attainment

Everyday

1. (formal) Attainment is reaching a goal or getting something after effort. tree →
2. (formal, school) Attainment is how much a pupil has learned or achieved, often measured by tests and grades. tree →
3. An attainment is a skill or achievement someone has gained. tree →

In the lessons

It is mainly an official school word: teachers and reports talk about «pupils' attainment» and «attainment targets». In the stiff exam voice, «the attainment of the objective» means reaching the goal. In everyday life people say «results» or «what you've achieved». Phrases: attainment target, high attainment, the attainment of, levels of attainment.

Examples

• The report showed good attainment in maths. (formal) tree →
• Reading every day helps raise attainment. tree →
• The attainment of her goal took years of practice. tree →
• The school measures attainment with tests each term. tree →
• Swimming a mile was his proudest attainment. tree →
• Attainment rose from 60% to 75%, a rise of 15 percentage points. (formal) tree →

Note

Formal word. The verb is «attain» (reach, achieve). «Attainment» is about level reached; «achievement» is very close and more common in everyday speech. In maths reports, a rise in attainment from 60% to 75% is 15 percentage points, not 15%.