Report Card
ri-PORT KARD
/rɪˈpɔːrt kɑːrd/
A formal document issued by a school to parents or guardians, detailing a student's academic performance and progress over a specific period.
It's a summary document, often including grades, attendance, and teacher comments, providing a holistic view of a student's standing.
The story behind the word. The term 'report card' is quite straightforward, a compound of 'report' and 'card.' 'Report' comes from the Old French 'reporter,' meaning 'to carry back' or 'to tell,' reflecting its purpose of conveying information. 'Card' simply refers to the stiff piece of paper it was historically printed on. Together, they form the familiar document that 'reports' a student's progress on a 'card.'
Word relationships
- Progress report: Often used interchangeably, but 'progress report' can sometimes be less formal or issued more frequently than a 'report card'.
- Grade report: Similar to 'report card' but might emphasize only the grades, whereas 'report card' often includes other details.
Commonly confused with
- Transcript: A 'report card' is typically for K-12 and covers a single period; a 'transcript' is a cumulative, official record for all academic history, especially in higher education.
Collocations
- receive report card
- quarterly report card
- good report card
- bad report card
Example sentences
- "My parents always reviewed my report card carefully, paying close attention to both my grades and teacher comments." Every quarter, parents eagerly awaited the arrival of their child's report card to see their academic progress.
- "The new report card system provides a more comprehensive overview of student progress, beyond just numerical grades." The school district decided to update the format of the report card to include more detailed information on social-emotional learning.
Memory hook
It's a 'card' that 'reports' your school 'grades.' Grades on a card
When not to use
Do not use 'report card' for informal feedback or for official academic records beyond K-12 schooling; 'transcript' is used for higher education.
Fun facts
- Early report cards were often handwritten notes or oral reports from teachers to parents.
- Some modern schools are moving towards digital report cards, accessible online, reducing paper waste.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.