grades sought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grades sought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the specific academic grades or levels that a student or individual is aiming to achieve. Example: "In her application, she clearly stated the grades sought for her desired scholarship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The media took the bait, and when the measure was published even the BBC uncritically repeated the government line that: "Almost a quarter of England's sixth forms and colleges failed to produce any pupils with the top A-level grades sought by leading universities".

The Guardian

The tables, released on Thursday, showed almost a quarter of England's sixth forms and colleges had no pupils with the top A-level grades sought by leading institutions.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In order to reach a sense of peace about your grades, seek to determine how bad of an impact the grade or grades made on your overall college career at this stage.

WikiHow

Instead of getting upset, take a few deep breaths and look at the big picture, making concrete plans to remedy what you can fix: In order to reach a sense of peace about your grades, seek to determine how bad of an impact the grade or grades made on your overall college career at this stage.

WikiHow

Christine vowed at that instant to become an engineer, a goal that led her to write an essay in eighth grade seeking admission to a special STEM Sciencee, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) high school.

Forbes

The Harman mine produced a very high-grade coal sought by steel makers.

The New York Times

Spurred in part by the prospect of rising rates, investment-grade firms sought to, and were able to, complete very large bond offerings and permanently finance strategic transactions at historically low yields.

Columbia University

When correlates of histological grade were sought in gene expression profiles, most of the genes selected were those previously found in the proliferation signature [ 10, 11].

BMC Systems Biology

Given the biologic and clinical differences between the four subgroups defined by IDH status and grade, we sought to identify distinct prognostic factors within each subgroup and within the entire IDHmut and IDH wt groups.

Acta neuropathologica communications

Get good grades and seek and internship in the automotive industry while pursuing this degree.

WikiHow

The new system was designed to "allow everyone at the Institute to gain some experience with plus/minus grading, while seeking to alleviate the concerns of those worried about possibly increasing the pace and pressure and grade consciousness of our students," explained Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Nigel H.M. Wilson PhD '70, who chaired CAP last year.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grades sought", ensure the context clearly indicates who is seeking the grades and for what purpose. For instance, specify if it's for university admission, scholarships, or personal goals.

Common error

Avoid using "grades sought" in casual conversation. It's better suited for academic reports, formal applications, or analytical discussions where a degree of formality is expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grades sought" functions as a noun phrase, where "grades" is the noun and "sought" acts as a past participle adjective modifying it. This structure indicates the specific academic results that are being aimed for. Ludwig confirms the phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grades sought" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes specific academic achievements being pursued. Ludwig indicates the phrase is correct and clear. While not exceedingly common, it finds its niche in formal discussions, news reports, and analytical contexts. The phrase functions as a noun phrase, specifying the desired academic level. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying who is seeking the grades and for what purpose. Although the related phrases, such as "desired grades" and "target grades", can be used as alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desired grades

Focuses on the preference for certain grades without necessarily implying active pursuit.

target grades

Highlights the setting of specific goals for academic achievement.

grades aimed for

Emphasizes the direction of effort towards achieving certain grades.

grades pursued

Stresses the active effort and persistence in trying to obtain specific grades.

aspired grades

Indicates a high level of ambition and hope in relation to academic results.

grades strived for

Highlights the dedication and hard work invested in achieving certain grades.

grades intended

Focuses on the planned or expected academic outcomes.

grades wished for

Expresses a desire or hope for specific academic results.

grades fancied

An informal way of expressing a liking or preference for particular grades.

grades fancied

An informal way of expressing a liking or preference for particular grades.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "grades sought" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "desired grades", "target grades", or "grades aimed for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "grades sought after"?

While grammatically understandable, "grades sought after" is less common and may sound slightly awkward. "Desired grades" or "grades pursued" are generally better choices.

What does "grades sought by leading universities" mean?

It refers to the specific A-level results (or equivalent qualifications) that top-tier universities require for admission. It highlights the high academic standards these institutions expect from applicants.

In what contexts is "grades sought" most appropriate?

The phrase "grades sought" is most suitable in formal contexts such as academic reports, university admissions discussions, or when analyzing educational performance data. It is less appropriate for casual conversation.