Statistics percentile rank refers to the percentage of scores that is equal to or less than a given score. Percentile is also referred to as Centile. Percentile Rank (PR) is calculated based on the total number of ranks, number of ranks below and above percentile.

Here are a few percentile rank examples that help you to learn how to calculate percentile / class rank.

Example 1:

Let us consider the problem: In a class of 10 students, Anu got 3rd position. What is the percentile / class rank?

Solution:

We can calculate the percentile rank using the given formula,

Formula:

PR% = [L + ( 0.5 x S ) / N] x 100

Where,
L = Number of below rank,
S = Number of Same Rank,
N = Total numbers.

In the problem given, total number is 10, Below ranks are (2 &1) and hence number of below ranks is 2. There is only one same rank and hence number of same rank is 1

Substituting the values in the formula,

Percentile Rank = [2 + (0.5 x 1) / 10] x 100 = [2.5 /10] x 100 = 25 %

Example 2:

Let us consider the problem: In a class of 20 students, Sam and John got 10th position. What is the percentile / class rank?

Solution:

We can calculate the class rank using the above given formula,

In the problem given, total number is 20, Below ranks are (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) and hence number of below ranks is 9. Two persons have got the same rank and hence number of same rank is 2.

Substituting the values in the formula,

Percentile Rank= [9 + (0.5 x 2) / 20] x 100 = [10 / 20] x 100 = [1/2] x 100 = 50 %