grade

Everyday

1. A grade is a year or class at school, like second grade (mostly in the USA and Canada; the UK says Year 2). tree →
2. A grade is a mark for your work, like a letter A to F or a score on a test. tree →
3. A grade is a level of how good or strong something is, like grade A eggs. tree →
4. To grade is to give marks to work, or to sort things by size or quality. tree →
5. A grade is also how steep a road or slope is. tree →

In the lessons

A school year (third grade), or a score to add, compare or average. In everyday life: report cards, letter grades. In science: sorting rocks by grade, a steep grade on a hill. Phrases: «in fourth grade», «get good grades», «make the grade», «grade school».

Examples

• There are 24 pupils in the second grade. tree →
• Her grades were 80, 90 and 70. tree →
• What is her average grade? tree →
• Each grade has 3 classes. tree →
• My sister is in fifth grade. tree →
• The teacher graded our spelling tests. tree →
• He got an A grade in science. tree →
• The truck drove slowly up the steep grade. tree →

Note

As a class, it is a group to count; as a score, grades are added, compared or averaged (sum ÷ how many). Trap: «third grade» is a name of a year, not the number 3 to calculate with. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the school years are called «Year» and marks are often «marks».