Candidate Benchmark

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Candidate Performance Benchmark helps you understand how candidates perform compared to others who have attempted the same questions. It calculates a candidate’s percentile based on their score compared to all other test-takers during the last calendar year. This method provides a standardized way to understand performance regardless of question difficulty or test composition.

Note:

  • Benchmark applies only to tests that include questions with at least 500 attempts during last calendar year.

  • Benchmark is not available for tests that used AI assistance in the the last calendar year.

Benchmark supports both Library and Custom questions. It is updated periodically (yearly) to maintain stability while incorporating new results.

Key benefits

Candidate Benchmark offers the following benefits:

  • Relative performance insights: View candidate score with a broader pool of test-takers who attempted the same questions.

  • Percentile rankings: Identify top performers using percentile ranks to understand where candidates stand compared to their peers.

  • Data-driven decisions: Make informed hiring choices by combining relative performance insights with traditional scoring

Viewing Benchmark data

To view Benchmark data:

  1. Log in to your HackerRank for Work account using your credentials.

  2. Go to the Tests tab.

  3. Open the test you want to review.

  4. Go to the Candidates tab.

  5. Click a candidate's name to open the Summary Report. The Benchmark section in the Summary Report shows the candidate’s percentile ranking. For example, 85th percentile or 99th percentile.

    bENCHMARK (1).png

Note:

  • Benchmark data is visible only to recruiters and hiring managers. Candidates cannot view this information.

  • Raw scores remain unchanged. Benchmark provides additional insight without altering evaluation criteria.

For more information on Candidate Benchmark, contact support@hackerrank.com.