Final answer:
The required percentage to pass a knowledge test varies and is defined by the specific test or subject. A common passing score is around 70%, but this can differ based on the test's criteria or educational standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage needed to pass a knowledge test can vary greatly depending on the subject and the criteria set by the educational institution or certifying authority. Generally, a score of 70% or above is considered a passing grade for many standardized tests and classroom exams. However, this is not a universal standard. For example, a 2012 survey revealed that only one-third of Americans could pass the civics portion of the U.S. citizenship test. Meanwhile, immigrants have a 97.5% pass rate on the same test. In another scenario, a college statistics professor claimed that 68 percent of his students pass the final exam, implying that this percentage is the minimum passing criterion for that particular course.
Specific examples illustrate how the required passing percentage can be referenced - the null and alternative hypotheses in statistical testing predictions, interpreting percentiles in the context of test scores such as the 70th percentile corresponding to 16 correct answers out of 20, or calculating probabilities of passing a test based on random guessing on a true-false quiz.