A report card (also called a marksheet or progress report) is the document that tells a family how a student did in a term or a year. Its format decides what parents notice: a single total, a subject-wise breakdown or a fuller picture of the child. This guide explains the building blocks of a report card and how to choose a layout.
The building blocks of a report card
- Student details: name, class and section, admission number, date of birth and the academic session.
- Subject-wise results: marks or grades for each subject, often split into theory and practical.
- Exam structure: unit tests, mid-term and final exams, shown separately or combined by weightage.
- Totals, percentage, grade and rank, if your school uses them.
- Co-scholastic areas: art, sports, discipline and personal qualities, usually graded rather than marked.
- Attendance for the term or year.
- Remarks from the class teacher, and signatures for the teacher, principal and parent.
Common layouts schools choose between
| Layout | What it shows | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Subject marks, total, percentage and grade in one table | Schools that want a simple one-page card |
| Term-wise | Each term's marks side by side, then the year | Schools that run two or three terms |
| Weighted | Combines unit tests and exams by set percentages | Schools that follow a weightage scheme |
| Grade-based | Grades and descriptors instead of marks | Primary classes |
| Landscape transcript | Wide layout with many columns | Higher classes with many components |
Boards describe their own marking schemes, and these change from time to time. Before you fix a format, check the latest circular from your board (CBSE, CISCE or your state board) and follow it for classes it covers.
Marks or grades?
Marks give precision and make ranking easy, but they can encourage comparison between children. Grades are gentler and suit younger students. Many schools use grades in the early classes and marks later. Whichever you choose, print the grading scale on the card so a parent can read it without asking.
A checklist for a good marksheet
- Is every student detail correct, including the spelling of the name?
- Are totals and percentages calculated by the system, not typed by hand?
- Is the exam weightage written on the card?
- Are co-scholastic areas and attendance included?
- Does it fit on a page when printed, with a clear space for signatures?
- Is the school's name, logo and session on the top?
- Can a parent also see the result in an app, so a lost paper card is not a lost record?
Beyond marks: the Holistic Progress Card
The National Education Policy 2020 recommends a fuller card that records competencies, skills and self and peer assessment alongside marks. Read our practical guide to the Holistic Progress Card to see how it differs.
How Eduzon handles report cards
Eduzon includes ready-made marksheet layouts, among them Classic, Multi-Term Weighted, CBSE Style, CBSE Term-Wise, ICSE Transcript, a West Bengal board style, State Board Weightage and Primary Progress. The system calculates totals and results from the marks entered, and results can be released to parents when the school is ready. Schools can also record personal-quality grades for the co-scholastic part and generate the Holistic Progress Card for the four PARAKH stages.
Frequently asked questions
What should a school report card include?
A good report card shows student details, subject-wise marks or grades, the exam structure, totals and percentage, co-scholastic grades, attendance, teacher remarks and signatures, along with the grading scale.
Should a report card show marks or grades?
Marks give precision, while grades are gentler and suit younger children. Many schools use grades in early classes and marks in higher classes. Print the grading scale on the card either way.
Which report card format should my school follow?
Follow the latest circular from your board for the classes it covers, and choose a layout that matches your term and weightage scheme. Check the format on a real class before the exam season.
