How to Calculate Total Marks and Percentage for Multiple Subjects

When a result has many subjects, add the marks first and then find the percentage once. This gives the correct overall figure.

Step by step

1. Write each subject with the marks you got and the total marks.
2. Add all marks obtained.
3. Add all total marks.
4. Divide the first sum by the second and multiply by 100.

Worked example

Subject	Obtained	Total
Mathematics	78	100
English	85	100
Science	72	100
Social Studies	90	100
Computer	88	100

Total obtained is 413 and total marks are 500. 413 / 500 x 100 = 82.6%.

When subjects have different totals

Do not average the subject percentages. Add the real marks and the real totals, as above. That is how most boards calculate it.

Try it yourself with the Student Mark Calculator. You can add or remove subjects and change the total marks for each one.