Inklingo

How to Say "grade" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “grade” is “nota” — use 'nota' when referring to the mark or score a student receives on an assignment, test, or in a class..

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nota

NOH-tah/ˈno.ta/

nounA1academic
Use 'nota' when referring to the mark or score a student receives on an assignment, test, or in a class.
A bright gold star sticker placed prominently on a sheet of school paper, symbolizing a high academic grade.

Examples

Saqué una buena nota en el examen de español.

I got a good grade on the Spanish test.

Mi hermana sacó la nota más alta de la clase.

My sister got the highest grade in the class.

¿Qué nota necesitas para aprobar el curso?

What mark do you need to pass the course?

Use of 'Sacar'

To talk about receiving a grade, Spanish often uses the verb 'sacar' (to take out), which translates functionally to 'to get' or 'to earn' a score.

grado

GRAH-doh/ˈɡɾa.ðo/

nounA2academic
Use 'grado' to indicate a specific year or level within the school system, such as elementary, middle, or high school.
A small, cheerful child stepping onto the second step of a small, brightly colored staircase.

Examples

Mi hijo menor está en tercer grado.

My youngest son is in third grade.

Mi hija pasa a cuarto grado el próximo año escolar.

My daughter is moving to fourth grade next school year.

El segundo grado de primaria es fácil.

The second year of primary school is easy.

School vs. Score

Remember that 'grado' refers to the level of school (e.g., 5th year), while 'nota' or 'calificación' refers to the score you receive on a test (e.g., an A or a 90%).

año

/AN-yo//ˈaɲo/

nounA2academic
Use 'año' when referring to the academic year as a whole, often interchangeable with 'grado' but sometimes emphasizing the duration.
A small student character standing proudly on the second step of a colorful block tower, representing a specific school grade or academic year.

Examples

Este es mi último año de preparatoria.

This is my last year of high school.

Estoy en mi primer año de universidad.

I'm in my first year of university.

Mi hija pasa a segundo año el mes que viene.

My daughter is moving up to second grade next month.

punto

/poon-toh//ˈpun.to/

nounA2general
Use 'punto' specifically when talking about a single point as a unit of measurement within a score, especially in competitive contexts or percentages.
Two friendly cartoon figures playing a game. A large, stylized golden star token is floating above the winning figure, representing a scored point.

Examples

El partido terminó con un empate a noventa puntos.

The game ended in a ninety-point tie.

Nuestro equipo ganó por cinco puntos.

Our team won by five points.

Necesitas 80 puntos para aprobar el examen.

You need 80 points to pass the exam.

rango

RRAHN-goh/ˈraŋ.ɡo/

nounB1formal
Use 'rango' to describe a level of rank or status achieved, most commonly in professional or military contexts, not typically for school grades.
Three simple, stylized figures standing on a three-tiered pedestal, clearly illustrating a hierarchy or ranking system.

Examples

El oficial fue promovido a un rango superior.

The officer was promoted to a higher rank.

Ascendió rápidamente de rango dentro de la empresa.

He quickly rose in rank within the company.

El rango de coronel exige mucha responsabilidad.

The rank of colonel demands a lot of responsibility.

No importa tu rango social, todos son bienvenidos aquí.

Your social status doesn't matter; everyone is welcome here.

Masculine Noun Rule

Since 'rango' ends in -o, it is almost always a masculine word. Remember to use masculine articles like 'el' or 'un' before it.

School Year vs. Academic Mark

The most frequent confusion is between 'grado'/'año' (the school year/level) and 'nota' (the score received). Remember that 'grado' and 'año' refer to *when* you are in school, while 'nota' refers to *how well* you did on a specific task.

Related Translations

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