Percentile Rank Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the percentile rank calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Percentile Rank
percentile = (scores_below / total_scores) * 100Scores Above
scores_above = total_scores - scores_belowFraction Below
fraction = scores_below / total_scoresVariables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
scores_below | Number of Scores Below | 75 |
total_scores | Total Number of Scores | 100 |
How It Works
How to Calculate Percentile Rank
Percentile rank indicates the percentage of scores that fall below a particular value.
Formula
Percentile Rank = (Number of Scores Below / Total Scores) x 100
A percentile of 75 means you scored better than 75% of the group.
Worked Example
A student scores higher than 75 out of 100 students.
- 01Percentile rank = (75 / 100) x 100 = 75
- 02Scores above = 100 - 75 = 25
- 03Fraction below = 75 / 100 = 0.75
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 90th percentile mean?
It means you scored higher than 90% of the group. Only 10% scored higher than you.
Is percentile the same as percentage?
No. Percentage is your score out of total points. Percentile is your rank relative to other test-takers.
Can I be in the 100th percentile?
Technically, the 100th percentile would mean scoring higher than everyone including yourself. Most systems cap at the 99th percentile.
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Percentile Rank Calculator