Centile Rankings Explained

The best way to explain the centile ranking is to imagine (or even draw) a symmetrical hill (Standard Distribution curve to any mathematicians), then draw a horizontal line joining the bottom edges of the hill.

If we imagine that the very peak of the hill represents the average / mean score, we then draw a line from this score at the peak to the horizontal line across the bottom. Where it touches the bottom is the 50th centile.

Every question has it’s own “hill” and every “hill” can be a different shape. Steep, shallow etc.

The end of the hill to the right is 100th Centile and the one to the left is the Zero Centile. These points have the highest / lowest scores.

Any scores higher than the average will be on the right of the mean and by drawing a line down to the horizontal it will connect with a Centile higher than 50. The same applies to scores below the average, being to the left, and thus gaining Centile rankings below 50.

Interactive Centile Rankings

Click the play button at the bottom to get started – enjoy!