You just took a really difficult geometry test that you studied for a whole lot. You and your friend get your test scores. You, who studied late nights doing practice problems, got an 83%, and your friend, who you know for a fact didn’t study and was up late at a party, got a 94%. Is that fair?

Should grades be based on effort or excellence? That’s the big question. Effort being defined as, trying really hard and putting a lot of work in to do good in something, and excellence as excelling in a subject or a topic and reaching mastery in said subject. 

Personally, I believe people should be graded on excellence. You don’t get an A for effort alone, you have to be excelling in the subject to do great on that unit test. 

This being said, effort does take a place in the grading process. You can’t do well in a class without putting effort into studying and practicing for a test or big event.

Freshman Camyrn Kanaly agreed that grades should be based on excellence because it isn’t always obvious how much effort is being put in.

“Oftentimes, it can be difficult to tell the level of effort put forth,” Kanaly said. “Sometimes it may be obvious in the form of coming to tutorials, but other times you won’t see it because the student will be putting in all their effort at home.” 

Effort still has a place in the grading process because you can’t get excellent  grades without much effort, and vice versa.

Senior Ian Cox however, believes that students should be graded on effort.

“Although excellence in everything is a reality that everyone wants including me, I am far from excellent, but what I am good at is being determined,” Cox said. “Effort shows that not only are you trying to be the best representation of what the student body means, but your act of care shines more than being the most excellent kid that’s good at everything.”

Effort is a great characteristic to have as a leader. It shows your level of dedication and your talent across the board.

“Intelligence shouldn’t be measured by answers,” senior Harris Greene said. “Intelligence should be measured by how much a student is willing to learn even if they can’t fully comprehend a subject.”

But still, life is ultimately graded on excellence, and to reach excellence, you need lots of effort. Excellence doesn’t come naturally, it takes time that needs to be spent studying and working hard. Excellence and effort coincide, and in the end, you can’t have one without the other.