Describe your contest, divisions, and criteria. Makeform turns the brief into a consistent scorecard with entrant numbers, ratings, comments, and tie-break fields.
Send responses to Google Sheets, Slack, and Zapier.
Sample prompts for the builder
Choose a setup, adapt the prompt, or send it to the builder. The displayed structure is an example, not a calculated result.
Audience
Volunteer judges rating individual entrants
Format
Ten-point scorecard with overall comments
Prompt size
298 chars
Example scorecard structure
Ten-point scorecard with overall comments
Judge and entrant number
Age division
Creativity and originality
Craftsmanship and detail
Overall impact and comments
Suggested routing tags
Adult division
Youth division
Tie review
Use entrant numbers instead of names when judges should focus on the costume, and define the meaning of each score before judging begins.
Step 1
Identify
judge, entrant number, and division
Step 2
Score
consistent criteria with defined scales
Step 3
Explain
comments, deductions, and award notes
Step 4
Review
compare totals and resolve ties
Fairer scoring
Each entrant receives the same criteria, scale definitions, required responses, and space for useful notes.
Separate creativity, craftsmanship, detail, presentation, and impact instead of using one vague score.
Route each division to its relevant rubric while keeping shared criteria consistent.
Required ratings and confirmation reduce incomplete scorecards.
Built for costume events
Start with the closest event format, then edit divisions, points, instructions, and awards.
Entrant lookup, visual criteria, comments, and age divisions for local events.
Technique, finish, deductions, and relevant questions for sewing, props, armor, or makeup.
Short scales, encouraging feedback, grade bands, and fun award nominations.
Team cohesion, participation, stage presence, and a tie-break rank.
Judging workflow
Build and test the rubric before doors open, then give every judge the same process.
Name the divisions, awards, scale, and whether judging happens in person, on stage, or from photos.
Define low, middle, and high scores. Add conditional sections for category-specific questions.
Score one practice entry together, compare interpretations, and revise unclear labels.
Group submissions by entrant, compare criteria, inspect deductions, and apply the published tie procedure.
Digital form vs paper scorecard
A generated form creates consistent responses organizers can sort without retyping judges' marks.
Field guide
Identify the entry, define the rubric, explain unusual scores, and plan the award review.
Judge and entry
Collect judge ID and the entrant number displayed at check-in. Use dropdowns when transcription errors could misfile a score.
Core rubric
Rate distinct qualities instead of using one overall mark. Avoid a long list of overlapping traits.
Scale guidance
Add guidance beside each scale, such as incomplete, competent, and exceptional. Decide whether criteria share one range.
Conditional sections
Use build-category selection to reveal focused technical questions only when they apply.
Comments and deductions
Require explanations for deductions or unusual scores instead of a paragraph for every entry.
Tie and completion checks
Capture the designated tie-break value and ask judges to confirm every field before submission.
Related tools
Pair scorecards with entry, registration, voting, and feedback forms.
Handle costume requests and item details for a wardrobe program.
Open toolFAQ
Answers for organizers setting criteria and reviewing results.
It is a repeatable scorecard judges complete for each entrant or group. It identifies the judge and entry, presents the event's criteria and rating scale, records comments or deductions, and captures any tie-break or award recommendation the organizer needs.
Common criteria include creativity, craftsmanship, attention to detail, theme interpretation, presentation or character portrayal, and overall impact. Choose only qualities that match the published contest rules. A craftsmanship-focused cosplay event may add construction technique, while a casual parade may emphasize imagination and effort.
Not necessarily. Equal weighting is easiest to explain and total. If craftsmanship or another criterion defines the award, give it a larger published points value and show that value on the form. Test the calculation with sample entries so the weighting behaves as organizers intend.
Use the same criteria and order for everyone, add plain-language anchors for low, middle, and high scores, and run one practice costume through the rubric together. Discuss differences before live judging, while keeping the final scoring process aligned with your event rules.
Yes. Start with a required division field, then use conditional sections for division-specific criteria. Keep shared fields such as entrant number, creativity, comments, and judge ID outside those branches so organizers can still compare and filter submissions consistently.
Decide the tie procedure before judging begins and match the form to it. You might use the highest creativity rating, a dedicated tie-break ranking, or a separate review round. Record the relevant value on each scorecard and apply the announced procedure consistently.
Yes. Makeform provides unlimited free forms and responses, so organizers can generate, edit, publish, and collect judging scorecards without a response cap. The paid tier removes the Makeform badge.
You can label a long-answer field as a private organizer note and keep it in the collected submission workflow. If you also want feedback to share with entrants, add a separate positive-feedback field so judges know which comment may be returned to the participant.
Make every point traceable to the rubric.
