# Scoring an Application

The guided scoring interface walks you through each rubric criterion one at a time, then asks for your overall recommendation. This is where you do the actual work of evaluating an application.

## Opening the Scoring Interface

Click any active card on your **My Reviews** dashboard (or its **Score Now** / **Continue** button). This opens the guided scoring page at `/review/[cohortSlug]/guided`.

The page has a two-column layout:

- **Left column** -- background information about the application
- **Right column** -- the scoring form

## Left Column: Background Tabs

The left column has several tabs depending on the stage:

- **Application** -- the applicant's submitted answers, attachments, and links. Eligibility questions are filtered out. File attachments can be downloaded; URLs open in a new tab.
- **Reviews** -- completed reviews from earlier stages (hidden on the first stage). If blind review is enabled, reviewer identities are hidden.
- **Assessments** -- self-assessment results from team members (second-round stages only).
- **Script** -- interview questions configured for this stage, rendered from markdown. Use this to guide your interview conversation.
- **Notes** -- a private text area for your own interview notes. These auto-save and are tied to the specific stage. Only you can see them.

## Right Column: Scoring

By default, you score one criterion at a time in **focused mode**. A **Show all** toggle in the upper right switches to a view where every criterion is visible at once.

In focused mode, each criterion shows:

1. **Criterion number and name** (e.g., "Criterion 1/5 -- Mission Alignment")
2. **Description** of what to evaluate
3. **Score options** -- either threshold cards with descriptions (click to select), named levels, or numeric buttons depending on how the rubric is configured
4. **Notes field** -- optional per-criterion notes

Use the **Next Criterion** and **Previous** buttons to navigate. You can also use the **Jump to...** dropdown to skip to any criterion. A criterion must be scored before you can advance to the next one.

### Keyboard Shortcuts

In focused mode, you can score without touching your mouse:

- **Up/Down arrows** -- navigate between threshold or level options
- **Enter** -- select the focused option and advance to the next criterion
- **Left/Right arrows** -- move to the previous or next criterion
- **Number keys (1-9)** -- set a numeric score directly (when simple score buttons are shown)

## Saving and Submitting

Your work auto-saves every 1.5 seconds after you make a change. A "Saving..." / "Saved" indicator appears near the top right. You can also click **Save Draft** manually at any time.

Once all criteria are scored, click **Proceed to Recommendation** to move to the final screen. This shows your score summary, lets you select a recommendation, and provides space for overall notes.

Click **Submit Review** when you are ready. A confirmation dialog explains that submission locks your scores and notes. After confirming with **Submit & Lock**, your review is complete and you are redirected to the dashboard.

:::warning
After submission, your scores and notes are locked. You can still change your recommendation if the review is for the application's current stage, but scores cannot be edited.
:::

:::tip
For interview stages, the **Submit Review** button is disabled until after the interview has occurred. You can still prepare by reviewing the application and scoring criteria beforehand.
:::