To properly score a test by percentage, what should the educator do?

To properly score a test by percentage, dividing the number correct by the total number of questions on the test is the correct method. This calculation provides a clear representation of how many questions a student answered correctly in relation to the total number of questions.

For instance, if a test consists of 20 questions and a student answers 15 correctly, the scoring process involves taking the number of correct answers (15) and dividing it by the total number of questions (20). This results in a decimal of 0.75, which can then be converted into a percentage by multiplying by 100, yielding a score of 75%. This method accurately reflects the student's performance and allows for straightforward comparisons between different students or groups.

Using an even number of questions, while it might seem to streamline scoring, does not directly impact the calculation of percentage scores and may not be relevant to the accuracy or fairness of the scoring. Similarly, dividing the total number of questions by the number correct would yield an inverse ratio, which would not effectively communicate a student's understanding or mastery of the subject. Ensuring all students can get a passing grade introduces subjectivity into the evaluation process, potentially diluting the meaning of the score and not providing an accurate assessment of knowledge.