attainments

Attainments are the plural form of attainment and refer to things that have been reached, achieved, or acquired. In general usage, attainments denote the achievements or skills that a person has gained over time. In education, attainment is a common term for the outcomes of learning. Educational attainment typically refers to the highest level of schooling a person has completed or the qualifications they have earned, such as diplomas, certificates, or degrees. When reported about populations, attainment levels describe how far a group has progressed in education and can be used to compare regions or cohorts.

In a broader sense, attainments can denote both tangible credentials and intangible competencies, such as language proficiency, professional certifications, artistic or athletic skills, or moral and intellectual development. The term can be applied to individuals, institutions, or communities when describing what has been achieved.

Historically the word appears in English to mean reaching a goal or distance, and in literature may refer to the virtuous or learned qualities a person has attained. In modern usage, the emphasis is often on measurable outcomes or recognized qualifications, though the scope remains broad, encompassing practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge.

See also attainment, educational attainment, achievement, qualification.