The Quebec report card is read in four steps. First, you identify the subjects and their corresponding skills. Then, you look at the results and the class average. You read the teacher's comments. Finally, you compare it with the previous step to see the trend. A report card is not a verdict: it's a snapshot of the current stage, showing you where your child is and where to support them.
You have the report card in front of you and you're unsure about the percentages, skills, and weightings? That's normal. This guide explains each section in simple terms, with examples in French and math.
In a nutshell
- The report card is issued at the end of each of the three stages of the year, and it details the results. by competence, not just by material.
- Each skill has a Weighting : in French at the primary level, for example, "Reading" carries more weight than "Communicating orally".
- The ministerial exams account for 20% of the final result in primary school and in 2nd year secondary school, and 50% in 4th and 5th year secondary school.
- If a skill is weak from one stage to the next, speak to the teacher first, and then to the administration if necessary.
- Individual tutoring in French or mathematics can help your child regain confidence.
Table of contents
- What a Quebec newsletter contains
- Understanding the weightings
- The ministerial tests and the final result
- Read the teacher's comments
- Compare from one stage to the next
- What should be done if the report card shows difficulties?
- Our point of view: the newsletter, a starting tool
- Targeted support after reading the newsletter
- Supporting your child at home between report cards
- The most frequent reading errors
- FAQ
- Sources
What a Quebec newsletter contains
Since 2010, Quebec has been using a single report card for primary and secondary schooldesigned to track the child's progress and better understand assessment periods. Regardless of the school, the structure remains the same.
Le Regulations on the educational system It includes appendices that frame the content of the report card in elementary and secondary school (first and second cycles). Specifically, you will generally find the following there:
- Information about the student and the school : name, level, homeroom teacher, school year.
- Results by subject, with details by skill for the language of instruction, second language and mathematics.
- The group averagewhich allows us to situate your child's result.
- Comments from the teacher, on certain skills or on work and behavior.
The exact presentation varies from school to school, but these elements are common. For science subjects, some report cards even separate the theoretical and practical components.
Material, skill, result: which is what?
A in matters of (French, for example) is divided into skills : reading, writing, oral communication. Each skill receives a grade. The subject-specific grade is then calculated based on these skills, according to their weighting.
This is where many parents go wrong: an overall score of 72% in French can mask an 85% in reading and a 55% in writing. Always read the line for each skill before drawing any conclusions.
Understanding the weightings
In primary school, the report card indicates for each subject the skill assessed, its weighting in the final grade and the grade obtainedThe weighting tells you where an improvement will make the most difference.
French
In primary school (grades 1 and 2), the labels are "Reading" (50%), "Writing" (30%), and "Orally Communicating" (20%), according to the Ministry of Education.
In secondary school, from grades 1 to 4, The weightings are increased to 40% for "Reading", 40% for "Writing" and 20% for "Oral Communication"In 5th year of secondary school, "Writing" rises to 50% and "Oral communication" falls to 10%.
What this means for you: handwriting gains importance as your child progresses. A weakness in handwriting in elementary school, which is ignored, becomes more costly in secondary school.
Mathematics
In the first cycle of primary school, skills are weighted as follows: "Solving a problem situation" counts for 20% and "Reasoning using mathematical concepts and processes" for 80%, according to the same page of the ministry.
In short, at the beginning of primary school, mastering concepts and operations is paramount. Written problems (the famous problem-solving situations) become more important later. If your child performs well in "reasoning" but poorly in "solving," they understand the concepts but may be struggling to read the problem statement. In this case, the work often focuses on the... order : identify the action verb, underline the data, avoid trick words.
The ministerial tests and the final result
Some tests are common to all schools. Their weighting depends on the level:
| Level | Weight of the ministerial exam in the final result |
|---|---|
| Primary | 20% |
| 2th year of secondary school | 20% |
| 4th and 5th year of secondary school | 50% |
These figures come from the Ministry page on ministerial examinations.
How is the final result for 4th and 5th year of secondary school calculated?
For each targeted skill, The moderate school grade and the ministerial exam each account for 50% of the final result.If the test grade is higher than the school grade, only the test grade is counted. Therefore, a student who performs well on the test is not penalized for a weaker grade in the previous stage.
The same document specifies that passing a program in Secondary 4 and 5 requires a final grade of 60% or higher. Check this threshold for each subject, especially those that are prerequisites for other courses.
Read the teacher's comments
Comments are often more telling than numbers. In a report card template used by a school service center, Comments are planned on two of the four skills in stages 2 and 4.. So don't be surprised if a comment is missing at a stage: it's not an oversight, it's the way the bulletin is constructed.
When you read a comment, look for three things:
- A precise observation : "makes agreement errors", "has difficulty organizing his approach".
- An effort or an attitude : participation, autonomy, perseverance.
- A track : what the teacher suggests working on.
A general comment like "must continue his efforts" deserves a question for the teacher: on what, precisely, should the effort be focused?
Compare from one stage to the next
The school transmits a report card at the end of each of the three terms of the school yearThis service center indicates that the deadlines are November 20 for the first stage, March 15 for the second, and July 10 for the third. This may vary depending on the service center: consult your child's school calendar.
To identify a persistent difficulty, try this short exercise:
- For each skill, record the result of each step in a simple table.
- Circle the results that decrease or remain low two steps in a row.
- Compare with the group average: a significant and sustained difference is a signal.
