breakdown of marks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breakdown of marks" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe the way a student's grades are split up into individual categories or subjects. For example, "After working hard to achieve her goals, Sally was pleased to see the breakdown of marks showing she had received A-grades in all her subjects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is unlikely to receive the support of head teachers, who want a full breakdown of marks.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Their phones have been "ringing hot since 8am"... 12.19pm BST The people at the information commissioner's office have been in touch to remind students that they can use the Data Protection Act to access information held by their exam body about their grades, including a breakdown of their mark and examiner's comments.

The Guardian

· "Graduates" of the diploma would be given a transcript of their achievements, including a breakdown of individual module marks, which would be available to employers and universities online.

The Guardian

It represents an implicit breakdown of order, a marking of territory by gangs.

The Guardian - Opinion

A characteristic feature of apoptosis is the cumulative effects of biochemical and morphological changes which include cell-cycle arrest, halt DNA repair and homeostasis, inactivate apoptosis inhibitor proteins, and facilitate ultra-structural modifications, breakdown of cellular contents, and marking for death [96,102].

Nanoscale Research Letters

The fighting marks the breakdown of the deal over the Swat valley early this year, whereby the Taliban were allowed to bring in their local sharia courts and system of government in return for a ceasefire and disarming of their own militias, while the Pakistan army and frontier force withdrew.

The Guardian - Opinion

The current political turmoil marks the breakdown of an intergenerational bargain.

HuffPost

The breakdown of vegetables gave very high marks to consumers who increased their intake of tofu and soy.

Los Angeles Times

Her husband was also on that Crusade, which ended in failure and marked the breakdown of their marriage.

Independent

The battle marked a breakdown of a fragile equilibrium that had been established after Kurds and Turks, backed by the United States, helped Syrian rebels oust Islamic State jihadists from a border city last week.

Los Angeles Times

Oxfam said the announcement marked a "catastrophic breakdown of the world's collective responsibility to act". A number of questions followed: could aid donors have responded earlier?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "breakdown of marks", ensure the context clearly indicates what the marks pertain to (e.g., exam, assignment, project). For example, "The "breakdown of marks" for the final exam showed a strong performance in essay questions but weaker results in multiple-choice sections."

Common error

Avoid using "breakdown of marks" when a general "breakdown" (meaning failure or collapse) is intended. Ensure the context is specifically related to scores or grades, not a system or process failing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breakdown of marks" functions as a noun phrase, specifying the detailed distribution or segmentation of points or scores awarded in an assessment. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase accurately describes the division and analysis of grades.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breakdown of marks" refers to the detailed distribution or analysis of scores, commonly used in academic and assessment contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its frequency is relatively rare. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly relates to scores and grades. Alternatives like "mark distribution" or "grading rubric" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. While not exceptionally common, the phrase is widely understandable and appropriate for communicating assessment details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mark distribution

Focuses on how marks are spread across different components.

grading rubric

Emphasizes the criteria used for assigning marks.

score allocation

Highlights the process of assigning scores to different aspects.

mark allocation

Highlights the process of allocating marks to different aspects.

grade distribution

Focuses specifically on the distribution of grades.

detailed mark sheet

Suggests a document providing a complete record of marks.

mark analysis

Highlights the process of examining the marks.

detailed scoring report

Implies a formal document that details the scoring.

scoring matrix

Emphasizes a structured representation of scoring.

mark segmentation

Focuses on dividing marks into distinct segments or categories.

FAQs

How can I use "breakdown of marks" in a sentence?

You can use "breakdown of marks" to describe the distribution of scores in an assessment. For example: "The teacher provided a "breakdown of marks" to show how each section of the exam was graded."

What's an alternative to "breakdown of marks"?

Alternatives include "mark distribution", "grading rubric", or "score allocation", depending on the specific context you want to emphasize.

Is it better to say "mark breakdown" or "breakdown of marks"?

"Breakdown of marks" is generally preferred as it follows a more standard English grammatical structure. "Mark breakdown" could be understood but is less common and may sound less formal.

What does a "breakdown of marks" typically include?

A "breakdown of marks" typically includes the individual scores for different sections or criteria of an assessment, along with their relative weights, providing a clear view of how the final grade was calculated.