French Phrase
Les notes, ça compte combien ?
Meaning
This informal question asks about the weight of the grades in the overall evaluation. It can be understood as 'How much do the grades count?' or 'What percentage of the final mark do the grades represent?'. The tone is casual, typical of a student speaking to a teacher or a classmate.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know how much your test scores, homework, or other assessments contribute to the final grade. It’s common in high‑school or university settings, especially in informal conversations with teachers, tutors, or fellow students.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesnotes,çacomptecombien?
Les + noun (plural)
The definite article 'les' is used before plural nouns to refer to a specific set, here 'les notes' (the grades).
ça (demonstrative pronoun)
'ça' is the informal spoken form of 'cela' and stands for 'it/that' in everyday French.
compter (verb) + combien
When 'compter' is used with 'combien', it asks about the amount or weight something has, e.g., 'ça compte combien ?' = 'how much does it count?'.
combien (interrogative adverb)
'Combien' asks for a quantity or proportion and is placed after the verb in informal spoken French.
Punctuation in spoken French
A comma after 'notes' signals a short pause, mirroring natural speech rhythm.
🗨In Conversation
Les notes, ça compte combien ?
How much do the grades count?
Ça compte pour 40 % de la note finale.
They count for 40 % of the final grade.
✕Common Mistakes
Combien ça compte les notes ?
The interrogative adverb 'combien' normally follows the verb in spoken French; swapping the order sounds unnatural.
Ça compte combien les notes ?
Placing the subject after the question phrase is less idiomatic; keep the subject before the pause.
Les notes ça compte combien ?
Missing the comma and pause makes the sentence sound rushed; the comma signals a brief break.
↔Alternatives
Quel poids ont les notes ?
What weight do the grades have?
Quelle proportion les notes représentent‑elles ?
What proportion do the grades represent?
Les notes, elles comptent pour quoi ?
The grades, what do they count for?
Cultural Tip
In France, the school grading system often mixes continuous assessment (homework, quizzes) with major exams. The exact percentage each component counts can vary by institution, so asking 'ça compte combien ?' is a practical way to clarify expectations. Keep in mind that the phrase is informal; in a formal email you might say 'Quel est le pourcentage attribué aux notes ?'.