QUICK ANSWER
A critique, or “crit”, is a session where students show work and talk about it with teachers and classmates. It asks four kinds of question: why you made the work, how you made it, what works, and what you would change. Many students meet these questions for the first time at art school, and that can be hard.
In 2026 the application already asks those same questions. ArtCenter’s portfolio video essay asks applicants to explain why they made a piece, how they approached it, what met their intentions and what they might change. Preparing that answer well is the best rehearsal for critique.
This page explains what usually happens in a critique, why it can be difficult for students from exam-based training, and how application work can prepare a student for it.
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Common Forms of Critique
| Format | What happens |
|---|---|
| Group critique | Work is pinned up or shown; the class and teacher discuss each piece in turn |
| One-on-one | A teacher reviews work in progress with the student |
| Midterm or final review | A longer presentation of a body of work, sometimes to visiting critics |
| Peer critique | Students give each other feedback, often with a set structure |
General description; formats and names vary by school and department.
In each format the student is expected to speak. Quiet acceptance of comments is not enough. Teachers want to hear what the student intended and how they will respond to what they hear.
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Why It Can Be Hard at First
- There is no single right answer. Exam-style training rewards meeting a known standard. A critique discusses choices, and classmates may disagree.
- It happens in English, in public. Explaining a decision in front of a group is a separate skill from making the work.
- Criticism is aimed at the work, not the person. Students who have not experienced this can take it personally at first.
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The Application as Rehearsal
| Application task (2026–27) | Critique skill it practises |
|---|---|
| ArtCenter 60–90 second video essay: why, how, what worked, what to change | Presenting one piece and its decisions |
| CalArts 30–90 second video introduction, unscripted | Speaking naturally about yourself and your practice |
| CalArts Experimental Animation comments on influences | Discussing other artists’ work with reasons |
| Cooper Union Hometest written prompts | Writing about ideas under time pressure |
| SVA ~500-word statement, no AI tools | Explaining motivation in your own words |
From each school’s admissions pages, checked October 2026.
A SIMPLE PRACTICE ROUTINE
Once a week, take one finished piece and talk about it for 90 seconds using the four questions. Record it. Then ask someone to give one point of criticism, and respond in a sentence or two without defending every choice. Our page on interviews and videos and the other half of the application cover related preparation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art school critique?
A session where students show work and discuss it with teachers and classmates, covering intentions, methods, what works and what could change.
Do I have to speak in critiques?
Yes. Students are expected to explain their work and respond to comments, not only listen.
How can I prepare for critiques before art school?
Practise talking about your own work using four questions: why, how, what worked, and what you would change. ArtCenter’s video essay uses the same questions.
Is critique the same at every school?
No. Formats and names vary by school and department, but most include group discussion and individual feedback.
What if I find criticism upsetting?
That is common at first. It helps to separate the work from yourself and to treat each comment as information you can use or set aside.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students. Talking about one’s own work is part of preparation, for the application and for the studio afterwards. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Application requirements from ArtCenter, CalArts, Cooper Union and SVA admissions pages, checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: Interviews and Videos · The Other Half · The Most Important Lesson · RISD Campus Life · Royal Blue Results