Full marks
n.joyful, capablewarm
What it means
The highest score or an expression of complete approval.
Reach for it when awarding the highest score or expressing complete approval
The apprentice earned full marks for her precise safety checks.
Choose between these
6- everyday
perfect score
every graded item was correct
not when Perfect score is literal and cannot express general approval.
- warm
high praise
strong commendation matters without a numerical result
not when High praise may still stop short of complete approval.
- warm
top marks
British-leaning praise should sound familiar
not when Top marks may mean excellent rather than the exact maximum.
- professional
complete approval
endorsement rather than grading is intended
not when The phrase lacks the light idiomatic warmth of full marks.
- professional
full credit
all available points are awarded for an answer
not when Full credit is assessment language and feels cold as personal praise.
- formal
performance reaches a named high classification
not when A distinction may sit below a perfect score and varies by system.
Said against
3- zero marks
- failure
- disapproval
It naturally appears in
3- earn full marks
The apprentice earned full marks for every safety check.
- give full marks
Reviewers give full marks to the clear access guide.
- full marks for effort
The volunteers deserve full marks for effort.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun phrase sense: maximum score or full praise opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.