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Last Updated on April 28, 2023
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most prestigious and competitive universities in the world. So, it’s no surprise that the GRE scores of accepted students in MIT’s graduate programs are also impressive.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what we know about MIT GRE scores and how to determine what score you need for MIT. First, let’s discuss the GRE requirements for MIT programs.
- MIT GRE Requirements
- A Good GRE Score for MIT Is Somewhat Relative
- Setting Your Goals for MIT GRE Scores
MIT GRE Requirements
MIT offers a range of graduate programs and likewise has a range of GRE requirements. In fact, different departments at MIT require different test scores from applicants. For instance, each of MIT’s Engineering programs has its own test requirements. So, to find out whether the GRE is required for a master’s in Engineering from MIT, you must look at the application requirements for the specific Engineering program you’re interested in. If you’re interested, say, in the Civil and Environmental Engineering program, you will need to submit a GRE score. On the other hand, if you’re interested in the Chemical Engineering program, there is no GRE score currently required.
It’s not just the School of Engineering that has differing GRE requirements; test requirements may differ for the various programs in all five of MIT’s schools. Many of the departments at MIT either require or don’t require the GRE, while others list the GRE as optional. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to find out whether the program you’re interested in requires a GRE score. MIT lists all of its graduate programs on one page. So, simply visit that page and click on the specific program you’re interested in to be taken to the application requirements for that program. You will also be able to see on those individual pages whether a particular program requires a GRE Subject Test score, as opposed to (or in addition to) a GRE General Test score.
TTP PRO TIP:
Check the application requirements for the specific MIT graduate program you’re interested in to determine whether a GRE score is required.
Is There a Minimum GRE Score for MIT Admissions?
Currently, MIT graduate programs do not publically list minimum GRE scores required for admittance. So, various departments will simply tell you whether a GRE test score is required, not required, or optional, rather than tell you a specific score you must earn to gain entry.
Nor are there any GRE score requirements to submit an application to MIT. So, you can apply to an MIT graduate program with any GRE score. Of course, you may not be a competitive applicant with just any GRE score. For instance, the master’s program in Political Science states, “There is no minimum score for the GRE, but admission is very competitive and low GRE scores may weaken an application.” It’s a safe bet that other MIT programs requiring the GRE have similar outlooks.
So, let’s discuss how to determine what GRE scores are generally competitive for MIT.
KEY FACT:
MIT graduate programs do not currently specify minimum GRE scores required to submit an application or to gain admission.
A Good GRE Score for MIT Is Somewhat Relative
The first thing to know about what are considered competitive GRE scores for MIT grad school programs is that it’s all relative. Just as different programs have different testing requirements, different programs will consider different GRE scores competitive. This makes sense since different fields of study place greater emphasis on different skills.
For instance, you may need a higher Quantitative score to be competitive in MIT’s Master of Finance program than you need to be competitive in the Political Science program. On the other hand, the Political Science program may look more closely at your GRE Verbal section score than the Master of Finance program will. So, MIT GRE scores vary from program to program.
Thus, it’s smart to consider the average GRE scores of students in the particular program you’re interested in to get an indication of what may be expected of competitive applicants in your field. Unfortunately, most MIT grad programs do not publish average GRE scores in their class profiles. Once again, you should check the individual program website to see whether such information is provided.
The MIT Sloan MBA program, for instance, published the middle 80% GRE score ranges for the class of 2023, which are as follows:
- Verbal Score: 157-168
- Quantitative Score: 158-169
Keep in mind that since those ranges are for the middle 80% of accepted students, they do not include the bottom 10% scores or the top 10% scores. Although, as we can see, the top of those middle 80% ranges is pretty close to the maximum possible GRE section scores (170).
The Master of Finance program also posts some GRE stats for the class of 2023:
- Verbal Score (middle 80%): 157-166
- Quantitative Score (middle 80%): 166-170
- Median Quantitative Score: 170
Once again, the scores are top-notch. Notice that the Quant scores are particularly high — we are, after all, looking at the scores of students in the Finance program.
TTP PRO TIP:
Consider the average GRE scores of students in the particular program you’re interested in to get an indication of what may be expected of competitive applicants in your field.
Averages are certainly useful for gauging what types of GRE scores the admissions office of an MIT program will want to see. However, in terms of publishing GRE data, the Sloan School is an exception at MIT, not the rule. So, in the event that MIT average GRE scores are not published for the program you’re interested in, what can you do? Let’s discuss some guidelines and strategies.
Setting Your Goals for MIT GRE Scores
Although MIT average GRE scores can be hard to find, based on what we do know about MIT, there are some general guidelines we can use to help set our GRE score goals.
MIT Is Highly Competitive
When setting our MIT GRE score goals, we have to take into account the competitiveness of MIT’s programs. We know that MIT graduate programs overall are considered among the top in the world. For example, U.S. News and World Report has ranked MIT the #1 Engineering graduate school every year since the magazine started ranking programs in 1990. So, for example, the average GRE Quant score for MIT Engineering programs is probably well above the average of GRE test-takers in general, right? After all, MIT is not in the business of being average.
