What do E, G, S, and N mean on Ontario report cards?

They are the Learning Skills and Work Habits ratings under Growing Success (2010): E = Excellent, G = Good, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs Improvement. They are reported separately from subject achievement levels so work habits never inflate or deflate academic marks.

What are the six Learning Skills and Work Habits in Ontario?

Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, and Self-Regulation. They are assessed on every Ontario elementary and secondary report card.

Should Learning Skills comments mention achievement in subjects?

No. Growing Success directs that Learning Skills be evaluated apart from subject achievement. A Learning Skills comment should describe observable habits and behaviours — how the student learns — with a strength and a next step, not curriculum content mastery.

What makes a strong Learning Skills comment?

A specific, observable strength (what the student actually does), language that matches the rating (consistently/usually/sometimes/rarely), and one concrete next step the student can act on. Avoid vague praise like 'a pleasure to teach.'

What do E, G, S, and N stand for on Ontario report cards?

On Ontario report cards the Learning Skills and Work Habits are rated E = Excellent, G = Good, S = Satisfactory, and N = Needs Improvement, under the Growing Success (2010) policy. They are reported separately from subject achievement levels.

How do I write Ontario Learning Skills report card comments faster?

Start from a level-matched exemplar (consistently for E, usually for G, sometimes for S, rarely for N), then add one specific behaviour you observed and one next step. To go faster, Milo drafts Learning Skills comments for your whole class from quick voice or text notes — you stay in control and approve every one before it goes home.

Teacher resources · Last updated: June 12, 2026

By Rish — Ontario teacher, 10 years in the classroom

Ontario Learning Skills Report Card Comments — E, G, S, N Examples

Every Ontario report card rates six Learning Skills and Work Habits — Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, and Self-Regulation — as E (Excellent), G (Good), S (Satisfactory), or N (Needs Improvement), separate from subject grades. Growing Success (2010) asks each comment to name a demonstrated strength and a next step. Below are free exemplars for each skill, ready to personalize or to draft from your own evidence with Milo.

These free Ontario Learning Skills report card comments give E (Excellent), G (Good), S (Satisfactory), and N (Needs Improvement) examples for all six Learning Skills and Work Habits — Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, and Self-Regulation — or you can generate Growing Success-aligned comments from your own evidence with Milo and approve every one before it goes home.

Match your language to the rating: consistently (E), usually / routinely (G), sometimes / with reminders (S), rarely / requires ongoing support (N).

Ontario Learning Skills report card comments: E, G, S, N at a glance

Ontario report cards rate six Learning Skills and Work Habits — Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, and Self-Regulation — on a four-point scale: E (Excellent), G (Good), S (Satisfactory), and N (Needs Improvement). Under Growing Success (2010) these ratings are reported separately from subject achievement, so a Learning Skills comment describes observable habits — how the student learns — paired with a strength and a next step, not curriculum mastery. The exemplars below are organized by skill and by E/G/S/N level so you can copy a starting point and personalize it. Milo can also generate Growing Success-aligned Learning Skills comments from your own quick notes (voice or text), with information minimized for the generation workflow and every comment reviewed and approved by you. Built by an Ontario teacher with 10 years in the classroom; data is stored in Canada and PIPEDA-aligned. First month free, then $10 CAD/month.

Responsibility comments (E / G / S / N)

Excellent (E)

[Student] consistently fulfils responsibilities and commitments in the classroom, submitting her work on time and taking full ownership of her behaviour and learning choices. As a next step, [Student] is encouraged to mentor peers in planning long-term assignments.

Satisfactory (S)

[Student] sometimes completes and submits class work within the given timelines and is developing his ability to take responsibility for his learning choices. With reminders, he follows classroom routines. As a next step, [Student] should use his agenda daily to track assignments and check in with the teacher before due dates.

Organization comments (E / G / S / N)

Good (G)

[Student] usually devises and follows a plan for completing tasks, keeping his materials and digital files in order so he can begin work promptly. As a next step, [Student] is encouraged to break larger projects into smaller steps with his own checkpoints.

Needs Improvement (N)

[Student] requires ongoing support to establish priorities and manage the time needed to complete tasks, and frequently needs assistance locating her materials. As a next step, [Student] will benefit from a simplified checklist for each work period and a consistent system for storing her work, which we will practise together.

