TestPulseQuick answers
- Percentage: points scored ÷ total points × 100. 18 out of 25 = 72%, 34 out of 40 = 85%, 45 out of 60 = 75%.
- Grade: on the common US scale, A is 90% and above, B 80–89%, C 70–79%, D 60–69% and F below 60%.
- Pass or fail: total × pass mark ÷ 100, rounded up, is the number you need. 40 questions at 70% means 28 right, so you can miss 12.
- Negative marking: right × marks per question − wrong × penalty. 30 right and 8 wrong out of 40, with −0.25 per wrong answer, is 28 out of 40 = 70%. Unanswered questions score zero.
How the calculation works
Percentage = points scored ÷ total points × 100. The letter grade uses the common US scale: A for 90% and above, B for 80–89%, C for 70–79%, D for 60–69% and F below 60%. Your school or company may use a different scale.
With negative marking, each wrong answer takes off a share of a mark, which makes blind guessing less worthwhile: with four options, a penalty of one third of a mark makes a random guess worth nothing on average, and a smaller penalty such as 0.25 only reduces its value. Unanswered questions neither gain nor lose. Whether the total can go below zero depends on the exam; this calculator shows the real result.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a test score percentage?
Divide the points scored by the total points and multiply by 100. For example, 18 out of 25 is 18 ÷ 25 × 100 = 72%.
How do I calculate a score with negative marking?
Multiply the right answers by the marks for each, subtract the wrong answers times the penalty, and leave unanswered questions at zero. With 40 questions, 30 right, 8 wrong and a penalty of 0.25: 30 − 8 × 0.25 = 28 out of 40, which is 70%.
What grade is 72%?
On the common US scale (A 90+, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60), 72% is a C. Schools and countries use different scales, so check yours.
How many questions can I get wrong and still pass?
Multiply the total by the pass mark to get the points needed, round up, and subtract from the total. With 40 questions and a 70% pass mark you need 28 right, so you can miss 12.