notation
/nɔ.ta.sjɔ̃/
The English phrase "grading" translates to French as notation.
The noun notation is used to describe the act of assigning marks or grades to a student's work. It is derived from the verb noter, which is the standard way to say "to grade" or "to mark" an assignment in a school context.
Which one should you use?
While the English word "grading" can refer to the general act of assigning a grade, the French term la notation specifically refers to the system or the actual act of assigning marks or grades to a student's work.
How do you pronounce it?
/nɔ.ta.sjɔ̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using le grade to refer to a student's grade (such as an A or a score). In French, un grade refers to a professional rank or a military grade.
Did you know?
- In France, the notation system typically uses a scale of 0 to 20 rather than letters or percentages. A score of 10 is the passing mark, but getting a 20 is extremely rare as it represents absolute perfection.
- In the French education system, the notation often includes a written comment called appréciation. These comments are sometimes more important than the numerical mark for a student's final report.
- In some French-speaking regions, the notation is discussed using the term bulletin to refer to the report card. While English uses 'bulletin' for news, in French it is the physical record of all your grades.
Examples in context
- Mon professeur a terminé l'évaluation des examens.My teacher has finished grading the exams.
- Le système de notation est basé sur une échelle de 0 à 20.The grading system is based on a scale from 0 to 20.
- Le professeur a passé des heures à corriger les copies des élèves.The teacher spent hours grading the students' papers.
- J'espère que le professeur va bien me noter pour mon dernier devoir.I hope the teacher will give me a good grade for my last assignment.
- Comment est-ce que tu t'es évalué après l'exposé?How did you grade yourself after the presentation?
- La notation des examens est très stricte.The grading of the exams is very strict.
- La notation est très importante pour l'examen.The grading is very important for the exam.
- Le professeur utilise une notation standard.The teacher uses a standard grading system.
- Il y a une notation stricte pour ce cours.There is a strict grading system for this course.
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their returned tests.
- NathanLéa, as-tu vu la notation du test ?Léa, did you see the grading of the test?
- LéaOui, Nathan, je trouve ça injuste.Yes, Nathan, I find it unfair.
- NathanMoi aussi, la notation est trop dure.Me too, the grading is too harsh.
- LéaOn devrait en parler au professeur.We should talk to the teacher about it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry notation, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
