Absence Rates Attendance (Individual) Calculator FAQ
Answers to common questions about individual attendance percentages, absence rates, targets, inputs, and calculation limits.
Use these answers to understand what to enter, how the results are calculated, and why an organisation's reported figure may differ from a general estimate.
General attendance questions
Basic definitions and suitable uses for the calculator.
What does this individual attendance calculator measure?
It estimates attended days, attendance percentage, absence percentage, and the difference from a target for one person.
Who can use an individual attendance calculation?
It can be used for a personal, student, pupil, or employee record where day-based attendance data is available.
What period should I use?
You can use any defined period, such as a week, month, term, or year, as long as both inputs cover the same dates.
Inputs and calculation
How scheduled days, absence days, and targets are used.
What counts as a scheduled day?
A scheduled day is a day when the individual was expected to attend under the relevant timetable, contract, or schedule.
Should weekends and holidays be included?
No. Include only days the person was expected to attend.
Can absence days include decimals?
Yes. A value such as 0.5 can represent a half-day if partial days are included in the records you are using.
How is attended days calculated?
The calculator subtracts absence days from scheduled days.
Targets and results
How to interpret percentages and the target comparison.
What is the difference from target?
It is the attendance rate minus the target attendance rate, shown in percentage points.
Does the target change the attendance percentage?
No. The target only provides a comparison with the calculated attendance rate.
What does a positive target difference mean?
It means attendance is above the target entered.
Can attendance be above 100%?
No. This calculator caps the attendance rate at 100%.
Accuracy and reporting
Reasons a reported attendance figure may differ.
Will this match an official school or workplace attendance figure?
It may not. Reporting rules can differ for authorised absences, exclusions, lateness, partial days, and other categories.
Do authorised absences count?
That depends on the reporting policy. Enter the absence days that should be included for your intended comparison.
What if absence days are higher than scheduled days?
Check the records and date range. The calculator caps percentage results to prevent values outside the 0% to 100% range.
How is an individual attendance rate calculated?
Subtract absence days from scheduled days, divide by scheduled days, and multiply by 100.
Explore Related Questions
Ready to see what you can calculate?
Open the calculator and get personalized results in seconds.