Grades
Rank percentile
Share of the class you outrank, expressed as a decimal. Multiply by a hundred for a percentile.
The Formula
percentile = (N - rank) / N
Share of the class you outrank, expressed as a decimal. Multiply by a hundred for a percentile.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| p | Percentile | ratio | Share of the class you outrank. |
| N | Class size | count | Every student on the ranked list. |
| r | Rank | count | Your position counting from the top. |
What Each Symbol Means
pratio
Percentile
Share of the class you outrank.
Ncount
Class size
Every student on the ranked list.
rcount
Rank
Your position counting from the top.
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.