achieve top marks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "achieve top marks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing academic performance or evaluation, particularly in the context of grades or assessments. Example: "With hard work and dedication, she was able to achieve top marks in her final exams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I'm hoping to achieve top marks in my ASs, since they will play a crucial role in whether I get in to medical school or not".

The Guardian

Firstly, grade inflation over the past decade has made it difficult to distinguish between candidates who all achieve top marks in their final school examinations.

BMC Medical Education

Five months earlier, the team had followed the young earthquake survivor for several days to see how she managed to achieve top marks in school while living in a cramped shelter with her mother, brother and sister.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet despite the underrepresentation and the pay caps, women achieve tops marks in sales.

Forbes

Academically, he verges on genius too, achieving top marks at his private school in Bath with very little effort.

Independent

The Good Care Guide results reveal that children receive better quality of care than their elderly relatives, with 88% of nurseries and 91% of nanny agencies achieving top marks in terms of quality of care – in contrast to 78% of care homes.

The Guardian

The A-level league tables were again dominated by independent schools, headed by St Pauls' girls' school (SPGS) where 85% of pupils achieved top marks in the facilitating subjects prized by universities.

The Guardian

There will be less time for picking up part-time shifts, as I battle the stress of achieving top marks in the year that counts the most towards my degree.

The Guardian

Gove unveiled the changes on Monday after the number of children achieving top marks in their GCSEs climbed every year since O-levels were abolished and GCSEs launched in the late 1980s.

The Guardian

In 2013 Emmanuel Opoku, a student from Hackney in east London, was offered a place to study chemistry at Imperial College London after achieving top marks in his GCSEs and A-Levels.

Independent

Had medieval Britain been assessed by the IMF, it would have achieved top marks: taxes were low, monetary policy was stable, property rights were secure.None of this made much difference while Britain, like all other societies, found itself caught in the Malthusian trap.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing academic goals, use "achieve top marks" to clearly convey the aspiration for excellent grades. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "achieve top marks" when referring to non-academic achievements. The phrase is specifically associated with academic grading and performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "achieve top marks" functions as a verb phrase complemented by a noun phrase, denoting the action of attaining the highest possible grades or scores in an academic context. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "achieve top marks" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to denote the attainment of the highest possible grades or scores in an academic setting. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it is primarily used to express academic goals and aspirations. Alternative phrases include "attain highest grades" and "earn excellent grades". When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context of academic performance. The sources from Ludwig show its usage in news, science, and formal business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attain highest grades

Replaces "achieve" with "attain" and "marks" with "grades", emphasizing the attainment of high academic results.

obtain maximum scores

Uses "obtain" instead of "achieve" and "scores" instead of "marks", focusing on acquiring the highest possible scores.

earn excellent grades

Substitutes "achieve" with "earn", highlighting the effort involved in getting good grades.

secure top grades

Emphasizes the act of ensuring or securing the best possible grades.

get the best grades

A more informal way of saying "achieve top marks", using "get" instead of "achieve".

excel academically

Focuses on overall academic excellence rather than specific marks.

ace all exams

An informal expression meaning to do very well on all exams.

reach peak performance

Broadens the context to achieving the highest level of performance, not just in academics.

demonstrate mastery

Highlights the demonstration of skill or knowledge rather than the attainment of marks.

outperform peers

Focuses on performing better than others rather than achieving a specific standard.

FAQs

How can I use "achieve top marks" in a sentence?

You can use "achieve top marks" in a sentence to express the goal of getting the best possible grades. For example, "She studied diligently to "achieve top marks" in her final exams".

What are some alternatives to "achieve top marks"?

Some alternatives to "achieve top marks" include "attain highest grades", "obtain maximum scores", or "earn excellent grades".

Is "achieve top marks" formal or informal?

"Achieve top marks" is generally considered suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various types of writing and speech.

What is the difference between "achieve top marks" and "excel academically"?

"Achieve top marks" specifically refers to getting the best possible grades, while "excel academically" implies a broader sense of doing very well in all academic areas.