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A percentile rank tells you how your score compares with a reference group. This page sits under the Cognitive Aptitude Tests hub and owns the pedagogical explanation of percentile rank. The broader score system guide remains Cognitive Ability Test Scores. Named score pages such as CCAT Score Explained and PI Cognitive Score Explained stay provider-specific.
If you score at the 70th percentile, you performed better than about 70% of the comparison group and lower than about 30%.
Percentile rank is not the same as percentage correct, raw score, or scaled score. There is no universal conversion between those measures.
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What Is a Percentile Rank?
A percentile rank is a relative standing within a norm group, not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
It shows your standing within a comparison group such as:
- general job applicants;
- applicants for a specific role;
- college graduates;
- a provider’s historical test-takers.
The same raw score can map to different percentiles when the norm group changes.
Percentile vs Raw Score, Percentage Correct, and Scaled Score
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Raw score | Number of correct answers or points earned |
| Percentage correct | Share of items you answered correctly |
| Scaled score | Converted score used by some providers for decisioning |
| Percentile rank | Share of the norm group you outperformed |
| Benchmark / target | Role or employer threshold used in hiring |
A strong raw score can still produce a lower percentile if the norm group is highly competitive. A high percentage correct is not automatically a high percentile.
What Is a Good Percentile?
There is no universal cutoff. It depends on the employer, role difficulty, and applicant pool.
Soft, non-official interpretation aids:
| Percentile | Typical relative standing |
|---|---|
| 90+ | Very strong relative performance |
| 75-89 | Strong |
| 50-74 | Average to above average for that group |
| Below 50 | Below the midpoint of that comparison group |
Some employers use strict cutoffs. Others review percentiles alongside experience, interviews, and role fit. Treat any table as context only, not an official publisher standard.
Percentile Rank by Test Type
Percentile interpretation depends on the test provider and norm group.
| Test | Score context |
|---|---|
| CCAT | Raw score out of 50, often reported with a percentile |
| PI Cognitive Assessment | Decisioning uses a scaled score and Cognitive Target; percentile may appear as context only |
| Wonderlic | Number correct interpreted by employer and role; percentile use varies |
| SHL / Aon / Korn Ferry | Module-specific percentile or band depending on the assessment |
Always confirm how your invitation or score report labels the result.
Why Employers Use Percentiles
Percentiles help employers:
- compare candidates on a shared relative scale;
- rank large applicant pools;
- set minimum screening thresholds when they choose to;
- interpret cognitive demands relative to a chosen norm group.