If you’ve ever panicked over results, this will calm you down fast. Calculating percentage is one of those things everyone can do — once you see it done once.
I’ll show you the formula, walk through a few real examples, and give a tiny tip that most students miss. No jargon. No long paragraphs. Just the exact steps on how to calculate percentage of marks.
What is “percentage” in simple words?
A percentage just means “out of 100”.
So 75% = 75 out of 100. Easy.
If your exam total isn’t 100 (maybe it’s 500 or 600), you convert it to a score out of 100 using the same idea.
The one formula you need
Percentage = (Marks Obtained ÷ Total Marks) × 100
That’s literally it. Plug numbers in. Multiply by 100. Done.
Step-by-step — how you do it
- Add up the marks you got in all subjects.
- Find the total possible marks (like 500 or 600).
- Divide your marks by the total.
- Multiply the result by 100.
- Roundoff to 1 or 2 decimal places if you want.
Quick example — out of 500 (real, simple)
Say you scored:
English 80, Math 90, Science 85, SST 88, Hindi 82.
Total = 80 + 90 + 85 + 88 + 82 = 425
Total marks = 500
Percentage = (425 ÷ 500) × 100 = 0.85 × 100 = 85%
See? Nothing scary.
Example — out of 600
Marks: 78, 88, 92, 85, 80, 75
Total = 498
Percentage = (498 ÷ 600) × 100 = 0.83 × 100 = 83%
Shortcuts students try (and why they’re wrong)
- “Average the percentages” — nope. Don’t do that.
- “Divide by number of subjects” — wrong unless each subject is out of 100 and you want average marks, not percentage.
- Always use the formula. It never lies.
Where mistakes happen (so don’t do these)
- Forgetting to include practical marks or internal assessment.
- Using wrong total marks (check your exam board!)
- Rounding too early — round only at the end.
Quick table for common totals
Marks ObtainedTotal MarksPercentage
300 500 60%
350 500 70%
400 500 80%
450 500 90%
480 600 80%
540 600 90%
Use this to eyeball your result quickly.
Tiny pro tip (saved me so many times)
If you know the total marks and want a quick check: convert your total to a fraction of 100 first.
Example: 500 → 1% equals 5 marks. So 425 marks → 425 ÷ 5 = 85%.
This mental trick is handy during result season.
Want a calculator here?
Place a small input tool right below this paragraph: users enter total marks + obtained marks → get percentage instantly. It’s the easiest user-friendly thing on the page.
FAQs (short & useful)
Q: Do I need a calculator?
A: You don’t need one — but it helps for quick accuracy.
Q: Can I round the percentage?
A: Round at the very end. Round to 1 or 2 decimal places only if needed.
Q: What if subjects have different maximum marks?
A: Still add obtained marks and divide by the total of maximum marks. Same formula.
Final thought
Calculating percentage is one of the simplest, most useful tricks you’ll use in school. Once you get used to the formula, it’s fast. Try the calculator on this page (or do the mental trick for 500/600 totals) — and breathe easy when results come out. All the Best !!
🔗 Related Student Tools & Calculators
If you’re working out your marks, percentages, or results, these tools might help you:
👉 Marks to Percentage Calculator
Quickly convert your marks into a clean percentage with one click.
👉 Percentage Calculator
Enter “value” and “total” to get an instant percentage — useful for all kinds of exams.
👉 CGPA to Percentage Converter
Perfect for college and university students who need to convert CGPA into a percentage.