Which statement about percentile ranks is true?

• A. The percentile rank describes how a score compares to peers; for example, an 8th percentile means the person performed better than 8% of peers
• B. The percentile rank indicates the score is within the top 8% of scores
• C. Percentile ranks reflect only the percentage of people who took the test
• D. Percentile ranks are the same as z-scores

Answer: (A)

Percentile ranks show where a score sits compared to the rest of the group. If you’re at the 8th percentile, about 8% of test-takers scored at or below yours, and about 92% scored above yours. In practical terms, you’ve performed better than roughly 8% of peers, and you’re below the remaining 92%. The top 8% would be around the 92nd percentile, not the 8th.

Percentile ranks aren’t about how many people took the test, nor are they the same as z-scores. Z-scores measure distance from the mean in standard deviations, while percentiles reflect relative standing within the distribution (though you can relate or convert between them under a normal distribution).