Many people think that an academic transcript and a report card are one and the same, but these designations actually refer to two documents that are related, although different.

Let’s take a look at what makes them different.

What is an academic transcript?

An academic transcript is an official document issued by a recognized academic institution that lists what a student has learned.

It bears the logo and the contact information of the issuing institution, together with the date of issue, and information about the student’s name and address, date of birth, ID number and permanent code.

In many cases, the transcript will bear the official seal and signature of the registrar, certifying that it is a true copy of the original.

What about semantics?

According to the second edition of the Dictionnaire actuel de l’éducation, a contemporary French dictionary of terms used in education, a transcript is a “cumulative list prepared by an educational institution or organization of the courses a student has taken, and the grades assigned for each course.”

The same dictionary defines a report card as a “report prepared periodically by the administration of an educational institution containing a transcript of the student’s grades, comments on the student’s academic work and performance, and, if appropriate, an attendance record.”

Thus, a transcript is one of the elements of the report card, and specifies the grade obtained for each course.

What is an academic transcript used for?

Transcripts are used to record and relay the academic results the student has achieved for the learning activities in the curriculum he or she is following.

As a rule, the courses taken will be presented in a tabular format, and are often broken down by school year and study session.

The result is indicated for each course taken, with a note reflecting the outcome (pass, fail, withdrawal, exemption, etc.).

In most cases, the group average and the percentile ranking in which the student is classified are included for comparison purposes.

The student’s average grade, or overall weighted average, is also indicated.

Lastly, a transcript lists the curriculum units achieved and outlines the requirements to fulfill in order to obtain the diploma.

Why have it translated?

Since the transcript lists a student’s school results, it is often needed to secure recognition of academic achievements by an educational institution.

The same is true of the translation of this document, which will be required when applying to study in another country at a foreign institution or one that operates in another language.

The translation of the transcript serves to acquaint a specific administration with a student’s academic record for assessment, analysis, review, accreditation, processing or selection purposes, to name a few.

Thus, translation opens the door to opportunities in every field of endeavour.

How can I obtain an official translation of an academic transcript?

In Quebec, only a certified translator who is a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés is legally empowered by the government to translate official documents like transcripts, report cards, diplomas, etc.

Our team is comprised of skillful and reputable certified translators who can create certified translations that will be accepted by provincial, federal and international entities.

To submit a request for translation, simply scan each page of your transcript and select a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) or better.

Email us the file and any other related documentation, specifying the required delivery date.

Upon receipt of your request, we will contact you promptly by telephone.