A score is a tool for noticing patterns. It helps you see which articles are strong, which need work, and what keeps going wrong.
Pick five to seven criteria
Good candidates are accuracy, usefulness to the intended reader, originality, clarity, structure, sources and freshness. More than seven becomes tiring to apply.
Define each level in words. For each criterion, describe what a 1, a 3 and a 5 look like. For accuracy: 1 means unchecked claims, 3 means key facts verified, 5 means every claim traced to a primary source. Descriptions keep scoring consistent.
Test it on known pages
Score three articles you already know are strong, average and weak. If the results do not match your sense, adjust the wording of the levels.
Use it to decide actions. Set thresholds: above a certain total, leave alone; in the middle, improve; low, rewrite or remove. Look at the individual criteria too. A page strong in all but freshness needs only an update.
Avoid gaming it
Do not chase a number by adding length or bullet points. The score is a proxy. If a change improves the number but makes the page worse for readers, ignore the number.
Keep human judgement in charge. Some qualities, such as a fresh angle or a helpful tone, are hard to score. Treat the rubric as a conversation starter.
A rubric sketch
Accuracy: 1 = unverified claims, 3 = main facts checked, 5 = sourced from primary documentation. Usefulness: 1 = general talk, 3 = answers the question, 5 = lets the reader complete the task with examples. Originality: 1 = restates others, 3 = clear own structure, 5 = adds tested material or new analysis. Clarity: 1 = hard to follow, 3 = readable, 5 = easy for the target reader.
Add Freshness and Sources if they matter to your topic.
Using scores across the site
After scoring twenty articles, look for patterns. If clarity is the weakest area, invest in editing. If freshness is low, build an update schedule. If originality is low for a whole category, consider whether you should be writing about it. The rubric points to the process fixes that raise quality across many articles at once.
Calibrating with a second reader
If a friend or colleague can score a few pages independently, compare the results. Large differences show that a criterion is unclear. Rewrite its description until you agree most of the time. If you work alone, score again after a week and compare with your first attempt.
Review the rubric yearly. As the site grows and standards change, update the criteria. Keep older scores with their date, so you can see progress.