Raw marks, standardised scores and totals
| Term on the result | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Raw mark | Marks earned before conversion. This may not be published. |
| Standardised score | A converted result on the test’s scale, potentially adjusted for age. |
| Weighted total | A combination of component scores where some carry more influence. |
| Qualifying outcome | Whether the route’s academic requirements have been met. |
These are different stages of reporting. A letter might give all of them, only component scores and a total, or just the academic outcome.
Why the total is not always a simple sum
The organiser decides how components are combined. Medway, for example, publishes a total that weights its English and maths standardised scores twice and reasoning once. Bexley publishes a different combination of ability scores.
That is why comparing the total from one route with a total from another can be meaningless. The number of components, weighting and scale may all differ.
If you are checking a result, use the official formula for that route and year. Do not add component scores and assume an apparent mismatch means a marking error.
An example of the wrong comparison
Imagine a practice paper marked out of 80 and a result letter showing a standardised score of 120. Dividing 120 by 80 does not produce the child’s exam percentage: the two numbers describe different measurements.
Likewise, 120 on one route need not represent the same performance or admissions position as 120 on another. The same applies to claims that a child “only needs a few more raw marks” to reach a threshold.
How to use the score when choosing schools
Read the result in this order: confirm the test and year, identify each score type, check the official qualifying outcome, then read how each school uses the result.
A qualified child may still be ranked by score, catchment, distance or other priority criteria. A standardised score does not itself reserve a place. The score and rank comparison explains the next distinction, and the route score library links to local explanations.
If personal details or the arithmetic appear incorrect, contact the test organiser with the result reference and a precise description of the discrepancy.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Still wondering?
Does a standardised score of 120 mean 120 marks?
No. It is a value on the test’s converted scale. Without the organiser’s scoring information, you cannot turn it back into a number of correct answers.
Does 100 always mean average?
No. Different reported scores and totals use different scales. Read the explanation for that particular test rather than applying a convention from another assessment.
Can a practice-paper percentage predict the final score?
Not reliably. Paper difficulty, age adjustment, the comparison group and weighting can differ from the real test. Use practice to identify learning needs, not to calculate a promised admissions score.
Official sources
Checked 28 Sept 2026