Scoring Guide
Scoring is one of the most important parts of your role as a judge. Every entry you review contributes to our mission: to highlight the best emerging talent and support them as they step into the creative industries.
This guide will help you stay consistent and confident in your scoring. We’ll cover how to think about the 1–10 scale, what each score actually means, and how those scores translate into the certificates and recognition we give to entrants.
How to Approach Scoring
Before you score a single entry, take a moment to reset your thinking.
You’re not here to reward your favourite art style. You’re not comparing students to professionals at your studio. And you’re definitely not here to punish people who are still learning.
You are here to evaluate potential, to spot the artists who are ready for the next step, and to guide the rest with a fair, honest signal of where they stand today.
When you review an entry, consider:
- Is this presented as a professional portfolio?
- Does it show real understanding of the tools, the brief, and the industry?
- Would I feel confident putting this person forward for an entry-level role?
Important: You’re judging a category (industry), not a discipline. You don’t need to compare a modeller to an animator, just ask: Does this person have the skill and clarity to contribute in this space?
Scoring Breakdown: What Each Band Means
When scoring, you are presented with a star based system with options from 1-10. The information below will give you an idea for the brackets that we like this consider what adding a judgement score.
1 : The Shocker
Something's clearly wrong. Maybe it’s a single low-effort image, totally off-brief, or just no content at all. There’s nothing to evaluate here, no skills, no intent, no clarity. Mark it a 1 and move on.
See examples here, here and here.
1–3 : Absolute Beginner
These are entries from people who are just starting out, or who haven’t taken the time to read the brief. There’s little to no understanding of industry tools or expectations. Maybe it’s a student’s first attempt at 3D, or they’ve uploaded some sketches with no structure or context. You’re not judging their potential here — just the work they’ve submitted. These are “not ready” for the Rookie Awards level.
Examples might include:
- A single rough render with no breakdown
- Low-res screenshots of schoolwork with no explanation
- Work that’s off-topic or not related to their category
See examples here, here and here.
3–5 : Foundation Stage
Now we’re seeing something. The artist has some idea of what they’re doing. They’ve shown a few basic skills, and maybe one or two pieces stand out, but the portfolio as a whole is still very uneven. Some areas show promise, others fall flat. Presentation might be inconsistent, and there’s still a long way to go, but they’re on the right track.
Examples might include:
- Mixed quality across pieces
- Not enough examples of work
- Basic use of tools but some major flaws
- A few good ideas, but rough execution or lack of polish
See examples here, here and here.
6 : The Benchmark ⭐
This is what we’d call industry-read. A solid, well-rounded portfolio. The artist understands the tools, the expectations of the industry, and how to present themselves. The work is polished, consistent, and thoughtfully curated. There may still be small areas to improve, but the overall quality is high.
Signs of a 6:
- You should feel comfortable saying: “Yep, I’d send this artist to a recruiter.”
- Consistent quality and style
- Good technical skills and clear intent
- Clean presentation and thoughtful layout
- Work is on-brief and relevant to their category
See examples here, here, here and here.
6–8 : Strong to Excellent
Here’s where it starts getting exciting. These entries are not just solid, they’re impressive. The artist is going beyond the basics and showing standout skills. You can tell they’ve put real time and care into their work. It’s polished, creative, and memorable.
Score higher within this band when:
- You find yourself thinking “Wow, this person is already operating like an entry level digital artist I've worked with before.”
- There’s strong originality and execution.
- They have at least 1-3 incredibly strong projects.
See examples here, here, here and here.
9–10 : The All-Stars
These are your clear finalists. If you give a 9 or 10, you’re saying: This person belongs at the very top. Their work is exceptional across the board, technical ability, creative voice, presentation, versatility. You’d hire them. You’d showcase their work. You want them in the spotlight.
Look for:
- Mastery of tools and workflows
- Original ideas executed flawlessly
- Work that stands above the rest of the entries this year
All finalists for Rookie Awards 2024 - These are definitely All Stars!
See examples here, here, and here.
Final Scoring Tips
Use this section as your mental checklist while reviewing entries. It’ll help you stay fair, focused, and aligned with the judging standards we’ve set.
Start with your 6s
Find your benchmark first. A 6 should feel like “this person is ready to enter the industry.” Once you’ve found that level, score everything else as stronger or weaker by comparison.
Use the full 1–10 range
Don’t be afraid to give a 2. Or a 10. We need honest distribution. Reserve 9–10 for work that’s clearly at the top of the field. Give 1s to submissions that are off-brief or show no skill.
Score what you see, not what you think they meant
If something isn’t clear, not explained, or poorly presented, don’t assume the best. Entries should speak for themselves. Missing context = lost points.
Quality over quantity
Some people upload five polished projects. Others go for one strong piece. Don’t reward volume. Score based on skill, clarity, and presentation, not how much they managed to squeeze in.
One great project can be enough
A single, well-executed entry that hits the brief, shows range, and is professionally presented absolutely deserves a strong score.
Effort doesn’t equal quality
You might see someone who clearly “tried hard” but the work still misses the mark. Be encouraging in your feedback, but keep your score honest. This is about what they show, not what they intended.
Presentation matters
Work should be clean, easy to follow, and clearly labelled. Judges shouldn’t have to dig through a wall of text or decipher messy layout choices.
Keep your style preferences in check
You might love stylised fantasy art or hyperreal creatures, but your job isn’t to judge taste. Focus on execution, creativity, and potential within the artist’s chosen direction.
Your scores help us discover and recognise the best emerging talent, but they also help every entrant see where they’re at. Be honest, fair, and clear. That’s what matters most.