At the end of the term, every report card needs an average. It is one of the first things parents look at. But teachers often ask: do I divide by the number of subjects? What about the cumulative average? And what if a pupil missed a subject?
This guide answers those questions with simple examples.
The termly average
The termly average is the pupil's grand total divided by the number of subjects they were graded in.
Formula: Average = Grand total ÷ Number of subjects
Example. A pupil scores 78, 85, 64, 72, 90, 55, 68 and 81 in eight subjects.
- Grand total = 78 + 85 + 64 + 72 + 90 + 55 + 68 + 81 = 593
- Average = 593 ÷ 8 = 74.1
If every subject is marked out of 100, the average is also the percentage, so the pupil has 74.1%.
When subjects have different maximum marks
If some papers are out of 100 and others out of 50, do not add the raw scores and divide by the number of subjects. Convert to a percentage first.
Percentage = (Total scored ÷ Total possible) × 100
If a pupil scored 480 out of a possible 600, the percentage is 480 ÷ 600 × 100 = 80%.
The cumulative average
The cumulative average combines the three terms of a session so a pupil's whole-year performance is on one number.
Method 1 (average of averages). Add the three termly averages and divide by 3. This works when the pupil took the same subjects each term.
- First term 72, second term 68, third term 80
- Cumulative average = (72 + 68 + 80) ÷ 3 = 73.3
Method 2 (total of totals). Add all the scores from all three terms and divide by the total possible. This is more exact when the number of subjects changes.
Both methods are acceptable. What matters is that your school picks one, writes it down, and uses it for every pupil.
What about a missed subject?
Decide on one policy and apply it to everyone:
- Count it as zero if the pupil was absent without a reason. This is the strictest rule.
- Leave it out and divide by fewer subjects if the pupil was excused. Mark the report card clearly.
Writing the policy in your assessment handbook avoids arguments later.
Rounding
Keep the exact number while you calculate, and round only when you print. One decimal place is usually enough, for example 74.1. If you round every subject first, small errors add up and may change positions.
Common mistakes
- Dividing by the wrong number. Count only subjects the pupil was graded in.
- Adding CA and exam twice. Use the subject total once.
- Using the class average instead of the pupil's average. The class average is a different number.
- Mixing out-of-100 and out-of-50 papers without converting.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the average score of a pupil?
Add all the pupil's subject totals and divide by the number of subjects. If every subject is out of 100, the result is also the percentage.
What is the cumulative average?
It combines the three terms of the session into one figure. You can average the three termly averages, or divide the total of all scores by the total possible. Use one method for all pupils.
How do I turn a score into a percentage?
Divide the score by the total possible and multiply by 100. For example, 45 out of 60 is 45 ÷ 60 × 100 = 75%.
What happens if a pupil did not write one subject?
Follow your school's written policy: either score it as zero or leave it out and divide by fewer subjects. Mark the report card so parents understand.
How StudyPat helps
StudyPat works out the termly average on each report card from the scores teachers enter, and it produces a cumulative report card across the terms of a session, so nobody has to do the arithmetic by hand. You can also try the free CA and exam score calculator to check a single pupil's numbers. For the next step, read how to calculate class position and handle ties.