Students always get confused between percentage and percentile, as they sound similar, but they have different meanings from each other. Let me explain them one by one.
What is a percentage?
Percentage is a way to express a fraction of 100. It denotes how many numbers you get out of 100. It provides a clear picture of your performance in each subject’s exam.
How to calculate the percentage ?
Step 1: Add all the marks you have obtained.
Step 2: Find out the total marks for which examination is held.
Step 3: Now, put all the details in the formula and calculate the percentage.
Let’s take one quick example: Suppose you got the following marks in your examination:
physics : 85/100
chemistry: 75/100
Maths : 90/100
English: 65/100
Biology : 80/100
Let’s Calculate :
Step 1: First,Add all marks which you have obtained.
85+75+90+65+80=395
Step 2: Now, sum up total marks.
we have 5 subjects and each subject has 100 marks than total marks will be :
100+100+100+100+100 = 500
Step 3: Calculate the percentage.
The formula to calculate the percentage is:
Percentage= (Marks you got / Total marks) x 100
= (395/500) x 100
= 79%
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What does percentile mean?
Percentile is a comparison between the class of students who has given the same exam, it denotes how many students scored less than you. For example, if you got the 80 percentile, then you are ahead of 80% of students.
Percentile formula:
Percentile Rank = [(Number of Values Below )(x)+ (0.5) / Total Number of Values] × 100
How to Calculate Percentile?
Step 1: Arrange all the available data and set it in ascending order.
Step 2: Count the number of values which are below your score of interest it means (x).
Step 3: Now, add 0.5 to the count of values below rank.
Step 4: Divide your rank with the number of values you got .
Step 5: Multiply your result with 100 and get the percentile rank.
Let’s suppose you got 85 out of 100 in your exams and there are 50 students in the class:
- Your score: 85
- Number of students: 50
- Number of students who scored less than you: 40
Now, we will calculate your percentile with some simple steps
Step1: Number of students who scored less than you = 40
Step 2:Total number of students = 50
Step 3 :Put all values in the formula
Percentile=(40/50)×100
=0.8×100
=80
Your percentile is 80, which means you are ahead of 80% students.
Different usages of percentile and percentage
Academics usage: Percentage and and percentile both are important in your academics but both of them has different usage scales.
Percentage: It is commonly used to evaluate student’s academic performance in a particular exams and assignments.
Percentile: Percentile is more commonly used in the evaluation of competitive exams like JEE,NEET or CAT in these types of exams your rank matters more than your percentage. Many colleges choose a high percentile at the time of admission.
Importance in career: Percentage and percentile both are important for career. You need to maintain both of them to get good opportunity in your career.
Percentage: Good scores reflect good academic performance and good academic understanding of a particular subject. It will help you at the time of admission and for scholarship.
Percentile: Percentile denotes your ability to perform under competition. It will help you to stand out in competitive exams and job placements. Usually college admissions authorities and employers consider percentile to measure students or employee’s potential.
That’s why a good percentage and percentile are really important. Both of them complement each other, and they provide a bunch of benefits in your academic and professional life.
Real Life Example for percentage and percentile
Let’s suppose you got 85 marks out of 100 marks. There are 50 student in your class 40 student scored less than 85 marks.
Percentage calculation
Percentage= (Marks you got / Total marks) x 100
= (85 /100) x 100
= 85%
Percentile calculation
Step:1 Number of students who scored less than you = 40
Step: 2 Total number of students = 50
Step :3 Now put value in the formula and calculate percentile
Percentile =(40/50)×100
=0.8×100
=80
Your percentile is 80
