"Elevens optegnelse er ikke positiv."

Translation: The pupil's record is not positive.

[Haagedoorn]

Record as in track-record; i.e.; how someone has done so far?

[Hedebygade]

Correct, "optegnelse" is a systematically written record.

[deactivated user]

But would optegnelse also cover record as in "the student's file" (e.g. in the headmaster's office)? To me the Danish sentence sounds as if the student made a record of something, while the English sentence would more likely suggest that the file is about the student.

[Hedebygade]

But would optegnelse also cover record as in "the student's file" (e.g. in the headmaster's office)? Yes.

Strictly speaking the danish sentence could be interpreted as both a record made by the pupil and a record about the pupil, but most danes would interpret that sentence as a record about the pupil. With those sentences you have to guess by context.

"Mandens bil"= the man's car.

"Mandens straffeattest"= the man's criminal record.

"Attest" is 'a written confirmation'.