How to calculate a test score percentage
Divide the points you earned by the points possible and multiply by 100. How to handle partial credit, sections worth different amounts, and extra credit.
Test percentage = points earned ÷ points possible × 100. A score of 42 out of 50 is 42 ÷ 50 = 0.84, or 84%. When a test has sections with different point totals, add up all points first rather than averaging the section percentages.
On this page
test percentage = points earned ÷ points possible × 100
You scored 42 out of 50. 42 ÷ 50 = 0.84, so your score is 84%.
Try it: 42 out of 50
Open in calculatorPartial credit
If questions can earn partial points, add up every point you received, including halves. On a 25-point quiz with scores of 4, 3.5, 5, 2 and 4.5 across five questions, the total is 19 out of 25, which is 76%.
Tests with sections
Many tests have sections worth different numbers of points. Add up all the points before dividing.
| Section | Earned | Possible | Section % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | 18 | 20 | 90% |
| Short answer | 31 | 40 | 77.5% |
| Essay | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Total | 56 | 70 | 80% |
The correct overall score is 56 ÷ 70 = 80%.
Try it: 56 out of 70
Open in calculatorAveraging the three section percentages gives (90 + 77.5 + 70) ÷ 3 = 79.2%. That’s wrong here, because it treats the 10-point essay as if it counted as much as the 40-point short-answer section. The guide on averaging percentages explains this in more detail.
If your teacher says each section counts for a set share of the grade (say, a third each), that’s a weighted grade, and the average of section percentages is correct. See weighted grades.
Extra credit
Extra credit can push a score above 100%. If you earned 52 points on a 50-point test, that’s 52 ÷ 50 = 104%. Some teachers cap scores at 100%; others let the extra carry into the course grade.
Try it: 52 out of 50 with extra credit
Open in calculatorIf extra-credit questions are added to the total possible instead, 52 out of 55 would be 94.5%. The syllabus should say which method applies.
Converting between points and percent
To find how many points a percentage represents, multiply: 90% of a 60-point test is 54 points. To find how many points you can lose and still get 90%, subtract: 60 − 54 = 6 points.
Quick mental math
On a 20-point test, each point is 5%. On a 25-point test, each point is 4%. On a 50-point test, each point is 2%. For other totals, divide 100 by the total to get the value of one point. On a 40-point test each point is 2.5%, so 35 out of 40 is 87.5%.
Related
To find the minimum number of correct answers to reach a pass mark, see how many questions do I need right to pass. To work out what you need on a final, see what score do I need on my final exam.
Questions
How do I convert a percentage back to points?
Multiply the percentage by the total and divide by 100. 84% of a 50-point test is 0.84 × 50 = 42 points.
What letter grade is 84%?
On a common US scale, 80–89% is a B, so 84% is a B. Scales differ between schools and teachers, so check your syllabus.
The calculator links in this guide are checked against the PercentSwift calculator every time the site is built. How we calculate explains the rounding rules. If you spot a mistake, email hello@percentswift.com.