In fact, according to 2021 U.S. News data, the average GRE Quant score for MIT master’s in Engineering students is 164, just over 10 points higher than the average for GRE test-takers in general. The average Verbal section score for MIT Engineering students is hardly less impressive at 160.
What does all this data indicate to us about MIT GRE scores? Well, given how competitive MIT is overall, if you can’t find average GRE scores for the program you’re interested in, you should expect that the averages for most programs tend to fall in the 160+ range.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you can’t find average GRE scores for the program you’re interested in, a safe bet is to assume that the averages for most programs tend to fall in the 160+ range.
Another safe assumption is that, while many MIT programs tend to place more emphasis on Quantitative scores than on Verbal scores, GRE Verbal scores at MIT are, on average, still pretty impressive.
Take the scores we looked at previously for the Master of Finance program: the GRE Verbal middle 80% range of 157-166 tells us that 80% of the class of 2023 scored in the 75th to 97th percentile of all GRE test-takers worldwide. If we take the median of that range, we’re looking at a GRE Verbal score in about the 89th percentile. Not bad for a math-heavy program, right? Consider also that the average Verbal score of all GRE test-takers is about 150. So, the average MIT Master of Finance student falls well above “average.”
Thus, a 160+ target is likely a smart plan for both GRE Quant and Verbal, not just Quant. Furthermore, depending on the program to which you’re applying, your Quant score may need to fall in the mid- to upper-160s to be competitive and in the 90th percentile or above (168+) to really impress admissions.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you’re applying to a math-heavy program, consider aiming for a GRE Quant score in the mid- to upper-160s, or 168+ to really impress admissions.
Weigh Other Factors in Your Profile
Whenever we’re evaluating average GRE scores or thinking about what scores will make us stand out among other applicants, we always have to remember that test scores are just one factor among many that admissions offices weigh. Admissions will also closely examine your GPA, work experience, recommendations, essays, and background. So, you need to weigh those factors as well when setting your GRE score goals. Ask yourself, are there any weak points in your profile that you need to offset? For instance, GRE section scores in the upper 160s could be a good way to balance out a lack of work or internship experience. Or, a high Verbal score could help offset gaps in your undergraduate coursework in that area.
In other words, don’t assume that just hitting the average is good enough FOR YOU. Depending on how the other aspects of your applicant profile shape up, you may need to shoot for GRE scores that beat the averages in order to give yourself a good shot at acceptance.
Likewise, if your application is particularly strong in every other area, you may be able to compensate for a GRE score that falls at the low end of the program averages. Just keep in mind that, for a school as competitive as MIT, those other areas may need to be really impressive if your GRE score is not.
TTP PRO TIP:
When setting your GRE score goals for MIT, consider whether you need to offset any weak points in your applicant profile.
Don’t Neglect the Analytical Writing Section
Many GRE test-takers might assume that for a generally math-focused school like MIT, the Analytical Writing section doesn’t matter. It’s true that the Analytical Writing section is typically considered the least important of the GRE sections. But remember, when you’re applying to MIT, everything matters! As we saw with our Verbal score examples, even particularly Quant-focused MIT programs have pretty high standards for students when it comes to Verbal performance.
So, even if you’re applying to a program such as Engineering or Finance, it would be a mistake to think of Analytical Writing as a “throwaway” section on the GRE. On the contrary, based on the averages at M7 schools in general and U.S. News data on MIT averages in recent years, you’ll want to shoot for an GRE Analytical Writing score of at least 4.5. And if you’re applying to a program such as Urban Studies and Planning or Comparative Media Studies, for example, you’ll probably want to aim for an Analytical Writing score of 5.0 or above.
Consider this fact: an Analytical Writing score of 4.5 puts you in the 80th percentile of all GRE test-takers. A score of 4.0 drops you down to the 54th percentile. Do you feel confident applying to one of the most highly ranked schools in the world with a Writing score that nearly half of the people taking the GRE beat? Or would you rather apply with a score that puts you in the top 20%?
Similarly, if you’re applying to an MIT program in, say, the Social Sciences or Humanities, wouldn’t it makes sense to shoot for a score in the top 10% of all test-takers (5.0+) in order to show admissions that you have what it takes to deal with the coursework in those programs?
TTP PRO TIP:
Shoot for an GRE Analytical Writing score of at least 4.5, or for more writing-heavy fields, a score of 5.0+.
Remember, your GRE scores can be a gold star or a red flag on your grad school applications. So, if you have your sights set on MIT, putting in the time and effort to properly prepare for test day is well worth it.
Need some tips on earning a high GRE score? Check out our article on how to score 330+.
Thinking of taking the GMAT instead of the GRE? This article has everything you need to know about GMAT scores at MIT.
