Your marks mean little until you turn them into a percentage. A percentage lets you compare results across subjects, exams and even schools. The good news is that the formula is simple.
The percentage formula
Percentage = (Marks obtained / Total marks) x 100
Example 1: One subject
You scored 68 out of 80 in Science. Divide 68 by 80 to get 0.85, then multiply by 100. Your percentage is 85%.
Example 2: Full result
You scored 430 marks out of 500 in total. 430 / 500 = 0.86, so your percentage is 86%.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dividing by the wrong total, such as using 100 when the paper was out of 80.
- Forgetting to multiply by 100, which leaves you with a decimal.
- Adding percentages of subjects instead of adding marks first.
Skip the maths
You can type your marks into our Student Mark Calculator and get the percentage straight away. For quick one-off sums, use the Percentage Calculator.
FAQ
Can a percentage be above 100? Not for marks. It can only go above 100 if you have bonus marks that are counted outside the total.
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