Class Rank Reference
Both methods, side by side, plus the figures applications actually ask for. Take the official numbers from the registrar.
BFCBrilliance · bfcbrilliance.com/tools/class-rank-percentile-calculator
Your position
- School
- Class size
- My rank
- PERCENTILE (midpoint)
- PERCENTILE (simple)
- TOP X%
- Decile
- Official figure from registrar
Track it each term
| Term | Rank | Class size | Percentile | Top % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The two formulas, and the direction they run
- Midpoint percentile
- (size − rank + 0.5) ÷ size
- Simple percentile
- (size − rank) ÷ size
- Top X%
- rank ÷ size
- Gap between methods
- 0.5 ÷ class size
- Rank 40 of 500
- 92.1 / 92.0 / top 8.0%
- ⚠ Percentile
- counts from the BOTTOM
- ⚠ Rank
- counts from the TOP
- ⚠ Class of 20
- methods differ by 2.5 points
Before putting a figure on an application
- Checked whether the form wants a percentile or a top X%
- Official rank obtained from the registrar
- Class size confirmed for the correct cohort
- Checked whether your school ranks at all
- Tied ranks resolved the way the school resolves them
- Weighted vs unweighted basis confirmed
- Same method used consistently across every form
- Nothing computed by hand submitted as official
Percentile and top X% run opposite ways
The 92nd percentile and the top 8% are the same student. Quoting the wrong one makes a strong result look weak, and it is the most common mistake on these forms.