In the United States,people go through kindergarten for two to three years,grade one to five in elementaryschool,six to eight in middle school,and nine to twelve in high school.Many people also go to college for four years.

 

在美国，人们上两年到三年的幼稚园，小学是从一到五年级，六到八年级是初中，九到十二年级是高中。很多也也会再用四年的时间去上大学（学院）。

For high school students who want to get into a good college,they must work hard on their grades and also do well on national aptitude test like the SAT or ACT,because that would improve the students' chances of getting accepted by the colleges.

对于想上好大学的高中生来说，为了拿到好的成绩，他们必须非常用功；而且要才好如SAT或ACT这种全国性的才能（能力倾向）测验，因为这些（好的SAT或ACT成绩）可以增加学生样被大学录取的机会。

Grades are usually determined by tests and examinations.Tests are given a few times during a semester to give students an idea of what had been taught and what they should know.Final exams are given at the end ofa semester;they cover everything the students should have learned during the entire semester.

（课业）成绩通常是通过测验和考试来决定的。一个学期中会有几次测验，目的是为了让学生对于（老师）所教的是些什么和自己应该学到什么有个概念。学期的最后会有个期末考试，这考试包含了学生在整个学期中应该学到的所有内容。