Excel PERCENTRANK.EXC Function

Excel PERCENTRANK.EXC Function

Summary

The Excel PERCENTRANK.EXC function returns the relative rank of a value in a data set as a percentage representing how many values are less than or equal to the value. Percentile rank is commonly used as a way to interpret standing in standardized tests.

Purpose

Get percentile rank, exclusive

Return value

Calculated rank as a decimal value

Syntax

=PERCENTRANK.EXC (array, x, [significance])

Arguments

Usage notes

The Excel PERCENTRANK.INC returns the relative standing of a value within a data set as a percentage. For example, a test score greater than or equal to 80% of all test scores is said to be at the 80th percentile. 

In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:

=PERCENTRANK.EXC(data,B5)

where "data" is the named range C5:C12.

Interpolation

When x does not exist within the array, the function interpolates a value between data points. For example, when the x value of 4.00 is passed as an argument to the function, the percentage is interpolated to the value %44.4, which lies between the percent rank of 3.3 and 4.56 which are %37.5 and %50.0 respectively.

In the graph below, solid orange dots represents x values that are contained within the input array, while the outlined orange dots are values that are interpolated.

Inclusive vs. Exclusive

Starting with Excel 2010, the PERCENTRANK function has been replaced by two functions: PERECENTRANK.INC and PERECENTRANK.EXC. The INC version represents "inclusive" behavior, and the EXC version represents "exclusive" behavior. Both formulas use the same arguments.

The screen below shows differences with a small data set:

As the size of the input array increases, the difference between the two functions decreases. The difference between the returned percentages will never be larger than 1/(N+1), where N is the size of the input array.

Notes

 

Excel PERCENTRANK.EXC Function

Summary

The Excel PERCENTRANK.EXC function returns the relative rank of a value in a data set as a percentage representing how many values are less than or equal to the value. Percentile rank is commonly used as a way to interpret standing in standardized tests.

Purpose

Get percentile rank, exclusive

Return value

Calculated rank as a decimal value

Syntax

=PERCENTRANK.EXC (array, x, [significance])

Arguments

Usage notes

The Excel PERCENTRANK.INC returns the relative standing of a value within a data set as a percentage. For example, a test score greater than or equal to 80% of all test scores is said to be at the 80th percentile. 

In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:

=PERCENTRANK.EXC(data,B5)

where "data" is the named range C5:C12.

Interpolation

When x does not exist within the array, the function interpolates a value between data points. For example, when the x value of 4.00 is passed as an argument to the function, the percentage is interpolated to the value %44.4, which lies between the percent rank of 3.3 and 4.56 which are %37.5 and %50.0 respectively.

In the graph below, solid orange dots represents x values that are contained within the input array, while the outlined orange dots are values that are interpolated.

Inclusive vs. Exclusive

Starting with Excel 2010, the PERCENTRANK function has been replaced by two functions: PERECENTRANK.INC and PERECENTRANK.EXC. The INC version represents "inclusive" behavior, and the EXC version represents "exclusive" behavior. Both formulas use the same arguments.

The screen below shows differences with a small data set:

As the size of the input array increases, the difference between the two functions decreases. The difference between the returned percentages will never be larger than 1/(N+1), where N is the size of the input array.

Notes