer if you can’t return to the question.
Because the GRE uses a positive scoring system rather than a negative one, you lose nothing by selecting an answer rather than leaving the question blank. All you do is improve your chances of getting a higher number of questions correct. Furthermore, you improve your chances of seeing a higher-value second section of the same type.
So, to maximize your score, answer every question you see before you move on to the next question. Just make sure to flag questions you guess on or are unsure about, so you can return to them if you have time. Then, breathe a little easier knowing that you have an “insurance policy” in place!
TTP PRO TIP:
Answer every GRE question you see before you move on to the next question, even if you have to guess.
Now, you may be wondering, how many wrong answers can I afford before my GRE scores take a serious hit? Let’s discuss.
How Many Questions Can I Miss on the GRE to Get a 160?
It’s a myth that you must correctly answer every question or almost every question in order to earn high GRE scores. It’s also a myth that if you miss a couple of easier questions, you will tank your score.
In reality, you can get a number of questions wrong and still do well on the GRE. Furthermore, a few easier questions missed in an otherwise strong performance will not have a major effect on your score, especially if those missed questions are in the second Quant and Verbal sections. However, even if you miss a handful of questions in the first Quant and Verbal sections, you can still earn good GRE scores.
For example, say you have a score goal of 160 for both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, for a total GRE score of 320. You could conceivably have 2-3 wrong answers in each Quant section and 4-5 wrong answers in each Verbal section and still achieve your Q160/V160 goal.
Of course, if you’re aiming for, say, section scores of 165, you have less wiggle room. However, you could still get a few questions wrong in each section and hit the 165 mark.
The thing is, while there’s no reason to be overcome with anxiety if you think you missed a few questions in a section, you don’t want to adopt the mindset that missed questions make no difference. After all, if you tell yourself that wrong answers don’t matter, you could inadvertently self-sabotage your test-day performance. So, don’t stress, but don’t play too fast and loose with the “how many questions can I answer incorrectly” game. Aim to do your best!
KEY FACT:
You can get a number of questions wrong and still do well on the GRE.
In Conclusion
We’ve answered some very important questions about GRE scoring in this article, including:
- Do you get penalized for wrong answers on the GRE? No! Cross that worry off your list.
- Does the GRE have a penalty for guessing? Nope. It’s your little secret if you guess.
- Should you ever leave questions blank? Definitely not. Even if you mark questions for later review, select your best guess as a placeholder.
- Do you have to answer every question correctly to earn a high GRE score? Fortunately, no. You don’t have to be perfect to do well on the GRE.
What’s Next?
Want to improve your accuracy on the GRE? This article has strategies to help you reduce wrong answers in both quant and verbal.
Get even more highly effective tips for improving your GRE score here.
Looking to take your GRE prep to the next level? Try the TTP GRE course for 5 days for just $1.
