Mysql query problem

Question

I have a problem with my mysql query.

My database:

sections
id
section_name

grades
id
user_id
section_id
date
grade

I want my data

Answer 1

If I understand correctly:

SELECT grades.*,sections.* 
  FROM grades INNER JOIN sections ON sections.id = grades.section_id 
  WHERE user_id=$id  ORDER BY grades.date DESC LIMIT 1

Answer 2

I would pre-query based on the specific user_id you wanted, and find their max date per section.. Then, re-join back to sections and grades (now that this prequery will extremely limit the result set to join against). Then get section name and finally proper grade for the date matching the specific student (user) taking the course.

select STRAIGHT_JOIN
      PreQuery.Section_ID,
      Sections.section_name,
      PreQuery.LastDatePerSection
   from
      ( select section_id, 
               user_id,
               max( date ) as LastDatePerSection 
            from
               grades
            where
               user_id = YourUserIDParameter
            group by
               section_id ) PreQuery

      join sections
         on PreQuery.Section_ID = Sections.ID

      join grades
         on PreQuery.Section_ID = grades.Section_ID
         AND PreQuery.User_ID = grades.User_ID
         AND PreQuery.LastDatePerSection = grades.Date