ATS Score
A numerical rating that an ATS assigns to your resume based on how well it matches a specific job description.
What Is an ATS Score?
An ATS score (also called a match score or relevancy score) is the numerical rating that an Applicant Tracking System assigns to your resume after comparing it against a specific job description. The higher the score, the more likely your resume is to be surfaced to a human recruiter.
Each ATS platform calculates scores differently, but the underlying factors are consistent across systems.
What Factors Affect Your ATS Score?
1. Keyword Coverage
The most weighted factor. How many of the job description's required keywords appear in your resume, and in which sections?
Keywords found in your job titles and skills sections typically carry more weight than those buried in a summary paragraph.
2. Formatting Integrity
If resume parsing fails — due to tables, columns, images, or unusual fonts — sections of your resume may not register at all, dramatically dropping your score.
3. Section Completeness
An ATS expects to find standard sections: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Contact Information. Missing or mislabeled sections reduce the score.
4. Recency and Relevance
Some systems weight recent experience more heavily. Job titles and responsibilities from the past 3–5 years typically have more impact.
5. Exact vs. Partial Matches
Exact phrase matches score higher than partial or synonym matches. "Project management" and "managing projects" are not always treated as equivalent.
What Score Do You Need to Pass?
There is no universal threshold — it varies by company and role. However, a general benchmark:
- Below 50% — Very unlikely to be reviewed by a human
- 50–70% — Borderline; may or may not move forward
- 70%+ — In competitive range for recruiter review
- 80%+ — Strong match; high probability of human review
How to Improve Your ATS Score
- Mirror the exact language of the job description
- Ensure your formatting is ATS-friendly
- Add a dedicated Skills section with role-relevant keywords
- Use standard, recognizable section headings
- Check your score against the specific posting before applying
ReframeCV calculates your ATS score in real time and shows exactly which keywords are missing — so you can fix them before you apply.