What is Percentile in Entrance Exams? Complete Guide with Formula, Examples & Myths
Short Answer: Percentile tells you how many students you scored better than — not how many marks you scored.
Reading Time: 15 minutes | Essential for JEE, NEET, CUET and other competitive exam aspirants.
Why Students Get Confused About Percentile
Every year after entrance exam results, students ask:
- I got 98 percentile. Is that good?
- Does 99 percentile mean 99% marks?
- How is percentile calculated?
- What rank corresponds to 97 percentile?
The confusion exists because percentile and percentage sound similar — but they are completely different concepts.
Percentile vs Percentage – Understand the Core Difference
| Percentage | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Marks obtained out of total marks | Your performance relative to other students |
| Independent of other candidates | Depends on competition |
| Example: 180/300 = 60% | Example: 95 percentile = better than 95% students |
Important: You can score 70% marks and still get 98 percentile if exam was tough.
Official Definition of Percentile
Percentile is defined as:
The percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below a particular candidate.
Mathematically:
Percentile = (Number of candidates below you ÷ Total candidates) × 100
Example to Understand Percentile Clearly
Suppose 1,00,000 students appeared for an exam.
- You ranked 1,000.
Students below you = 99,000
Percentile = (99,000 / 1,00,000) × 100 = 99 percentile
This means:
You performed better than 99% of candidates.
How Percentile is Used in Entrance Exams
Many national exams use percentile instead of raw marks because:
- Multiple shifts have different difficulty levels
- Percentile normalizes performance
- Fair comparison becomes possible
In multi-session exams, percentile ensures fairness.
Why Two Students with Same Marks May Have Different Percentile
If exams are conducted in different shifts:
- Shift 1 may be easier
- Shift 2 may be tougher
Therefore:
Same marks ≠ Same percentile
Because percentile depends on how others performed in your shift.
Common Percentile Benchmarks (General Understanding)
| Percentile | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 99+ | Top 1% of candidates |
| 95+ | Top 5% |
| 90+ | Top 10% |
| 80+ | Above average |
Remember: Actual rank depends on total number of candidates.
Does High Percentile Guarantee Top College?
Not always.
Because admission depends on:
- Category
- State quota
- Branch preference
- Seat availability
Percentile determines eligibility and rank — not automatic admission.
Major Myths About Percentile
Myth 1: 99 Percentile Means 99% Marks
False.
Myth 2: Percentile Directly Equals Rank
Approximate only. Rank depends on total candidates.
Myth 3: Low Percentile Means Failure
No. It only means relative competition was higher.
How to Convert Percentile to Approximate Rank
Approximate Formula:
Rank ≈ (100 - Percentile) × Total Candidates ÷ 100
Example:
If 10,00,000 students appeared and you scored 98 percentile:
Rank ≈ (100 - 98) × 10,00,000 ÷ 100
Rank ≈ 20,000
This is an estimate, not exact.
Career Counsellor Perspective
Students obsess over percentile without understanding:
- Your skill matters long-term.
- Your college choice matters short-term.
- Your effort matters always.
Percentile is a screening metric — not a life verdict.
What Should You Do After Getting Your Percentile?
- Check expected rank range.
- Analyze realistic college options.
- Decide between joining or drop year.
- Stay calm and rational.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 90 percentile good?
It means you are in top 10%. Whether it is good depends on exam competition.
Can percentile change after final result?
Yes, after normalization or final merit list adjustments.
Why is percentile used instead of marks?
To ensure fairness across multiple shifts.
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