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Hi everybody!Does anybody have an idea what Subject GRE math score is considered to be good by admission to top PhD programs in Mathematics and Operations Research/Engineering? How important is this test for admission?Thank you

The test is definitely important (and mandatory) for top Phd programs...usually, most of the candidates who make it have 800 (or very close to that)

I mean GRE subject test in Mathematics not Quantitative section of GRE general test. Is GRE Math test important for admission to PhD programs in Math and Operations Research Departments? Any experience?

It's tough to get in any decent Math/Applied Math program without an 800 in the GRE Math Subject Test.

800

I think many potential candidates will have GRE quantitative scrore of 800 or close to this. So I wonder how much weight is put on GRE Math test? It is seems to pretty common requirement for Math departments. What is about Operations Research and Engineering Departments? How many applicants have taken it and what is average acceptible score? Any ideas?

i read somwhere that at most top places current students have scores of 97%+

QuoteOriginally posted by: J2I think many potential candidates will have GRE quantitative scrore of 800 or close to this. So I wonder how much weight is put on GRE Math test? It is seems to pretty common requirement for Math departments. What is about Operations Research and Engineering Departments? How many applicants have taken it and what is average acceptible score? Any ideas?I heard 90%+ percentile is helpful. GRE SUB Math test, not quantitative part of normal GRE.

One of my acquaintances got 99% last autumn (applied for PhD in math in the US) and was only accepted to Caltech of all big names. On the other hand, another guy got MIT offer with score between 70 and 80% in 2003, but first he was on the waiting list, of course. This shows that GRE math subj is not the primary criterion in the selection process.

Having gone to a top math grad school, and having compared scores with classmates, I'd have to say that the last two posts are on the money. Nearly all strong applicants have a perfect 800 on the quantitative part of the regular GRE. There is much more variation among applicants in scores on the math subject test, but it doesn't affect admissions that much (unless you've scored particularly low, like in the 50th or 60th percentile)---so it's a plus to have a good score, but it doesn't factor that much against you if you don't have a near-perfect score. Math subject tests (and I presume other subject tests as well) are often sort of a crapshoot, as they often test the quantity of facts you've memorized---which is why, e.g., Americans don't typically do as well on these tests as the Asians who have had these facts drilled into their heads for years! Since they're testing your knowledge of facts, they also don't necessarily serve well as an indicator of one's ability to do good research, which is kind of why they're not valued as much in admissions. By the way, this is for math; I don't know what it's like for OR departments.What is more important? I wouldn't be surprised if most good schools have cutoffs for the quantitative regular GRE and for GPAs. Solid recommendations from respected professors will be the most important thing if you have them, and can trump other mitigating factors.Also, another thing to note is that GRE subject tests are scored on a different scale than the regular GRE, 200-980 instead of 200-800. For the math test, a score of 800 would be pretty good, and a score of 900 would be excellent.

GRE-Q (general): Get as close to 800 as you can. About 8% of test-takers get 800 because the math is trivial, and if you can get into math grad school, you should have no trouble with the test. Honestly, I think GRE-V is more separating than GRE-Q for math grad school admissions; you don't need to blow it out, but 600+/5.0+ is helpful.GRE Math Subject: Mostly a knowledge/speed test covering undergrad math. You want to prep for it, because it's best to have 80+ percentile (people care about %ile, not scaled score) though cutoffs are usually lower (even at the top schools). I never prepped for SAT or GRE general, but for this one I did, and it helps. I scored a 73 on my first take, burned through a prep book and three practice tests, and got a 98 on the real thing. So preparation works. Grad math admissions are more about signs of dedication (research experience, recommendations, stmt. of purpose) than anything else. High GRE scores and good Putnam results can help you negotiate a first-year fellowship and might put you on the good side of a borderline case, but admissions really come down to the "soft factors" instead of "hard" numbers: 95+ get rejected from top departments all the time, whereas people in the low 70s can get into good departments with relevant research experience and good grades.

QuoteOriginally posted by: almosteverywhereGRE-Q (general): Get as close to 800 as you can. About 8% of test-takers get 800 because the math is trivial, and if you can get into math grad school, you should have no trouble with the test.That's a funny distribution - 8% in the top 1%. I wonder if you have to get every question right to get an 800? And how bad must be some of the test takers (all people who want to go on to graduate study in some field or other, after all)?