Use the same scale for both — both raw marks out of the same total, or both percentages.
How the percentage tools for marks works
Three formulas you will use all year
Percentage change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100 — the honest way to measure improvement, because gaining 12 marks from a base of 40 is a bigger leap than gaining 12 from a base of 80.
Average = sum of scores ÷ how many scores — every test counts equally.
What percent is X of Y = X ÷ Y × 100 — the marks-to-percentage conversion behind every report card.
Change vs points
Scores quoted in percent create a classic trap: rising from 62% to 74% is twelve percentage points, but a 19.35% change. Both numbers appear in this tool's answer so you always know which one you are quoting.
Worked example
From 62 to 74 between two tests: a gain of 12 marks, which is (74 − 62) ÷ 62 × 100 = +19.35%. And the term's quiz scores 78, 85, 92, 70, 88 average to 82.6.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the percentage change between two test scores?
Subtract the earlier score from the new one, divide by the earlier score, and multiply by 100. Going from 62 to 74 is (74 − 62) ÷ 62 × 100 = +19.35%. Using the earlier score as the base is what makes it a fair comparison.
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
If your score rises from 62% to 74%, that is +12 percentage points but a +19.35% percentage change. News reports and teachers mix these up often — this tool calculates percentage change, and states the raw mark difference too so you can see both.
How do I average scores from tests with different totals?
Convert each score to a percentage first (marks ÷ total × 100), then average the percentages. Averaging raw marks from a 20-mark quiz and a 100-mark exam would let the exam swamp the quiz.
What percent is 45 out of 60?
(45 ÷ 60) × 100 = 75%. The 'What % is X of Y' mode does this for any pair of numbers.
Why is my average different from my overall percentage?
An average of percentages weights every test equally, while an overall percentage (total marks earned ÷ total marks available) weights bigger tests more. The Result & Grade Checker computes the overall figure; this tool's average is the simple mean.
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