The NEET UG percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below a particular candidate in the examination. It is not the same as percentage marks. The percentile is calculated using the formula: Percentile = (Number of candidates who scored equal to or less than the candidate ÷ Total number of candidates who appeared in the exam) × 100. The National Testing Agency (NTA) uses percentile scores to determine the qualifying cutoff. For example, the 50th percentile means that the candidate performed better than 50% of the candidates who appeared for the exam. Percentiles are used because the difficulty level of exams may vary slightly each year.