Grades
Quartile
Coarse band from one to four, where quarter one is the top of the class. Used when a full percentile is too precise to be meaningful.
The Formula
quartile = ceil(rank / N x 4)
Coarse band from one to four, where quarter one is the top of the class. Used when a full percentile is too precise to be meaningful.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| q | Quartile | count | Band from one, the top, to four, the bottom. |
| r | Rank | count | Your position counting from the top. |
| N | Class size | count | Every student on the ranked list. |
What Each Symbol Means
qcount
Quartile
Band from one, the top, to four, the bottom.
rcount
Rank
Your position counting from the top.
Ncount
Class size
Every student on the ranked list.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate class rank page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Class Rank, filed under Education. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.