ahava_yin  +  607205 Sun, 07 Dec 08 09:28 AM Hi, Students must get three A levels with good passes. Does "passes" here mean good marks? Thank you! ahava_yin Joined on Thu, Sep 9 2004 Full Member 335 Hi, I'm learning English. Your notes help me a lot. I love the forum. Students

	Avangi  +  607215 Sun, 07 Dec 08 10:12 AM I would say, "yes," but it seems a little strange.  I haven't heard it used in quite this way before.  It's hard to imagine getting three A levels with BAD passes.  ("A pass" would be opposed to "a fail.")  If we throw in some percentage scores, let's say in a particular system "D" is considered passing, at 60%, and "E" is considered failing.  "A" at 90% would have to be considered a pretty good grade/score/mark.  Perhaps "A level" means something special that I don't know about.  Or perhaps "good passes" means something special that I don't know about.  I should think it would be more natural to say, "To be considered for X, students must pass three courses with high A's."  That is, eg., 97%.  (Or, in three different terms (ranking periods) for the same course, the student must pass the term with high A's.) It comes down to, What is common practice in the system to which this applies? Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,207 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Students

	ahava_yin  +  607300 Sun, 07 Dec 08 01:22 PM Hi Avangi, Thank you so much for your help. The sentence comes from an article discussing the change of students, who are getting more serious about their studies because they want to get into university and have a promising future with good educational background. Your explaination is truely helpful. Thanks again. ahava_yin Articles, Universities, Sentences, Schools, Students

	nona the brit  +  607730 Mon, 08 Dec 08 01:04 AM 'A Level' - this is the name of a type of academic qualification (exam) taken at age 18. It isn't a grade. In the UK, these are the exams you need to get into university.  They do have a very confusing name if you don't know about them, I must admit. A Levels come in grades A - E. Generally a C or above is considered a pass. A 'good' pass I would assume to be either an A or B grade, but it isn't entirely clear. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all. Universities, Schools, Students

	Avangi  +  607738 Mon, 08 Dec 08 01:19 AM Hi, Nona.  Thanks for the help.  I hope the poster sees your reply promptly. So there's no such thing as a "B Level"?? And you can take / are required to take a number of them, so that three (out of how many?) may be with good passes?? Thanks again.   - A. Avangi Writing

	Grammar Geek  +  607743 Mon, 08 Dec 08 01:26 AM At Hogwarts, they have OWLS, which are O-levels, right? :) Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Avangi  +  607768 Mon, 08 Dec 08 02:09 AM That's gotta be an inside joke! Avangi

	ahava_yin  +  608203 Mon, 08 Dec 08 12:20 PM Thank you all. Today when I tried to explain the sentence, I suddenly realized it refers to "Advanced" Level. Thank you for your help! ahava_yin Sentences