This guide explains how to understand and use assessment results effectively, with a focus on percentile scoring and how it compares to raw scores.
What is a Percentile Score?
A percentile score shows how a candidate performed compared to others who took the same test.
Example: If a candidate is in the 74th percentile, they scored higher than 74% of candidates in the comparison group.
This makes percentiles especially useful for understanding relative performance at a glance.
Overall Score (Percentile)
The overall score is the most reliable indicator of a candidate’s likelihood to succeed in a role.
It combines results from all tests in an assessment
It considers how different skills relate to each other
It provides a holistic view of a candidate’s abilities
Think of the overall percentile as the best single summary of performance across the entire assessment.
Understanding Percentile Distribution
To make interpretation easier, percentile scores are grouped into categories:
1st–19th percentile (Well below average): Performed much lower than most candidates
20th–39th percentile (Below average): Performed lower than most candidates
40th–59th percentile (Average): Performed similarly to most candidates
60th–79th percentile (Above average): Performed better than most candidates
80th–99th percentile (Well above average): Among the top performers
⚠️ Important: These categories are only guidelines. Always evaluate scores in the context of the role’s requirements.
Highest Score in Your Assessment
This refers to the top score achieved among candidates who completed your specific assessment.
It highlights the strongest performer in your candidate pool
It is useful for benchmarking within a specific hiring round
It does not reflect performance against the broader global comparison group
Why Use Percentiles?
Percentiles help you:
Quickly identify standout candidates
Compare performance against a large, relevant benchmark group
Make more informed, objective hiring decisions
Because percentiles are based on thousands of test-takers, they provide strong context for interpreting results.
How Percentile Scores Are Calculated
A candidate’s test score is calculated based on correct answers
That score is compared to a large pool of candidates (typically 1,000–10,000+)
The system determines what percentage of candidates they scored higher than
Example:
A candidate in the 90th percentile performed better than 90% of test-takers.
Are Percentiles Updated?
Yes. Percentile rankings are dynamic and continuously updated as more candidates take the test.
This ensures scores always reflect the most current performance benchmarks.
What is a Raw Score?
A raw score shows the percentage of correct answers.
Example: A score of 74% means the candidate answered 74% of questions correctly.
Percentile vs. Raw Score
Raw scores alone can be misleading because they don’t account for test difficulty or comparison to others.
Example:
A candidate scores 56% (raw score)
This may seem low at first glance
However:
That same performance could place them in the 76th percentile
Meaning they performed better than 76% of candidates
👉 This indicates strong performance, despite the lower raw score.
Key Takeaways
Use percentiles as your primary benchmark for comparing candidates
Rely on the overall percentile score for the most complete view of performance
Interpret results in context of the role requirements
Avoid relying solely on raw scores, as they lack comparative insight
By understanding how to interpret these metrics, you can make more confident, data-driven hiring decisions.