Education
What is a Percentile?
A percentile is a statistical measure used to indicate the relative position of an individual’s score within a larger distribution of scores. It represents the percentage of scores that fall at or below a particular value in a dataset.
Key points about percentiles:
- Range: Percentiles range from 1 to 99, with 50 being the median.
- Interpretation: A score in the 75th percentile means the individual scored higher than or equal to 75% of the group.
- Common use: Widely used in educational testing, psychological assessments, and growth charts.
- Calculation: Determined by ordering all scores and finding the point below which a certain percentage of scores fall.
Percentiles are valuable in education for:
- Comparing student performance relative to peers
- Identifying areas for improvement or advanced study
- Tracking progress over time
- Informing placement decisions
Understanding percentiles helps educators, students, and parents interpret test results in a meaningful context.