Why Grades Are Not Worth Worrying About in Creative Subjects
Many graduates feel they’ve been there, done that, and burned the sketchbook
We have just had our student degree show opening night. It went relly well. However, the week leading up to it was tough. The students got their grades. It caused some disappointment, and others to lose confidence.
Art, music, writing, drama... these are all about expression, not ticking boxes. Yet somehow, we still treat them like problems with a correct answer. Makes no sense.
Creativity isn’t a multiple-choice test
Creative subjects thrive on subjectivity. One person’s masterpiece is another person’s ‘hmm.’ It’s all down to taste, experience, and emotion. Things you can’t really measure. But education (and let’s be honest, a lot of tutors) try to stick a letter or number on it anyway. Why? Habit. System. Bureaucracy. None of which have anything to do with creativity.
You can give feedback, sure. You can talk about technique, structure, or execution. But saying someone’s A-plus is better than someone else’s C just because it fits the teacher’s personal preferences? That’s a dated outlook.
Confidence killer
Nothing crushes a budding creative’s confidence like a bad grade on something they poured their heart into.
When you’re creating something, especially as a student, you're already in a vulnerable place. Tossing grades into the mix makes people second-guess themselves, play it safe, or worse, give up completely. And that’s really unfortunate.
Many tutors worry more about their repuation, particularly at something like an exhibition. ‘Will other creatives and industry professionals be judging me?’, rather than, ‘let the students put up the work they like and receive feedback on it’.
Being unsure about something you were once proud of, but now being told to take down leaves you overwhelmed and confused.
Bias? It’s Real
Let’s talk about the elephant in the studio. Tutor bias. It exists. Some tutors love minimalism, others want lots of colour. Some think writing should be poetic and layered, others want it straight to the point. Your grade can depend less on what you made and more on who happened to mark it.
Creative work is personal. So when someone doesn’t connect with your piece, or just doesn’t like your style, that shouldn’t define your worth. But under a grading system, that’s exactly what happens.
What’s the Alternative?
Instead of slapping grades on creative work, we should be offering real feedback. Talk about what’s strong, what could be refined, and how the creative is developing their style. Make it a conversation, not a judgment. Encourage risk-taking. Reward originality. Celebrate growth, and occasional fails, not just polish.
Creativity is not a straight line. It’s messy and unpredictable and full of surprises. Trying to measure it with the same system we’ve always used for all subjects just doesn’t work.
So maybe it’s time we stop treating creativity like it can be boxed and scored. Let people explore. Let them fail. Let them evolve.
Just... maybe leave the grades out of it.
Thanks for reading - the Creative Futures kit launches this Thursday. keep an eye on your inbox! 😊
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