The National Eligibility CUM Entrance Test (NEET) is a crucial examination for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate medical courses in India. Developed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET serves as a gateway to nationwide medical colleges. It is renowned for its high level of competitiveness, attracting thousands of candidates every year. The exam evaluates students on their knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and achieving a good score is essential for gaining admission into prestigious medical institutions.
As you gear up for NEET 2025, understanding how your performance is assessed can greatly influence your preparation approach. Two essential concepts to know are NEET percentage and NEET percentile. Although they may appear similar, each serves a distinct purpose in gauging your success on the entrance exam. Understanding these differences can help you tailor your study strategies effectively.
In competitive exams like NEET, you’ll often encounter terms such as percentage, percentile, rank, and scorecard. While these terms are not particularly complex, many students find themselves confused, especially regarding the difference between percentage and percentile. Understanding these distinctions is essential for navigating the exam landscape effectively.
What is a Percentage?
A percentage is defined as the value indicating the 100th part of anything. Usually, the percentage value students come across is in the context of numbers. It is the mathematical figure that is calculated or written out of 100. The symbol used for percentage is %.
For Example
For example, if Sarup scored 390 marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, with the total marks being 600, the percentage he secured would be calculated by dividing 390 by 600 and then multiplying the result by 100. This gives him 65% in the exam.
What is a Percentile?
Percentile, on the other hand, measures how a student ranks compared to others who took the exam. It is calculated by determining the percentage of students who scored lower than a particular student. Essentially, the higher a student’s percentile, the better their performance relative to others.
For Example
For example, if a student is in the 80th percentile, it means that they have scored better than 80% of the total number of students who appeared for the exam.
Difference between Percentage and Percentile
| Percentage | Percentile |
| Calculated out of 100 | Provide the value of the numbers found below the given percentage |
| Tells you the proportion of questions you answered correctly | It tells your rank among all candidates |
| Based on an individual’s performance | Your, as well as your peers’ performance, is used to evaluate the total percentile. |
| Symbol Used: % | Denoted as xth |
Why is NEET Percentile Important?
In NEET 2025, a higher percentile translates to a better chance of admission. While achieving a high percentage reflects strong knowledge and test-taking skills, securing a high percentile shows you’re among the top performers compared to your peers. Therefore, focusing on achieving a high percentile should be an essential part of your exam preparation strategy. Knowing the difference between percentage and percentile will help you navigate the NEET preparation more effectively.
Conclusion In conclusion, understanding the distinction between NEET percentage and percentile is crucial for students aiming to perform well in the exam.We recommend enrolling in Hyderabad’s best NEET institute to achieve exceptional percentages and percentiles. While percentage measures how much a student has scored out of the total marks, percentile shows how well they rank compared to others. Focusing on achieving a high percentile ensures that you are competing effectively among your peers, which plays a significant role in securing admission to top medical institutes. Both metrics are important, but mastering the exam requires a strategy that balances strong subject knowledge and competitive performance.