Understanding school report cards in Quebec: a guide for parents

A parent and their teenager are looking at a school report card.

The Quebec report card looks like a table of numbers, but it can be read in a few minutes if you know where to look. It's divided into three sections. Each subject has a percentage score, compared to the group average. French and mathematics also have scores broken down by competency. The passing grade is 60%. Here's how to read it, step by step, and what to do next.

Réussite A+
Turn results into progress
Personalized online tutoring in French or mathematics can help your child target their academic needs.

Discover tutoring

In a nutshell

  • The report card is unique and common to primary and secondary schools since 2010. There are three stages in the year, weighted 20%, 20% and 60%.
  • Each subject displays a result as a percentage and the group average. In French and mathematics, you also see the breakdown by skill.
  • In secondary school, 60% is the passing grade. The teacher's comments (steps 1 and 3) often reveal more than the number itself.
  • A poor result is not the end of the world: identify the skill involved, talk to the teacher and target support where it counts.

Table of contents

What is the purpose of a school report card?

The report card is not a verdict on your child. It is a snapshot of their learning at a specific point in time. It reflects all the learning objectives outlined in the curriculum for each subject, as well as the knowledge and skills acquired. according to a school service center.

A single model has been used in Quebec's primary and secondary schools since 2010 (sourceWhether your child is in 3th or 4th grade, the logic remains the same. Only the subjects, weightings, and ministerial exams change.

If you are new to Quebec, be aware that some school service centres offer assistance. The Montreal School Service Centre offers explanations of the bulletin in several languages, ten in primary school and twelve in secondary school.

The three stages of the year and the submission dates

The school year is divided into three terms. At the end of each term, the school issues a report card. The submission deadlines are November 20th for the first stage, March 15th for the second, and July 10th for the third.These are deadlines: your school may send it earlier, so check their calendar.

Even before the first report card, you have two benchmarks:

  1. At the beginning of the yearYou will receive a document specifying the nature and timing of the main assessments, as well as the scheduled times for the ministerial tests.
  2. No later than October 15thAn initial written communication informs you about your child's learning and behavior (source).

This initial communication is not a numerical report. It serves as a gentle warning: if a challenge arises as early as October, you have time to act before the first stage.

The weight of each step

Not all results carry the same weight. The final result for the year is calculated using 20% for the first stage, 20% for the second, and 60% for the third.The ministerial exams also come into play in the 4th and 6th years of primary school and in the 2nd year of secondary school.

StageDelivery at the latestWeight in the final result
Step 1November 2020%
2nd stageMarch 1520%
3nd stageJuly 1060%

What this means for you: a disappointing first report card doesn't seal the year. There's still 80% of the result to build. Conversely, the third stage is crucial. It's the one you need to prepare for starting in March.

Read the bulletin, section by section

The report card contains several sections. Take them in this order, with your child if possible.

The result per subject and the group average

For each subject, a disciplinary result expressed as a percentage is indicated. as well as the group averageCompare the two.

  • Your child is above of average: he keeps up well with the pace of the class.
  • He's near From the average: everything is fine, monitor the trend from one stage to the next.
  • He's clearly below The average: this is the signal to look at the details by skill.

A group average is not the goal. A strong class makes comparisons harsher, a weaker class makes them more lenient. The most important thing is to track your child's progress from one stage to the next.

French and mathematics skills

Detailed results are assigned for each skill in French and mathematics, as well as in English as a second language, except in the first cycle of primary school (sourceIn secondary school, we also find a result by theoretical and practical component in scientific subjectsexcept in mathematics.

This is the most valuable part of the report card. A 68% in French says nothing about the cause. But if Reading is at 78% and Writing at 58%, you know exactly where to work: spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and text revision.

Note: at the end of the first two stages, the detailed results only cover the assessed skills or components. At the end of the third stage, they form an assessment of the entire programA stage 1 report card may therefore only display part of the skills: this is normal.

Teacher's comments

Feedback is provided in steps 1 and 3. This feedback relates to certain transferable skills and may also describe the child's strengths, progress, or challenges in the materials.

Read them first, before the numbers. A phrase like "has difficulty planning their work" or "participates little orally" often explains a result better than a percentage.

How French is weighted

The French result is not a simple average. It combines three skills, with weightings that vary according to the level. Here is what the Quebec government explains.

LevelRead moreTo writeCommunicating orally
1st and 2nd cycles of primary school50%30%20%
3rd cycle of primary school40%40%20%
Grades 1-440%40%20%
5th year of secondary school40%50%10%

Sources: weightings preschool and primary school et secondary school.

These percentages change how report cards are interpreted. In Secondary 5, writing accounts for half of the French grade. A student who is strong orally but weak in writing can therefore lose a lot of points. In elementary school, on the other hand, reading is dominant: a child who struggles with reading will see their overall grade drop, even if their writing is neat.

