“Percentage” and “Percentile,” are two similar sounding words. But there is much difference between percentage and percentile.

Percentage

A percentage is a number or ratio that can be expressed as a fraction of 100. If we have to calculate percent of a number, divide the number by the whole and multiply by 100. Hence, the percentage means, a part per hundred. It is used to describe proportions, to denote exam scores, discounts, and statistical data.

Calculation:

Percentage= Part /Whole X100

For example, if a student scores 40 out of 50 in a test, their percentage score would be:

40/50 X 100 = 80 %

Percentages are used to:

• Measure exam scores: E.g., John scored 80% marks in the exam.
• Represent data: E.g.50% of the people were affected.
• Indicate change over time: E.g.The price of gold has increased by 20% in three years.

Percentile

Percentile is a value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. It indicates the relative standing of a value within a dataset. Percentiles are particularly useful for understanding distributions and comparing individual performance against a larger group.

Calculation

To determine the percentile rank of a score, one must understand its position relative to the entire dataset. For instance, in a class of 100 students, if a student’s score is higher than 90 students, that student is in the 90th percentile.

Percentiles are used to:

• Assess and compare examscores: John is in 70^th percentile means he scored better than 70% of students.
• Make decisions based on comparative data:(Admissions or performance evaluations).

Main Differences between Percentage and Percentile:

   Percentage:

• A direct representation of a part of a whole.
• Widely used where direct comparison to a total is needed.
• Absolute measure; 90% means 90 out of 100.
• Requires only the part and the whole.

Percentile:

• A ranking indicating a value’s position within a dataset.
• Primarily used in statistical analysis and comparative studies.
• 90th percentile means better than 90% of the group.
• Requires the entire dataset to determine the ranking.

Percentages provide the measure of proportion, while percentiles offer a way to understand relative standing within a group. Percentages and Percentiles are valuable tools in data analysis and education.

Some illustrations:

• John scored 420 marks out of the total 600 marks.

Percentage:

Marks scored/total marks X 100

420/600 x 100= 70%

Percentile:

Suppose total number of students in the class =50

Students who scored less than John=41

Percentile= Students with lesser marks than John/total no. of students x 100= 41/50 X 100 = 82 percentile

John scored 390 mks out of 600

Percentage= 390/600×100=65%

Percentile:

John’s score= 65%

Total number of students appeared= 800000

Number of students who got lesser than 65%= 600000

Percentile= 600000/800000 x 100= 75^th percentile.