WA A–E Report Comment Language

The WA A–E scale in plain English

SCSA describes achievement on a five-point scale. Each grade indicates how well the student has achieved what is expected for their year level.

• A — Excellent achievement
• B — High achievement
• C — Satisfactory achievement (meets the achievement standard)
• D — Limited achievement
• E — Very low achievement

Before you write

• Check your school’s template for the year levels that receive letter grades; Pre-primary to Year 2 reports use achievement descriptors.
• Use the SCSA grade descriptions and your moderation evidence, not comparisons with other students.

A and B: Excellent and High achievement

Examples

• "[Student] demonstrates excellent achievement in English. They write with sophistication and independence, and apply what they have learned to new texts. Next steps include exploring how authors shape meaning for different audiences."
• "[Student] demonstrates high achievement in Mathematics. They solve multi-step problems accurately and explain their reasoning clearly. A next step is applying these strategies to open-ended investigations."

C: Satisfactory achievement

A C grade means the student has met the achievement standard at a satisfactory level. Say so confidently — it is a positive result.

Examples

• "[Student] demonstrates satisfactory achievement in Science. They plan and carry out fair tests and describe results using scientific vocabulary. Next steps include suggesting improvements to their investigations."
• "[Student] is achieving at the expected level in Humanities and Social Sciences, using sources to answer inquiry questions. Next steps include comparing information from more than one source."

D and E: Limited and Very low achievement

Examples

• "[Student] is demonstrating limited achievement in Mathematics at this stage. They solve one-step problems with support and are developing confidence with number facts. Targeted practice and regular check-ins will support their progress."
• "[Student] is working towards the expected standard in English and requires considerable support to read grade-level texts. With explicit teaching of decoding strategies and daily reading, they can build on their strengths in speaking and listening."

Tips for sensitive comments

• Lead with something the student can do, then name the gap.
• Describe the support in place and what families can do at home.
• Avoid labels such as “weak” or “poor”; describe the skill instead.