achievement gap

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A continuing difference in academic performance between groups of students, often linked to income, race, or language.

   Grammar: Often used with the definite article: the achievement gap between two groups.

   Patterns

   • the achievement gap between A and B
   • close the achievement gap
   • narrow the achievement gap
   • widen the achievement gap

   The school district is trying to close the achievement gap between wealthy and low-income students.

   Researchers studied the achievement gap in math and reading scores.

   Early childhood programs may help narrow the achievement gap.

2. 2nouncountable

   Any measurable difference in results or success between two groups in a particular area.

   Grammar: Used more generally outside education, for example in employment or health.

   Patterns

   • an achievement gap in something
   • the achievement gap between groups

   The report highlighted an achievement gap in promotion rates between departments.

   There is a wide achievement gap between the two regions in access to technology.

Word forms

Common combinations

close the achievement gap

The new tutoring program aims to close the achievement gap.

narrow the achievement gap

Reforms have helped narrow the achievement gap slightly.

widen the achievement gap

Online learning may widen the achievement gap for students without internet access.

the achievement gap between rich and poor

The achievement gap between rich and poor students remains a major concern.

Synonyms and how they differ

attainment gap

Common in British English and used in the same educational sense.

opportunity gap

This shifts the focus to unequal access to resources rather than the resulting difference in scores.

performance gap

A broader term used in business and sports as well as education.

Opposites

Word family

achieve verb

To succeed in reaching a goal through effort.

achievement noun

A success or something done well.

gap noun

A space or difference between two things.

Commonly confused: achievement gap or generation gap?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “achievement gap”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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