How French is weighted

The 60% threshold and ministerial examinations

In secondary school, the passing grade is 60% for each program. The high school diploma is awarded to the student who has achieved 54 units from the 4th and 5th years of secondary school, including at least 20 units from the 5th year of secondary school or vocational training.

In grades 4 and 5, the calculation of the final result has a particular feature. To pass a program and obtain the credits, the student must have a final result of 60% or higher, and The moderate school grade and the ministerial exam each count for 50%. of the final result.

Equal weighting between school grade and ministerial exam

In other words, the result recorded on the school report card is not always the final result. The last report card presents the results obtained at school for each program. without taking into account the results of the ministerial examinationsSo don't be surprised if the final statement differs slightly.

The tests mandated by the minister take place in grades 4 and 6 of elementary school, in grade 2 of secondary school, and in grades 4 and 5 of secondary school. A student cannot be barred from taking the tests due to repeated absences or poor results. according to the 2026-2027 annual instruction.

Follow the results online: Mozaïk and Clic école

You don't have to wait for the paper. Mozaïk Parent Portal brings together the agenda, homework and lessons, absences and tardiness, results, finances and messages (sourceDepending on your school service centre, you use Mozaïk or the Clic école application.

Clic école, developed by the Quebec government, allows to view report cards, report an absence, and access scheduled assessments and their resultsIts deployment is gradual: it is intended to eventually encompass 27 features, including a messaging service To speak with the school, ask your school administration what tools are in use at your school.

What to do after reading the report card: a 5-step mini-plan

A newsletter is meant to prompt action. Here's a simple, stress-free plan.

  1. Start with the positive. Name one success with your child, even a small one. They need to know that you see their efforts.
  2. Read the teacher's comments. Note the words that come up again: attention, organization, reading, trick words in the instructions.
  3. Identify the weakest skill. In the details of French or mathematics, look for the biggest gap with other skills.
  4. Ask the teacher a question. For example: "What is the most useful thing to work on from home in the coming weeks?"
  5. Set a realistic goal for the next step. Not "going from 62 to 85", but "rereading each dictation once" or "redoing the failed math problems".

For a child who reads instructions too quickly, a simple trick works well: underline the action verb, circle the tricky words ("except," "at least," "in total"), and rephrase the question in their own words before answering. Many lost points don't come from a misunderstanding of the subject matter, but from misreading instructions.

When to consider additional support

There are some signs that support can help:

  • the same weak result occurs in two steps in a row;
  • the gap with the group average is growing;
  • your child avoids a subject or gets discouraged easily;
  • A ministerial test or entrance exam is approaching.

The earlier we act, the more time there is for the third, most demanding stage to reflect the progress.

Our point of view

At Réussite A+, we see parents opening a report card every year with a knot in their stomach. Our advice is always the same: look at the details, not just the number.

An overall score of 65% can mask strong reading skills but weak writing. In this case, targeted writing and revision sessions are more beneficial than general remedial work. That's why our approach is personalized: the tutor starts with the report card, identifies the specific skill in question, and builds the sessions around it.

Our tutors are university-qualified, and our team draws on over 25 years of experience working with more than 2500 students. Our primary goal is for your child to regain confidence, because a student who understands is a student who dares.

And remember: the year hinges on three stages. It's rarely too late to change course.

Marie

Support that starts with the report card

If your child's report card shows an area for improvement in French or mathematics, we offer online tutoring for elementary and high school students in Quebec. Sessions are billed hourly, with no subscription required. tutoring and homework help $30 to $35 per hour. A one-time registration fee of $65 applies to certain sessions.

You can start with a free trial. And if you're not satisfied, our guarantee includes a refund for the first session.

Réussite A+

Depending on your needs, several options are available:

F.A.Q

What is the passing grade on the report card in Quebec?

In secondary school, the passing grade is 60% for each program, and this is also the threshold for obtaining credits in 4th and 5th year of secondary school (sourceThe diploma requires 54 units from the 4th and 5th years of secondary school, including at least 20 from the 5th year. For primary school requirements, please refer to your child's school's guidelines.

When do we receive the report cards?

The ballots must be submitted no later than November 20, March 15 and July 10 (sourceA first written communication will arrive before, at the latest by, October 15th. Your school specifies its own dates at the beginning of the year.

Is the result of the 3rd stage the final result for the year?

Not exactly. The year's result combines the three stages, at 20%, 20%, and 60%, and the provincial exams are added where applicable. The final report card shows the school's results without the provincial exams (source).

Where can I view my child's report card online?

Depending on your school service centre, you will access your account through the Mozaïk Parent Portal or the Clic école app, which allows you to view report cards. If you are having trouble finding your login details, the school secretary can help you.

My child has a low score: where do I start?

First, review the detailed breakdown by skill and the teacher's comments, then meet with them to identify a priority. Targeted support in French or math can then help your child regain confidence.

RRéussite A+
Let's talk about your child's results
Get in touch with Réussite A+ about personalized support in French or mathematics tailored to your child's needs.

Sources

Recent Posts