Passing marks 33%. A student gets 80, fails by 19. Total marks?

Explanation

• Failing by 19 marks means the pass mark is 80 + 19 = 99.
• The pass mark is 33% of the total, so 0.33M = 99 and M = 99 ÷ 0.33 = 300.
• Check it: 33% of 300 is 99, and the student’s 80 falls 19 short of that.
• The 19 marks are added to the student’s score, not subtracted, because the student was below the pass mark.
• Had the question said the student passed by 19, the pass mark would instead be 80 − 19 = 61.