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Last Updated on May 1, 2023
If you’re a grad school hopeful planning to apply to Engineering programs, you’re probably well aware of the importance of having a strong Quantitative score on the GRE. However, you may be unsure about whether your score on the Verbal section of the GRE matters as well. And if Verbal scores do matter, how much?
In this article, we’ll explore one of the most common questions I hear from GRE test-takers applying to Engineering schools: How important is GRE Verbal for Engineering programs? We’ll also take a look at GRE policies and typical scores at some top schools.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Do I Need the GRE for Engineering Programs?
- How Important Is GRE Verbal for Engineering Programs?
- Key Takeaways
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s discuss whether you need GRE scores for Engineering programs at all.
Do I Need the GRE for Engineering Programs?
GRE policies at Engineering schools are more varied than ever, whether you’re looking at top universities or other graduate schools. So, before you begin your GRE prep, research the programs you’re interested in to find out their test policies.
Now, there are a couple of “wrinkles” to contend with when researching policies related to GRE scores for Engineering programs. Let’s take a look at what those wrinkles are.
Be Specific in Your Search
It pays to be as specific as possible when you research programs to determine whether admissions requires GRE scores. The thing is, within a single Engineering school, each of the Engineering programs likely has its own GRE requirements. Even within a particular program, the GRE requirement may vary depending on what type of degree you’re pursuing.
Take MIT, ranked #1 on U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 list of the Best Engineering Schools, for example. Say you’re interested in MIT’s Chemical Engineering program. If you plan to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering or an M.S. in Chemical Engineering Practice, GRE scores are “not required or accepted” with applications. So, taking the GRE is unnecessary for those specific degrees. However, if you plan to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering Practice, GRE scores are “recommended.” So, in that case, taking the GRE is a smart move.
Thus, the better idea you have of which programs and degrees you’re interested in, the easier it is to determine whether you need to take the GRE. The thing is, whether you need to take the GRE and whether you should are actually two different questions. This point brings us to the next wrinkle in researching GRE policies at Engineering schools: strategically interpreting the policies.
TTP PRO TIP:
Be as specific as possible when you research programs to determine whether admissions requires GRE scores, down to the level of the specific degree you’re targeting.
Strategically Interpreting GRE Policies
In researching GRE policies at Engineering programs, you’re likely to come across a few different types of policies. So, when considering whether to take the GRE, it’s useful to think of yes/no as existing on a spectrum.
At the furthest point on the “no” end of the spectrum, GRE scores are “not accepted,” “not considered,” or “not used.”
In the middle of the spectrum, GRE scores are “optional” or “not required.”
Moving very close to the “yes” end, GRE scores are “recommended,” or sometimes “highly recommended.” And at the furthest point on the “yes” end of the spectrum, GRE scores are “required.”
Now, if a program states that GRE scores are required, your path is clear: you must take the GRE for that program. On the other hand, there may be a bit of nuance required in interpreting the wording of the other policies on the spectrum above, particularly because they can sometimes overlap. So, let’s take a look at the various other scenarios you may encounter.
TTP PRO TIP:
If a program states that GRE scores are required, you must take the GRE for that program.
Not Accepted
If a program explicitly states that GRE scores are “not accepted,” “not considered,” or “will not be used,” then you should not take the GRE for that program. You either will not be able to submit a GRE score or, if you do submit one somewhere in your application, admissions will ignore it. Either way, admissions will not factor GRE scores into the decision about your candidacy.
Now, let’s say you’ve already taken the GRE and you earned a great score. You may be tempted to “get a leg up” or “go the extra mile” by submitting your score even though your desired program states it doesn’t use GRE scores. Maybe you think your score will give your application that extra something special that will get your application noticed.
Here’s the thing: at best, admissions will simply do what they said they’d do and completely ignore your submitted score. At worst, you’ll look like you don’t know how to follow instructions or are trying to gain an unfair advantage.
So, why not take admissions at their word and follow the instructions they’ve laid out for you? If you’re really just dying to show off your incredible GRE score, you can always give admissions a call to see whether submitting your score would be acceptable. My hunch is, they’ll tell you they can’t make exceptions on a by-student basis and your score won’t be considered.
TTP PRO TIP:
If a program explicitly states that GRE scores are “not accepted,” “not considered,” or “will not be used,” then you should not take the GRE for that program.
Not Required
The “not required” category can be a little more complicated than “not accepted” because it often comes with caveats. Let’s take a look at some examples.
When Not Required Is Paired With Not Accepted
In our earlier MIT example, we saw that for a particular degree, GRE scores were “not required or accepted.” Whereas in other cases, “not required” might mean “optional,” in this case, “not accepted” overrides “not required.” In other words, “not required or accepted” is no different from “not accepted.” So, you should not submit GRE scores for that program.
Whenever you see wording such as “not required or accepted,” “not required and will not be considered,” or “not required and will not be used,” consider the second half of those statements the key element. Those programs are firmly at the “no” end of the GRE requirement spectrum.
TTP PRO TIP:
Not accepted/considered/used always overrides “not required.”
