Pass/Fail Threshold Calculator
Check whether your marks clear the passing threshold and how many marks you are above or below the line.
How it works
passing mark = threshold % × max marks · margin = marks obtained − passing mark
A pass/fail threshold converts a percentage cutoff into an absolute mark: the passing mark is the threshold percentage of the maximum. Comparing your marks against that line tells you not just whether you passed but by how much — the margin in marks, which is easier to act on than a bare percentage. On a 100-mark paper the passing mark equals the threshold, but on any other total the two diverge.
Worked example
A 100-mark exam with a 40% pass threshold has a passing mark of 40. Scoring 45 gives 45%, which is 5 marks above the line — a pass. Scoring 38 would be 2 marks short.
Frequently asked questions
Is the passing mark always the same as the threshold percentage?
Only when the paper is out of 100. On a 60-mark test a 40% threshold is 24 marks, and on a 250-mark paper it is 100 marks — always threshold × max ÷ 100.
What if there is a separate minimum per section?
Some exams require passing each section as well as the overall total. Run this calculator once for the overall paper and once per section using each section’s own maximum and cutoff.
How many marks do I still need to pass?
If the result is a fail, the "marks short of passing" line is exactly how many more marks you needed to reach the threshold.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.