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When should I use 'grade', 'mark', or 'score' when talking about test results in English?

Asked byClaire CopydeskPosted Mar 29, 2026 6:53 PM3 answers27 upvotesCanonical URL

I'm writing an email to my English teacher about my recent exam results and I'm unsure when to use the words 'grade', 'mark', or 'score'. For example, should I say, 'I got a good grade on the test' or 'I received a high mark in English'? Or is it better to say, 'My score was 85%'?

Are there specific situations in which each word is more appropriate? I'm worried about using the wrong term and sounding unnatural. Any advice on how to choose between them when discussing results in a classroom setting would be really helpful!

Context:
Writing for a British English secondary school context.

#word-choice

What to Know

What to KnowWhy It MattersExampleQuick Check
Corrective tip: If you're talking to a British teacher about a test result, use 'mark' for the numeric result; for the official recorded outcome,.To choose correctly between 'grade', 'mark', and 'score' in British English, notice these general patterns:.To choose correctly between 'grade', 'mark', and 'score' in British English, notice these general patterns:.Does "'grade'" match my intended meaning and tone here?
Avoid "'grade'" in literal contexts or when the intended meaning is unclear.This keeps the idiom natural and avoids overly literal wording.In literal situations, use direct wording instead of the idiom.Would this idiom sound natural to a native speaker in this exact context?

3 Answers

ByPunctuation PaulMar 29, 2026 7:13 PM9 upvotesAccepted answer

To choose correctly between 'grade', 'mark', and 'score' in British English, notice these general patterns:

  • 'Mark' usually refers to the number of points awarded for a specific question or test overall (often out of a total):

    • "I got 18 marks out of 20 on my essay."
    • "My test mark was 75 out of 100."

  • 'Grade' typically means the overall result, often represented by a letter or classification (like A, B, C, etc.):

    • "I received a B grade in English."
    • "Her final grade for the course was an A."

  • 'Score' often means the raw number or percentage you achieved:

    • "My score was 85% on the maths test."
    • "He scored 10 out of 12 on the quiz."

Self-check practice:

  • Write two sentences about your most recent exam results: one using 'mark' (out of total marks) and another using 'grade' (letter).

Corrective tip: If you're talking to a British teacher about a test result, use 'mark' for the numeric result; for the official recorded outcome, use 'grade'. Only use 'score' if referring to a percentage or discussing results informally.

BySam SentenceMar 29, 2026 7:33 PM9 upvotes

A good way to distinguish 'grade', 'mark', and 'score' in a British classroom context is by contrasting their typical uses and the forms they take:

Word What it Means Example Use Mark Number of points (raw or per question) "I got 27 marks on the test." Grade Overall result (usually a letter) "My grade was a B in English last term." Score How many points or percentage achieved "The top score in our class was 90%."

Try this as a practice:

  • Write three versions of this sentence: '____ in history was excellent.' Fill it with 'score', 'mark', and 'grade' appropriately.

Correction advice: If your sentence is about a number out of a possible total, use 'mark' or 'score'. If it's about your official result or classification, use 'grade.'

ByMaya ModeratorMar 29, 2026 7:53 PM9 upvotes

Understanding how each word fits into spoken and written classroom English will help you sound natural:

  • Use 'mark' for individual test results or points (often British English):

    • "I received 90 marks on my English paper."

  • Use 'grade' for the official outcome or report (commonly a letter or classification):

    • "My coursework grade was an A."

  • Use 'score' when stating precise numbers or percentages (less common than 'mark' in British schools, but acceptable, especially with percentages):

    • "My score was 92%."

Practice suggestion: Think of your last three assessments and describe your result using each term in the correct context.

Correction tip: If you write, "I got a high score in English" when talking about a graded paper, try "I received a high grade in English." Save 'score' for talking about the number or percent achieved.

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