Understanding the Difference Between AI Insights and Criteria-Based Scoring
This guide explains how Testlify’s Criteria-Based Scoring and AI Insights work together to give you a well-rounded view of candidate responses. When both features are enabled, you can evaluate candidates based on custom job-related criteria (like Communication or Problem Solving) while also gaining AI-generated feedback on competencies such as Grammar, Fluency, and Vocabulary. Although both evaluations run in parallel, only your defined criteria affect the final candidate score. AI Insights serve as an additional layer of feedback, offering deeper understanding into how effectively a candidate expresses themselves — particularly useful for communication-focused roles. This article will help you understand how these features appear in candidate reports and when to use them together for the most effective talent evaluation.
Overview
When using Testlify, you have the option to enable both Criteria-Based Scoring and AI Insights on open-ended video, audio, or text-based responses. This allows you to evaluate candidates in two complementary ways:
- Criteria-Based Scoring: Focuses on job-specific competencies.
- AI Insights: Offers communication and writing-related feedback.
Understanding how these two features interact will help you interpret candidate reports more effectively.
How They Work Together
When both Criteria-Based Scoring and AI Insights are enabled on a question:
- ✅ Two types of evaluations occur:
- The answer is scored based on the custom criteria you define (e.g., Problem Solving, Communication).
- AI simultaneously evaluates language and delivery metrics such as Grammar, Vocabulary, Fluency, and more.
- ✅ Only one final score is calculated — and it’s based solely on the criteria you set. The AI Insights do not impact this final score.
Example
Let’s say you create an open-ended question:
"Describe your career goals."
You assign two scoring criteria:
- Clarity of Goals (5 points)
- Alignment with Role (5 points)
In this case:
- The final score out of 10 will be calculated based on these criteria.
Meanwhile, AI Insights will evaluate the same answer for aspects like Communication, Grammar, and Vocabulary — and display that feedback separately in the candidate report.
When to Use Both
You should enable both Criteria-Based Scoring and AI Insights if:
- You want to measure responses against specific job-related traits or skills.
- You’d also like a detailed look at how well the candidate communicates (e.g., useful for roles that involve client interaction, writing, or public speaking).
This dual approach gives you both structured evaluation and deeper behavioral insights.
FAQs
Q: Will enabling AI Insights affect my final candidate scores?
No. AI Insights are shown separately and are not included in the final score. Only your defined criteria contribute to the score.
Q: Where can I see the AI Insights in the candidate report?
AI Insights appear clearly below the criteria-based evaluation section in the candidate report.
Q: Can I turn off one and keep the other?
Yes. You can enable either Criteria-Based Scoring, AI Insights, or both — depending on your evaluation goals.
Q: What are the benefits of AI Insights?
They provide an added layer of context around communication, which can help hiring managers make better-informed decisions for roles requiring soft skills.
Conclusion
Using both Criteria-Based Scoring and AI Insights together can provide a well-rounded view of your candidate’s suitability for a role. While one gives a job-specific score, the other delivers valuable feedback on communication quality — helping you make smarter hiring decisions.