When Not Required Means “Recommended”
“Not required” may sometimes veer toward the “yes” end of the spectrum rather than the “no” end.
Take the Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, for example. (UMich–Ann Arbor ranks #9 among Engineering schools and #6 for its Aerospace Engineering program.) The program states that applicants targeting a PhD are not required to submit GRE scores but “are still welcome to do so if they so choose” and that scores “will be considered” if submitted.
I personally would read that statement as meaning that scores are optional but encouraged, which in my view is essentially the same as “recommended.” Now, there could be strong applicants who gain acceptance to the program without submitting GRE scores. But why not take advantage of any opportunity you have to show off your skills?
Of course, if you don’t have an impressive GRE score, then you could choose to take advantage of the “not required” policy by not submitting a score. However, in an “optional but encouraged” situation, I would sooner try to raise a lackluster GRE score than call it quits.
TTP PRO TIP:
If GRE scores are not required but are “welcome,” “encouraged,” “considered,” etc., it’s a good idea to seriously consider taking the GRE.
When Not Required Means “Optional”
Some programs simply state that GRE scores are “not required,” with no caveats. In these cases, “not required” likely means “optional.” However, if you need further clarification on what exactly admissions means by “not required,” don’t hesitate to contact them and inquire directly. On the other hand, some programs will state outright that GRE scores are “optional.”
So then, should we take the GRE if submitting scores is optional? As I see it, if a program gives you the option, you should take it! Of course, you’ll want to have a good score to submit. But assuming you can earn a worthy score, it seems a safer bet to take advantage of an opportunity to show off your skills, rather than let that opportunity pass you by.
It seems a safer bet to take advantage of an opportunity to show off your skills, rather than let that opportunity pass you by.
Recommended
Some Engineering programs state that submitting a GRE score is “recommended.” There are two ways to interpret this wording.
Students looking for excuses to not have to study for and take the GRE tend to read “recommended” as meaning “optional” — and furthermore, interpret “optional” as meaning “unnecessary.”
I advise reading “recommended” another way: as a strong indication that you should take the GRE. In my view, if you have the ability to take the GRE, then it’s in your best interests to consider “recommended” just about as close to “required” as you can get.
Of course, there are valid reasons why you may not have the ability to take the GRE (and earn a great score). Perhaps your budget or your timeline is extremely tight. Or maybe you have other responsibilities that preclude devoting time to GRE prep, and you feel confident your application is strong without a GRE score.
All that said, if a particular program “recommends” GRE scores, and I have my heart set on that program, to give myself the best possible shot at admittance, I’d move heaven and earth to make time for the GRE and earn a great score. In fact, I might be concerned that not submitting a score could put me at a disadvantage.
In particular, if a program states that GRE scores are “highly recommended,” I’d basically consider that statement equivalent to “required.” Of course, “highly recommended” does not actually mean “required.” So, I wouldn’t assume that it’s impossible to gain admittance without GRE scores. But why take any chances with something as important as graduate school? Why not give yourself every advantage possible?
TTP PRO TIP:
To be on the safe side, if the GRE is “recommended,” taking the exam is a smart strategy.
How Important Is GRE Verbal for Engineering Programs?
Let’s say you’ve determined that you should take the GRE for your desired Engineering programs. Does it really matter whether you earn a good score on the GRE Verbal section?
It is true that, generally, Engineering programs pay far more attention to GRE Quant scores than to GRE Verbal scores. For example, if we’re just considering the GRE without accounting for other aspects of your application, stellar GRE Verbal and Analytical Writing scores are highly unlikely to make up for a lackluster Quantitative score in the eyes of admissions at an Engineering school.
Conversely, if you have a great GRE Quant score but your Verbal and Analytical Writing scores are average, you could be considered a very strong candidate. Again, these scenarios don’t take into account other important aspects of your application, such as GPA and level of coursework. But the point is, it would be surprising if a ho-hum Verbal score were a disqualifier for an Engineering program.
On the other hand, a subpar Quant score could be a huge red flag.
Let’s take Northwestern, the #18 ranked Engineering school, as an example. Say you’re interesting in applying to Northwestern’s M.S. in Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics
program. The program website states the following:
“Successful applicants typically have good grades in relevant mathematics courses, good GRE quantitative scores, and strong letters of recommendation.”
Notice there is no mention of GRE Verbal scores in that statement, but there is a mention of Quant scores. So, we have a good idea of where the program’s priorities lie, and Northwestern is no exception in this respect.
That said, there are reasons not to let your Verbal scores fall by the wayside altogether. Let’s explore.
Schools Look Favorably on Balanced Scores
There is no denying that Engineering programs are primarily concerned with the Quantitative section of the GRE. However, to better your admissions chances, your Verbal and Analytical Writing scores generally should still be around average or higher.
The fact is, schools look more favorably on relatively balanced GRE scores than on severely lopsided scores. And since your Quant score will have to be relatively high for Engineering programs, having relatively balanced scores probably means still scoring around average or higher in the other GRE sections.
A Sampling of GRE Scores at Engineering Schools
To illustrate the point about having relatively balanced scores, let’s look at three examples from the top 25 Engineering schools (according to U.S. News rankings).
Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon ranks #4 on the list of Best Engineering Schools. It’s Mechanical Engineering program, which ranks #10, reports the following average GRE scores of admitted applicants:
Quantitative Score: 163 (76th percentile)
Verbal Score: 153 (58th percentile)
Analytical Writing: 4.0 (54th percentile)
Note that the average scores of all GRE test-takers worldwide interested in pursuing an Engineering degree are Quant 160, Verbal 150, and AWA 3.5. (The current average scores of all GRE test-takers, regardless of discipline, are roughly Q154, V151, and 3.6 in Writing.)
So, on average, admitted applicants at Carnegie Mellon perform better than average in Verbal and Analytical Writing, not just Quant. Quant scores are clearly the strength of Carnegie Mellon students, but we’re not looking at utterly lopsided scores.
Let’s consider another example.
Cornell
Cornell ranks #13 on the list of Best Engineering Schools. For its M.S. in Engineering, Cornell states:
“Previously successful applicants generally present … a quantitative GRE score above 160 and a verbal GRE score above 153.”
In this case, we’re looking at a Quant score above the 67th percentile and a Verbal score above the 58th percentile. Again, the Quant section is clearly the emphasis, but we’re not looking at terribly lopsided scores. Furthermore, once again, even though the Quant score should be higher, the Verbal score still should be above average.
Another good example is Duke.
Duke
Duke ranks #24 on the list of Best Engineering Schools. Duke’s Master of Engineering does not publish average GRE scores. However, it does list the mid-50% range of GRE scores for recently admitted students, as follows:
Quantitative Score: 163-169 (76th-93rd percentile)
Verbal Score: 152-161 (52nd-87th percentile)
Note that the “mid-50%” range includes all scores except those in the lowest 25% and the highest 25%. So, only 25% of recently admitted students scored below Q163 or V152.
In other words, 75% of recently admitted students at Duke outperformed the average Verbal score of test-takers worldwide. Furthermore, many outperformed that average by a sizable margin.
Let’s look at one more example.
MIT
MIT ranks #1 on the list of Best Engineering Schools. According to 2021 U.S. News data, the average GRE scores of MIT master’s in Engineering students are as follows:
Quantitative Score: 164 (78th percentile)
Verbal Score: 160 (85th percentile)
Now, I saved this example for last because it is somewhat of an exception. As the top Engineering school in the country, MIT boasts average GRE scores that are impressive all around. Thus, the average Verbal score is nearly as high as the average Quant score. These scores are exceedingly balanced.
MIT’s average scores are a useful illustration of the fact that, if you’re aiming for programs at the very top of the top, you’ll want to take extra care that your GRE section scores are balanced — and pretty impressive all the way around.
Of course, we have to remember that in all of these cases, averages are just averages, and the mid-50% doesn’t represent everyone. So, there are admitted students who score below these averages and ranges, or perhaps score at the bottom of the mid-50% Verbal range and the top of the mid-50% Quant range, making their scores somewhat less “balanced.”
Furthermore, you’d be hard pressed to find Engineering schools in the top 25 (and perhaps beyond) that specify minimum score requirements for the GRE. So, in the vast majority of cases, we won’t know how low the lowest Verbal (or Quant) score of an admitted student at a particular school is.
With all of that in mind, let’s discuss some key takeaways from the data we have.
Key Takeaways
It’s important to remember that GRE scores are just one factor among several that admissions weighs when evaluating your candidacy. So, someone whose scores are “below average” for a particular school may still be a strong candidate for other reasons.
That said, all else equal, you should seek to at least hit the average Quant, Verbal, and Analytical Writing scores at your desired programs, if not outperform them. Keep in mind that if you’re interested in top 25 Engineering schools, hitting or outperforming the averages likely means scoring at least 152 or 153 in Verbal, at least 163 in Quant, and 3.5-4.0 in Writing.
And depending on the particular programs you’re interested in, or how far up the program rankings you want to go, your Verbal and Quant scores may need to be higher.
Regardless, make sure to research the specific programs you’re interested in to see whether they publish data on the GRE scores of admitted students. If no data is available, you can always reach out to admissions. More often than not, they can provide insight into what types of GRE scores they hope to see.
Finally, if GRE scores are optional or recommended for a program, you may lose out on an important opportunity to show off your skills if you skip the GRE — even if you have a strong application already.
So, unless your circumstances are such that taking the GRE really isn’t feasible for you, I recommend you use the option to take the GRE to your advantage, and knock your exam out of the park!
TTP PRO TIP:
For top 25 Engineering schools, hitting or outperforming the averages will likely mean scoring at least 152 or 153 in Verbal, at least 163 in Quant, and 3.5-4.0 in Writing.
What’s Next?
Now that you know what type of score you need in the GRE Verbal section if you’re applying to Engineering programs, try your hand at these GRE Verbal practice questions.
You also may want to check out this article on what a good GRE score is for Engineering programs.
Ready to take your GRE Verbal and Quant study to the next level? Try the TTP GRE Course for just $1!
