1. What is percentage in exams?
Percentage simply tells you how much you scored out of the total marks, expressed in the form of 100. It is one of the most commonly used methods to measure academic performance in schools, colleges and competitive exams.
Because most admission forms and eligibility criteria use percentage, every student must know how to calculate it quickly and accurately.
2. Basic formula to calculate marks percentage
The formula is very simple:
Percentage = (Marks Obtained ÷ Total Marks) × 100
This formula works for every type of exam — school tests, board exams, semester exams or any competitive exam where you know your marks.
Example
Suppose you scored 72 marks out of 100.
- Percentage = (72 ÷ 100) × 100
- Percentage = 72%
Another example
You scored 340 marks out of 500.
- Percentage = (340 ÷ 500) × 100
- Percentage = 0.68 × 100
- Percentage = 68%
As you can see, you only need two values — marks obtained and total marks.
3. How to calculate percentage for multiple subjects?
Students often get confused when marks are given for multiple subjects. In this case, you do not need to calculate percentage for each subject separately. Instead:
- Add all obtained marks
- Add all total marks
- Apply the same percentage formula
Example (5 subjects)
Suppose your marks are:
- English – 78/100
- Maths – 65/100
- Science – 70/100
- Social Science – 74/100
- Hindi – 80/100
Total obtained marks = 78 + 65 + 70 + 74 + 80 = 367
Total marks = 500
- Percentage = (367 ÷ 500) × 100
- Percentage = 73.4%
This is your final overall percentage.
4. Why students prefer using an online percentage calculator?
Although the formula is easy, doing manual calculations repeatedly can take time, especially during board exam results or competitive exam cut-offs. That’s why many students use an online tool.
Benefits of using our online calculator:
- Instant percentage result
- No mathematical mistakes
- Works for both single and multiple subjects
- Useful for forms, scholarships and applications
You can try our Marks Percentage Calculator to save time and avoid errors.
5. Common mistakes students make while calculating percentage
Here are some things to avoid:
- Dividing wrong values (example: total ÷ obtained)
- Using different total marks for different subjects
- Rounding values too early
- Forgetting to convert decimal into percentage
Always follow one consistent method to maintain accuracy.
6. Frequently asked questions
Q1. What if my marks are not out of 100?
The percentage formula works for any total — 20, 50, 75, 150, 500 or even 900. Just plug the values into the same formula.
Q2. Can percentage be more than 100?
No, because percentage represents a portion of total marks. If you scored bonus or grace marks, still the percentage remains within 100%.
Q3. Is percentage the same as overall score?
Percentage is simply a representation of your marks. Many institutes use grades or CGPA instead, but percentage is still widely used.
7. Final summary
Calculating marks percentage is one of the most basic and important skills for any student. Whether you are filling application forms, checking your performance or comparing exam results, knowing this formula helps a lot.
Remember:
- Percentage = (Obtained ÷ Total) × 100
- Add all subjects before calculating overall percentage
- Use online calculators for faster and accurate results
With this method, you can confidently calculate your exam percentage for any board or college exam.