a passing grade

USAGE SUMMARY

'a passing grade' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to the minimum grade needed to pass a class or a course. For example, "I'm hoping to get at least a passing grade in this final exam".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

What's the right cutoff score for a passing grade?

The New York Times

On the licensing exam, a passing grade is 70percentt.

The New York Times

I'd give it a passing grade, but we still have a lot more work to do".

The New York Times - Sports

"The movie gets just a passing grade," one commentator on the Chinese Web site Sina.com said.

The New York Times

"I would give them a passing grade, given where they are starting from".

The New York Times

Maybe it was a C− sort of life, but that was a passing grade".

The New York Times - Books

This week, let's make Bill proud and aim for a passing grade.

The New Yorker

The country's next installment of bailout money will depend on his getting a passing grade.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Especially if you're trying to get a passing grade on that Econ exam.

Huffington Post

Will the stress test results make it easier to get a loan from a bank that got a passing grade?

Huffington Post

Sometimes, administration would pressure teachers to give students a passing grade, Powell said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a passing grade" not only in academic contexts but also in other situations where a minimum requirement must be met, such as environmental impact assessments or project evaluations.

Common error

Avoid using "a passing grade" when you actually mean a good or excellent grade. "A passing grade" simply indicates the minimum required for success, not necessarily high achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passing grade" functions as a noun phrase, where 'passing' acts as an adjective modifying 'grade'. It signifies the minimum acceptable standard of achievement in an assessment. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a passing grade" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that signifies meeting the minimum acceptable standard in an evaluation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It's particularly prevalent in academic settings but extends to other areas where a threshold needs to be met. While "a passing grade" simply indicates that a minimum has been met, it is crucial to distinguish it from a 'good' or 'excellent' grade. Alternatives like "satisfactory mark" or "sufficient score" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. The phrase is found most frequently in News & Media and Science sources, indicating its widespread understanding and application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a satisfactory mark

Replaces "grade" with "mark" indicating a level of achievement.

a sufficient score

Substitutes "passing" with "sufficient", focusing on meeting the minimum requirement.

a qualifying grade

Uses "qualifying" instead of "passing", emphasizing the achievement of a required standard.

a minimum acceptable grade

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the grade is both minimum and acceptable.

a grade of pass

Reorders the words slightly while retaining the core meaning.

a credit-worthy grade

This implies that the grade is good enough to receive credit for the course.

a grade that meets the standard

Focuses on meeting a predefined standard, rather than simply 'passing'.

a grade ensuring progression

Emphasizes that the grade allows for advancement to the next level.

the lowest passing score

Specifies that the grade is the lowest possible score to still pass.

achievement of minimum requirements

Describes the act of achieving the lowest requirements instead of the grade itself

FAQs

How is "a passing grade" typically used in a sentence?

You can use "a passing grade" to describe whether someone has met the minimum requirements in an academic context, such as "She needs "a passing grade" to graduate" or "He was happy to receive "a passing grade" on the difficult exam".

What's an alternative to saying "a passing grade"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "satisfactory mark", "sufficient score", or "qualifying grade". All imply meeting a minimum threshold.

Is it better to say "passing grade" or "passing mark"?

Both "passing grade" and "passing mark" are acceptable, but "passing grade" is more commonly used in the United States. "Passing mark" is more common in other English-speaking countries.

Can "a passing grade" be used outside of academic settings?

Yes, "a passing grade" can be used metaphorically in non-academic contexts to indicate that something meets a minimum standard or requirement. For example, "The project received "a passing grade" from the environmental impact assessment".