- Find the same words in the comments from one step to the next ("standard spelling", "approach", "reading of the statement").
- Ask yourself if the difficulty affects a single skill or the entire subject matter.
An isolated decline, during periods of fatigue or after a change, is not necessarily worrisome. However, a weakness in the same skill at two or three stages requires action.
What should be done if the report card shows difficulties?
First reaction: breathe. Your child needs you to remain calm and encouraging. Then, follow the steps recommended by the CSSPO :
- Contact the teacher first. to obtain details on performance and behavior.
- Next, meet with management. to establish an intervention plan with the stakeholders and yourself.
- Last resortIf you are not satisfied with the services, you can request a review of the situation from the school service centre.
The network's resources also suggest Speak to the owner to be guided towards appropriate strategies and to seek support: homework help, study methods, support groups.
Four questions to ask the teacher
A meeting is being planned. The Pays-des-Bleuets school service centre proposes questions like these:
- What are the main difficulties my child is experiencing?
- Are there certain subjects or concepts that are more difficult for him despite his efforts?
- Do you have any strategies to recommend to help him overcome them?
- What can I do at home to support him in his learning?
Bring the report card, your small comparison chart, and one or two examples of your child's work. This will allow you to have a concrete conversation rather than a general exchange.
Our point of view: the newsletter, a starting tool
At Réussite A+, we read many report cards with parents. Our belief is simple: the report card tells the story. where to watch, and tutoring is used to act based on what we saw there.
When a parent writes to us, we start with the student's skills, not just their overall grade. A child who struggles with writing doesn't need the same sessions as a child who has difficulty with problem-solving. That's why our approach is personalized: the learning plan is tailored to each student's unique needs, in both French and mathematics.
With over 25 years of experience and more than 2500 students supported, we know that regular follow-up with a university-level tutor helps children regain confidence step by step. The best moment is the next report card, when the student sees their own progress.
Our advice: don't wait until the end of the year. As soon as a skill remains weak over two stages, take action, with the school and, if you wish, with appropriate online support.
Marie
Targeted support after reading the newsletter
Have you identified a skill you need to improve in French or math? At Réussite A+, our university-level tutors support elementary and high school students in Quebec online, with a plan tailored to their report card. Sessions are $30 to $35 per hour, with no subscription required, and you can start with a free trial. Our satisfaction guarantee includes a full refund of your first session if you are not satisfied.
Check out our regular tutoring and academic support sessions or, if an exam is approaching, our preparation for school examsThe registration fee of $65 is listed on the page of the exam preparation sessionFor students who want to make progress during the holidays, there is also the summer session.
Supporting your child at home between report cards
You don't need to do much. A few regular habits are better than a big cramming session the night before an exam.
- Read 15 minutes a day A novel, a comic strip, an article: reading carries significant weight in French.
- Review of the instructions : ask your child to underline the action verb and rephrase the question in their own words.
- Wordplay traps : identify with him the words that are misleading (“except”, “at least”, “at most”).
- Small victories Highlight every step forward, no matter how small. Confidence is a driving force.
- Fixed routine : same time, same place, no screens during homework.
And if the student is preparing for a secondary school entrance exam, plan ahead: a few weeks of regular practice will ease stress better than an intensive last-minute revision.
The most frequent reading errors
Look only at the overall result. As we have seen, a total can hide significant differences between skills.
Forget the group average. A score of 68% in a high-achieving group does not have the same meaning as in a group where the average is lower. The average helps to situate the child, but it is not used for comparison with other children.
Confusing stage and year. The results of one stage don't sum up the whole year: subsequent stages also matter. Check how the school presents the final result.
Ignore the ministerial tests. They account for 20% or 50% depending on the level, which changes the way we prepare for the end of the year.
Reacting with fear. A child who senses your anxiety will withdraw. Talk about strengths first, then one goal at a time.
FAQ
How many report cards does my child receive per year?
Three, one at the end of each term of the school year. A service center indicates deadlines no later than November 20, March 15, and July 10. Check the school calendar, as it may vary.
What does the group average on the report card mean?
It indicates the average result of students in the same group in the subject. It serves as a benchmark to situate your child. It is not a ranking, and it should be interpreted in conjunction with the teacher's comments.
At what point should we be concerned?
In grades 4 and 5, the ministry indicates that a final grade of 60% or higher is required to pass a program. More generally, it's the overall trend that matters: a weak skill level in two consecutive terms warrants a conversation with the teacher.
Who should I contact first if I'm worried about the report card?
Contact your child's teacher for further information. If difficulties persist, meet with the administration to develop an intervention plan. Review by the school board is a last resort.
Can tutoring help if the difficulty lies in writing or problem-solving?
Yes, that's precisely the advantage of starting with the skills listed in the report card. Here, a tutor works on the specific skill to be strengthened, in French as well as in mathematics, with regular monitoring of progress.
Sources
- School report cards and transcripts, CSS de l'Énergie
- Regulations on the Educational System, Legis Québec
- Weighting and wording of report cards in preschool and elementary school, Ministry of Education
- Weighting and wording of report cards in secondary school, Ministry of Education
- Regarding ministerial examinations, Ministry of Education
- Final results for Secondary 4 and 5, Ministry of Education
- 2025-2026 Grading Guide, Report Card Template
- Students with difficulties, CSSPO
- Finding help if you're having difficulties at school, My Secondary School
- Parent-teacher meeting: how to prepare well, CSS du Pays-des-Bleuets
