--- title: Z-Scores and Stanines description: What are Z-scores and stanines, and how are they used for student analysis? image: https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Graphic%20Illustrations/training%20study.png --- [![TrackOne Studio logo](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%207997%20(1).svg "TrackOne Studio logo")](https://www.trackonestudio.com/) - [Features](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features) - [Integrations](https://www.trackonestudio.com/integrations) - Resources - About Us [![Book a Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20965311/3a4f7c15-483e-4f28-9ebc-ae29a23a3c75.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20965311/3a4f7c15-483e-4f28-9ebc-ae29a23a3c75) [![Trial Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20965311/858df546-7789-4163-8b1d-68e8beac3f42.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20965311/858df546-7789-4163-8b1d-68e8beac3f42) [![Book a Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20965311/3a4f7c15-483e-4f28-9ebc-ae29a23a3c75.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20965311/3a4f7c15-483e-4f28-9ebc-ae29a23a3c75) [![Trial Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20965311/858df546-7789-4163-8b1d-68e8beac3f42.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20965311/858df546-7789-4163-8b1d-68e8beac3f42) ![Group 7999](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%207999.svg) [View All Features](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features) ![Group 8003](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208003.svg) ##### [Student Dashboards](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#student-dashboards) View a holistic summary of an individual student. ![Group 8028](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208028.svg) ##### [Class Summary](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#class-summary) Give teachers access to an overview of all students in each of their classes. ![Group 8031](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208031.svg) ##### [School Data Analysis](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#cohort-analysis) Make more informed decisions using reports on year level, subject, or department data. ![Group 8019](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208019.svg) ##### [Trend Analysis & Notifications](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#trend-analysis) Identify at-risk students and automatically notify relevant staff using configurable rules. ![Group 8029](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208029.svg) ##### [External Results](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#external-results) Store, analyse and publish academic data from external providers such as NAPLAN and ACER. ![Group 8032](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208032.svg) ##### [Attendance & Behaviour](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#attendance-behaviour) Monitor attendance and behaviour to identify any trends or changes over time. ![Group 7999](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%207999.svg) ##### [Student Wellbeing Surveys](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#student-wellbeing) Visualise wellbeing data and track how students are feeling over time. ![Group 8030](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208030.svg) ##### [Student Goal Setting](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#student-goalsetting) Provide a customised goal setting structure for students to create and track individual goals. ![Group 8033](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208033.svg) ##### [Extra-curricular & Soft Skills](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#extra-curricular) Record, track and evaluate skills gained from extra-curricular activities. ![Group 8021](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Group%208021.svg) ##### [Student Awards](https://www.trackonestudio.com/features#student-awards) Digitise your awards process, replicating your school’s existing award rules and parameters. ##### [Academic Blind Spots](https://info.trackonestudio.com/academic-blind-spots) How aware are you of your academic blind spots? 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Read on to find out, or download our Excel spreadsheet to use as a calculator!   [![Download Calculator](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20965311/8cc4e740-811b-4935-8016-29c5f08f05f8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20965311/8cc4e740-811b-4935-8016-29c5f08f05f8)   ![https://20965311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20965311/Graphic%20Illustrations/training%20study.png](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hubfs/Graphic%20Illustrations/training%20study.png) ### [Georgia Pollock](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/author/georgia-pollock) Published Apr 20, 2022 11:18:13 AM ## Z-Scores A z-score is a common way of standardising data on a scale, allowing for easy comparison. The z-score is a common measure for all types of data. Each z-score corresponds to a point in a normal distribution.  Z-scores are used in student analytics as a way of portraying how far above or below the mean a student sits. A z-score of 0, for example, is right on the mean, while a positive z-score, such as +1, tells you it is 1 standard deviation above the mean. Similarly, a negative z-score will tell you how many standard deviations it is below the mean. To find the z-score of a student’s result in a select group, you will need: 1. The student’s result 2. The mean result  3. The standard deviation. Once you have these figures, calculate the z-score using this formula:  *z-score = (student result – mean)/ standard deviation.* ## **Stanines**  A stanine, also known as a ‘standard nine’ score, is a way to convert raw test scores to a whole number on a nine-point scale, simplifying test interpretation. Like z-scores, stanines are a way to assign a relative numerical value to a member of a group.  Stanine scores are used in education to compare student performance over a normal distribution.  Typically, stanine scores between 4 and 6 are considered average, scores of 3 or less are below average, while scores of 7 or greater are above average.  To calculate stanine scores, rank the group’s results from lowest to highest, then assign the score based on the percentile they fall in: | **Z-Score** | **Stanine Score** | **Percentage of Scores** | | --- | --- | --- | | <-1.75 | 1 | Bottom 4% | | -1.75 to -1.25 | 2 | Next bottom 7% | | -1.25 to -0.75 | 3 | Next bottom 12% | | -0.75 to -0.25 | 4 | Next Bottom 17% | | -0.25 to 0.25 | 5 | Middle 20% | | 0.25 to 0.75 | 6 | Next top 17% | | 0.75 to 1.25 | 7 | Next top 12% | | 1.25 to 1.75 | 8 | Next top 7% | | >1.75 | 9 | Top 4% | ---   ![training study](https://blog.trackonestudio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Graphic%20Illustrations/training%20study.png?width=392&height=265&name=training%20study.png) ## Z-Score and Stanine Calculator Need a faster solution? This Excel spreadsheet will calculate z-scores and stanines from any data set for you. Download the sheet to get started. 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