Pass Rate Calculator: Share of Candidates Who Passed
Work out a pass rate — the share of candidates who passed an exam, from the number who passed and the total who took it.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 184 of 230 | 80.00% | 20.00% |
| 45 of 60 | 75.00% | 25.00% |
| 920 of 1,150 | 80.00% | 20.00% |
| 12 of 20 | 60.00% | 40.00% |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the number of candidates who passed and the total who sat the exam. The calculator divides one by the other to give the pass rate as a percentage, and shows the fail rate alongside.
The Formula
Part as a Percentage of a Whole
Part is the portion, Whole is the total it belongs to
Worked Example
An exam where 184 of 230 candidates passed has an 80% pass rate and a 20% fail rate. Tracking this figure across cohorts shows whether teaching, the exam, or the candidates have shifted.
Key Insight
Pass rate measures outcome, not difficulty. A drop can mean the cohort was weaker, the exam was tougher, or the cutoff was set higher — three very different stories that need separate evidence to tell apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a pass rate calculated?
Divide the number of candidates who passed by the total number who sat the exam, then multiply by 100. The result is the pass rate.
What is the fail rate?
The fail rate is the complement of the pass rate — the share of candidates who did not pass. An 80% pass rate carries a 20% fail rate.
Should I include no-shows?
It depends on convention. Some pass rates count only candidates who actually sat the exam; others count everyone registered. Be clear which basis you use.
What does a pass rate not tell me?
It does not tell you how candidates scored, only whether they cleared the bar. A high pass rate with most candidates barely scraping through is different from one where most scored well.
How should pass rates be compared?
Compare across cohorts that took the same exam and cutoff. Comparing across different exams or grading standards mixes pass rates with difficulty.
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
Pass rate is candidates who passed divided by total candidates, expressed as a percentage. The complement is the share who did not pass.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 17, 2026.