Engagement and Effort Report Card Comments, Grades 9-12
Engagement and effort is how a student takes part in class: joining discussions and activities, giving steady effort on classwork, quizzes and tests, asking questions out of curiosity, and turning in careful work rather than rushed work.
Below are 13 sample sentences for Grades 9-12: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Outstanding / Satisfactory / Needs improvement / Unsatisfactory), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 engagement and effort sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Outstanding · Satisfactory · Needs improvement · Unsatisfactory · Writing tips
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Outstanding O
Strengths
- [Name] approaches challenging material with curiosity and maturity, often pursuing questions beyond the scope of the assignment.
- Beyond the assigned material, [Name] independently looks into topics that interest [him/her/them] and brings new findings back to class discussions.
Next step
- [He/She/They] could take on a leadership role in a club, academic competition or student organization to share [his/her/their] drive with others.
Satisfactory S
Strengths
- [Name] shows interest in topics related to [his/her/their] college and career goals and often asks questions to learn more.
- Questions from [Name] are usually thoughtful and show that [he/she/they] can make connections between ideas.
Next step
- Setting a weekly study plan around tests would help [Name] protect study time alongside activities and other commitments.
Needs improvement N
Strengths
- In essays and projects, [Name] at times leaves out the depth and proofreading expected in high school work.
- [Name] is developing curiosity about new topics and at times asks questions that connect lessons to [his/her/their] own interests.
Next step
- Asking for feedback on a draft before the due date would help [Name] raise the depth and quality of [his/her/their] essays and projects.
Unsatisfactory U
Strengths
- Topics linked to [Name]'s career interests spark some curiosity, and we are working to connect more class material to those goals.
- Much of [Name]'s work is turned in incomplete or rushed, and we are practicing slowing down and checking each part.
Next step
- Connecting class assignments to [his/her/their] career interests, with help from the counselor, could give [Name] more reasons to stay engaged.
Support at home
- Watching the news, a documentary or a game together and talking about it afterward can spark questions that carry into class.
How to write engagement and effort comments for Grades 9-12
- Connect effort to the demands of high school courses, such as preparing for a seminar, completing optional practice before tests or taking on honors or AP-level work. Keep course names out and describe the work instead.
- Teenagers may participate in ways other than speaking: thoughtful written responses, contributions in a small group or questions by email. Credit those so a quieter student is described accurately and not judged only by hand-raising.
- Back up curiosity with one specific example, such as a question that pushed the discussion further, reading on a topic outside class or a project that went beyond the requirements. Older students value precise recognition over general praise.
Watch out: Writing needs to try harder. It sounds like a judgment of character and gives no direction. Say where effort drops, such as the second half of long assignments or test review days, and what would show more effort.
At Outstanding (4), use words like consistently, independently or without being asked; at Satisfactory (3), use usually, generally or with few reminders. At Needs improvement (2), say what happens sometimes or with reminders, and at Unsatisfactory (1), describe the behavior factually along with the support in place, such as daily check-ins. Do not write the mark name itself; describe the behavior behind it.
What Engagement and Effort covers
In these comments, engagement and effort covers these behaviours:
- participates actively in class discussions and activities
- gives consistent effort on classwork and assessments
- shows curiosity and asks thoughtful questions
- produces careful, high-quality work
More US grades 6-12 comments
- Engagement and Effort, Grades 6-8
- Work Completion and Time Management, Grades 9-12
- Organization and Preparation, Grades 9-12
- Responsibility and Self-Advocacy, Grades 9-12
- Self-Management and Growth Mindset, Grades 9-12
- Collaboration and Respect, Grades 9-12
- Opening and closing sentences
- All US grades 6-12 skills and grade bands
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How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.