Methodology
How our résumé score works
No black box. The score is a set of transparent, rule-based checks built from what recruiters and applicant tracking systems look for. Here’s every part of it, and its limits.
Last updated October 5, 2026
Principles
- Rules, not AI guesses. The score and checklist are calculated by code, so the same résumé always gets the same score. AI is never used to grade you.
- Every point is explainable. Each check says why it matters and opens exactly where to fix it.
- Honest about limits. There’s no universal “ATS score”. Each employer’s system and recruiter is different. We measure the things that consistently help.
The six categories
| Category | Weight | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet quality | 40 | Each bullet graded for a strong action verb, a measurable result, length (about 8–32 words), no filler and no first-person pronouns; averaged across your résumé, plus 3+ bullets for recent roles |
| Quantified impact | 15 | Share of bullets with numbers (users, time, money, %); full marks from about 60% |
| Structure | 15 | Experience, education and skills sections; a title, employer and valid dates on every role |
| Contact | 10 | Name, valid email, phone, city and country, and a professional link |
| Length | 10 | 300–1,100 words in total, and a focused skills list (under ~45 items) |
| Summary | 5 | Present, 25–90 words, and without “I” or “my” |
The weights add up to 95, and the total is scaled to 100. A résumé that passes every check scores 100. The score reflects what a reader sees: hidden sections are scored as if they weren’t there. The summary is the exception: it’s optional, so hiding it scores as neutral.
How a bullet is graded
Each bullet starts from a base score and gains or loses points for:
- Opening verb: from a curated list of 150+ action verbs; weak openers like “Responsible for”, “Helped” or “Worked on” are flagged with an explanation.
- A measurable result: digits, percentages, currency or number words.
- Length: too short to show impact, or too long to read in one pass.
- Filler and pronouns: “various”, “etc.”, “I”, “my”, “we”.
Try it on any line with the free bullet point checker.
Job match
When you target a job, we extract its keywords: skills, tools, domains and certifications. With AI enabled, an AI model reads the post; otherwise, and as a sanity check either way, a rule-based parser uses its headings. Keywords under “Requirements” count as must-have, under “Nice to have” as nice-to-have, and the rest as important. Your match is the weighted share you cover (must-have 3, important 2, nice-to-have 1), matched with common aliases (“ReactJS” counts as React, “k8s” as Kubernetes).
Country rules
Choose the country you’re applying in and we add its conventions: expected length, whether a photo is expected or discouraged, A4 vs. US Letter, US vs. UK spelling, personal details, and language levels (CEFR, JLPT). These appear as separate checks with one-click fixes. See résumé format by country.
How we test it
- The scoring rules are covered by automated tests with strong and weak sample résumés, so changes can’t silently shift scores.
- Our automated end-to-end tests download résumé PDFs and check they contain real, selectable text, which is what parsers read.
- Every template uses standard headings and real text. One-column templates are the layout applicant tracking systems parse most reliably; two-column ones are labelled so you can choose.
What the score can’t tell you
- Whether your experience fits a specific team. That’s a human judgment.
- How a particular employer’s ATS is configured, or which knockout questions it asks.
- Whether your numbers are true. We trust you to keep them honest; our AI never invents them.
Treat the score as a checklist for what you control, then spend your energy on tailoring and interview prep. Start with the free ATS résumé checker.