Pass Rate Calculator
Find the share of students who passed. Paste all scores, then set the maximum score and the passing threshold.
Learn how to calculate it yourselfEnter your values
Results update as you type.
How to enter your data
Enter individual test scores in Scores, separated by commas or new lines. Enter the maximum possible score in Maximum score and the pass threshold as a percentage in Passing threshold (%). The calculator determines how many entered scores meet that threshold.
Pass rate
Check your inputs
Enter valid values to see your result. Use the field hints or open the data guide for help.
The Exam Pass Rate Calculator works out what share of people passed a test. You tell it how many people passed and how many took the exam in total, and it shows the pass rate as a percentage. For example, if 18 out of 20 students pass, the pass rate is 90 percent.
Calculate it yourself
Example: four scores are 4, 6, 8 and 10 out of 10, and the passing threshold is 60%.
Follow this worked example, then repeat the steps with your own numbers.
Convert the threshold to points
Passing mark = maximum score × threshold ÷ 100 = 10 × 60 ÷ 100 = 6Count scores at or above that mark
Passing scores: 6, 8, 10; passed = 3; total students = 4A score exactly equal to the passing mark counts as a pass.
Calculate the pass rate
Pass rate = 3 ÷ 4 × 100 = 75%
Built into PaperSurvey.io
Set a pass threshold in grading settings and PaperSurvey reports pass and fail counts automatically.
Where it is used
- Teachers: A teacher enters how many pupils reached the pass mark on the end-of-term maths test and how many sat it, to see the class pass rate.
- Workplace trainers and HR staff: A trainer checks what percentage of employees passed the health and safety test after a course.
- Driving schools and tutoring centres: A driving school owner works out the share of learners who passed their theory test this month.
How it works
The pass rate is the percentage of scores at or above the passing mark, which is the maximum score times your threshold percentage. PaperSurvey can scan and auto-grade paper exams so you get pass rates without manual marking.
When should you use it?
Use it any time a group of people has taken a test and you want to know how many passed, shown as a tidy percentage instead of a rough count. It suits a single class, a full course, a training day, a certification exam or a mock test. It is also handy for comparing groups, such as one term against another or one class against the next. If everyone was simply present or absent, with no pass or fail mark involved, this is not the right tool for the job.
What does the result mean?
The result is the pass rate, the percentage of people who passed out of everyone who took the exam. A pass rate of 90 percent means 9 in every 10 people passed. A higher number means more people passed, and a lower number means fewer did. There is no single good figure that fits every exam, because a fair pass rate depends on how hard the test is and who sits it. Compare your result against your own past results or your school or course target, rather than a made-up universal benchmark.
Mistakes to avoid
The most common slip is using the wrong total. The total should be everyone who actually took the exam, not everyone on the register, so decide up front whether absent people count. Do not enter the number who failed in the box meant for the number who passed. Make sure the passed count is never larger than the total, or the percentage will be wrong. Keep to whole people, and avoid mixing results from different tests in one calculation unless you truly want them combined into a single figure.
How to use this calculator
- Collect individual test scores, the maximum possible score, and the pass threshold.
- Enter all individual scores in Scores, separated by commas or new lines.
- Set Maximum score and Passing threshold (%), then check the resulting pass rate.
- Read the pass rate percentage it shows; a higher percentage means more people passed.
Worked example
Enter scores 42, 38, 30, 25, 48, 19, 33, a maximum score of 50, and a pass threshold of 50%. Six of the seven scores are at least 25, so the pass rate is about 85.7%.
Frequently asked questions
What do I type in each box?
Paste individual test scores in Scores. Enter the test’s maximum possible score and the percentage required to pass in their separate boxes. Do not enter passed and total headcounts.
Where do I get these numbers?
Use the individual scores from the marked test, the maximum score available, and the pass threshold set by your course or awarding body.
What does the pass rate percentage actually mean?
It is the share of people who passed. 75 percent means 75 out of every 100 test-takers passed, which is three quarters of them.
Should I include people who were absent or did not finish?
Only if you want them counted as not passing. Most people leave absentees out and count only those who actually took the exam. Whichever you choose, be consistent.
What is a good pass rate?
There is no universal target, since it depends on the exam and the group. Compare your result with your own earlier results or the goal set by your school, course or awarding body.
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