Banned for thinking my A+ gradea during my schooling are my only credentials... I won several first prizes from Agatha Christie, the Duke of Edinburgh and Winston Churchill for writing in national competitions in the UK. I also gained 2 VHA [Very High Achievement] assessments for English [A+ equivalents] on my Senior Certificate when I returned to school here in Australia in the 80's, some 25 years after completing my formal education.
So stick that in your smipe and poke it.