Meaning & use
aggregate scores
Last updated
“aggregate scores” is a form of “aggregate score”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralsport
The total results of several games or rounds added together to decide a winner.
Grammar: Often used with over: aggregate scores over two legs.
Patterns
- aggregate scores over something
Arsenal went through on aggregate scores of 4-3.
The aggregate scores were level after both matches, so extra time was played.
Judges compare the aggregate scores of the two teams.
nounplural
Combined numbers formed by adding or averaging separate marks, such as test results from different parts of an assessment.
Grammar: Often followed by of or from: aggregate scores from several tests.
Patterns
- aggregate scores from something
Schools publish aggregate scores for each year group.
The aggregate scores rose after the new curriculum began.
Researchers compare aggregate scores across the three surveys.
Common combinations
- calculate aggregate scores
- The software will calculate aggregate scores automatically.
- high aggregate scores
- Students with high aggregate scores won places at the school.
- average aggregate scores
- The average aggregate scores were slightly lower this year.
- aggregate scores across tests
- Aggregate scores across tests gave a fuller picture.
Synonyms and how they differ
- totals
- Totals is a plain word for added-up numbers, but aggregate scores stresses that several results were combined.
- combined scores
- Combined scores sounds more casual and does not carry the sport sense of two-legged ties.
- overall scores
- Overall scores can be a single judgment, while aggregate scores always come from adding parts.
Opposites
Word family
- aggregate noun
- a total formed from parts
- aggregate verb
- to gather into a total
- aggregation noun
- the process of collecting into a whole
- aggregator noun
- a site or tool that collects information
Commonly confused: aggregate scores or average scores?
aggregate scores vs average scores
An average is the total divided by the number of items, while an aggregate is simply the total.
Practice
The teams drew 1-1 in both matches, so the aggregate scores were ___.
Choose one answer.
Aggregate scores add the results of both matches: 1+1 for each side gives 2-2. The option 1-1 is tempting but describes only one match.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aggregate scores”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.