I don’t know when the idiom of “making good grades” changed to “getting good grades,” but “making” is actually a lot more accurate.
“Making grades” keeps the responsibility on the student. “Getting grades” turns the student into a passive observer, dependent entirely on the grader.
Yes, I know that some grading is subjective. And I’m not suggesting that any student ignore learning and just relentlessly pursue the grade.
But we’re all responsible for our own work. Someone else may ultimately evaluate it. But the care, effort, and pride we take in what we do—that’s up to us.
Get good at the “making” and the “getting” will take care of itself.