total marks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "total marks" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in academic contexts to refer to the overall score or points achieved in an assessment or examination. Example: "The total marks for this exam are 100, and students must score at least 50 to pass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Last year's total marks an increase of 14% from 2010.

The Guardian

In one case, in a 2008 paper, a quarter of the total marks were related to GCSE-level questions.

The Guardian

Salé and Pelletier, on the other hand, received total marks of 11.6 through 11.8 and a median mark of 11.7.

The New York Times - Sports

At the Olympics, five of the nine judges placed the Russian pair of Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze first in the pairs free skate; they received total marks of 11.5 through 11.7 and a median mark of 11.6.

The New York Times - Sports

The coding we performed produced practically the same new drivers and the distribution of the total marks was also quite similar.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

The review also identified an error in adding up the total marks on two candidates' papers, which WJEC has since corrected and communicated to the relevant centres.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

If two skaters have the same median total mark, some form of tie breaker is needed.

The New York Times - Sports

The total marked the most points that Michigan State had surrendered in a first half this season.

The New York Times - Sports

His victory total marked the fifth time in his career that he gained at least 15 victories -- his high was 18 in 1993 -- but the first since 1995.

The New York Times - Sports

However, a high score on the GMAT, which has a maximum total mark of 800, is considered to be vital in gaining access to prestigious schools.

The Economist

Because skaters are marked to only the nearest one-tenth of a point and the difference between successive places is frequently about one-tenth of a point, use of the median total mark alone produces a large number of ties.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing academic assessments, use "total marks" to clearly indicate the sum of all points or scores obtained. This avoids ambiguity and aligns with common academic language.

Common error

Avoid using "total marks" when referring to the score of a single section or component of an assessment. Always clarify whether you're discussing the overall score or a specific part's score to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total marks" functions as a noun phrase that acts as the subject or object in a sentence, representing the overall score or points received. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, mainly in academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total marks" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase, particularly within academic, scientific, and news reporting. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is effective for referring to the overall score in an assessment. Alternatives such as ""overall score"" or "cumulative score" can be used, though "total marks" remains a clear and direct choice. When using the expression remember to clearly indicate whether it is the score of a single section of the assessment or the overall to prevent misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall score

Focuses on the aggregate score, simplifying the terminology.

cumulative score

Emphasizes the accumulation of points, offering a more descriptive alternative.

aggregate marks

Uses 'aggregate' to convey the combined nature of the marks.

total score

A shorter version that is commonly used and easily understood.

final score

Highlights that the score is the concluding result.

combined marks

Stresses the combination of individual marks into a single value.

sum of marks

Rephrases the concept as an arithmetic sum.

total points

Substitutes "marks" with "points", providing a common synonym.

overall points

Combines "overall" to emphasize the final result and "points" as a synonym.

composite score

Uses "composite" to indicate a score made of multiple components.

FAQs

How can I use "total marks" in a sentence?

You can use "total marks" to refer to the overall score achieved in an exam or assessment. For example, "The "total marks" for the final exam are 100."

What's a simple substitute for "total marks"?

A simple substitute for "total marks" is "overall score", which also refers to the final score achieved.

Is there a difference between "total marks" and "final grade"?

"Total marks" refers to the sum of all scores, while "final grade" is the letter or numerical grade assigned based on the "total marks" and grading criteria.

Which is more appropriate, "total marks" or "total points"?

Both "total marks" and "total points" are acceptable, depending on the context. "Marks" is common in British English and academic contexts, while "points" is commonly used in American English.