Meaning & use
an A grade
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Meanings
phrasecountable
The highest mark a student can get in a test or course, usually shown as the letter A.
Grammar: Used with 'get', 'receive' or 'earn'; the article 'an' comes before the vowel sound of 'A'.
Patterns
- get an A grade
- an A grade in something
- earn an A grade
She got an A grade in chemistry last term.
To enter the program you need at least an A grade in math.
He was disappointed because he wanted an A grade but got a B.
phrasecountablefigurative
A top-quality result or performance in any activity, not only schoolwork.
Grammar: Often used figuratively after verbs like 'deserve' or 'give'.
Patterns
- deserve an A grade
- give someone an A grade for something
The team deserves an A grade for finishing the project early.
If you want my honest opinion, that presentation was an A grade.
Common combinations
- get an A grade
- Most students in the class got an A grade.
- an A grade in math
- He needs an A grade in math for the scholarship.
- earn an A grade
- You can earn an A grade with steady work.
- an A grade student
- She has been an A grade student since primary school.
Synonyms and how they differ
- top mark
- More general and used in British schools; it does not name the letter.
- perfect score
- Refers to getting every point right, which may or may not be an A grade.
Opposites
Word family
- grade noun
- A mark or level showing quality or performance.
- grading noun
- The process of giving marks to work.
Commonly confused: an A grade or a grade?
an A grade vs a grade
Without the capital letter, 'a grade' can mean any level or slope, as in 'a grade of ten percent'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'an A grade' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'An' is used before the vowel sound in 'A', so 'an A grade' is correct. 'A A grade' is wrong because two vowel sounds clash, and 'a grade A' puts the words in the wrong order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “an A grade”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.