Independent Work comments (E / G / S / N)

Excellent (E)

[Student] consistently uses class time appropriately to complete tasks, monitoring her own plan and following instructions with minimal supervision. As a next step, [Student] is encouraged to set her own success criteria before beginning independent tasks.

Satisfactory (S)

[Student] sometimes uses class time appropriately and completes independent tasks when expectations are chunked and reviewed with him. As a next step, [Student] should begin tasks by restating the instructions in his own words to confirm understanding before seeking teacher support.

Collaboration comments (E / G / S / N)

Good (G)

[Student] usually works well with a variety of partners, sharing resources and responding positively to the ideas and opinions of others. She is developing her ability to resolve group disagreements independently. As a next step, [Student] is encouraged to invite quieter group members into discussions.

Needs Improvement (N)

[Student] rarely shares responsibility during group tasks and often requires teacher mediation to respond constructively to the ideas of others. As a next step, [Student] will practise assigned group roles with clear expectations, beginning with partner work before larger groups.

Initiative comments (E / G / S / N)

Excellent (E)

[Student] consistently demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to take risks in his learning, seeking out new opportunities and approaching extension tasks with enthusiasm. As a next step, [Student] is encouraged to bring his independent interests into class inquiry projects.

Satisfactory (S)

[Student] sometimes approaches new tasks with a positive attitude and is beginning to ask questions that extend her learning when prompted. As a next step, [Student] should identify one question of her own at the start of each new unit to investigate.

Self-Regulation comments (E / G / S / N)

Good (G)

[Student] usually sets goals for her learning, perseveres through challenging tasks, and seeks clarification or assistance when needed. As a next step, [Student] is encouraged to reflect on which strategies helped her most and record them for future tasks.

Needs Improvement (N)

[Student] rarely monitors his progress toward goals and often needs adult support to manage frustration during challenging tasks. As a next step, [Student] will practise using the calming strategies in our classroom plan and set one small, achievable goal each week with teacher support.

What Growing Success says about Learning Skills comments

Growing Success (2010) is Ontario's assessment, evaluation, and reporting policy. It separates the six Learning Skills and Work Habits from subject achievement so that work habits are made visible to families without affecting grades, and directs teachers to report strengths and next steps in clear, parent-friendly language. The full policy is published by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Frequently asked questions

What do E, G, S, and N mean on Ontario report cards?: They are the Learning Skills and Work Habits ratings under Growing Success (2010): E = Excellent, G = Good, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs Improvement. They are reported separately from subject achievement levels so work habits never inflate or deflate academic marks.
What are the six Learning Skills and Work Habits in Ontario?: Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, and Self-Regulation. They are assessed on every Ontario elementary and secondary report card.
Should Learning Skills comments mention achievement in subjects?: No. Growing Success directs that Learning Skills be evaluated apart from subject achievement. A Learning Skills comment should describe observable habits and behaviours — how the student learns — with a strength and a next step, not curriculum content mastery.
What makes a strong Learning Skills comment?: A specific, observable strength (what the student actually does), language that matches the rating (consistently/usually/sometimes/rarely), and one concrete next step the student can act on. Avoid vague praise like 'a pleasure to teach.'
Is there a free Ontario Learning Skills report card comment generator?: The exemplars on this page are free to copy and personalize. Milo also generates Growing Success-aligned Learning Skills comments from your own evidence notes, minimizes the information used in generation workflows, and keeps you in control of reviewing and approving every comment. It's free for the first month, then $10 CAD/month, with data stored in Canada.
What do E, G, S, and N stand for on Ontario report cards?: On Ontario report cards the Learning Skills and Work Habits are rated E = Excellent, G = Good, S = Satisfactory, and N = Needs Improvement, under the Growing Success (2010) policy. They are reported separately from subject achievement levels.
Where can I find E, G, S, N comments for Responsibility, Organization, and Independent Work?: This page has E, G, S, and N examples for all six Ontario Learning Skills — Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, and Self-Regulation. Each example pairs an observable strength with one concrete next step, ready to personalize.
How do I write Ontario Learning Skills report card comments faster?: Start from a level-matched exemplar (consistently for E, usually for G, sometimes for S, rarely for N), then add one specific behaviour you observed and one next step. To go faster, Milo drafts Learning Skills comments for your whole class from quick voice or text notes — you stay in control and approve every one before it goes home.