What Is a Good ATS Score and How to Improve It (Guide for India)
Understand what an ATS score really means, what counts as a good score, why scores differ between tools and 10 practical steps to improve your resume.
You uploaded your resume to an ATS checker and got a number: 62, 74, maybe 88. Is that good? Does it mean a company will shortlist you? This guide explains what an ATS score actually measures, what you should aim for and how to improve it in a way that helps real recruiters as well as software.
What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that employers and recruitment agencies use to collect applications, store resumes and search through them. When you apply on a company career page or a job portal, your resume is usually parsed: the system extracts your name, contact details, skills, job titles, dates and education into a database. Recruiters then search or filter that database.
Most systems do not 'reject' resumes on their own with a magic score. What usually happens is simpler: if your resume cannot be parsed properly, or does not contain the terms a recruiter searches for, it is less likely to be found and read.
What is an ATS score?
An ATS score from a resume checker is an estimate of how easy your resume is for software to read and how well it is structured. It is not the same as the internal ranking of a particular company's system, and it does not predict whether you will get an interview.
Different tools calculate scores differently. One may focus on formatting, another on keyword match with a job description. That is why the same resume can score 70 in one tool and 85 in another. Use any score as a diagnostic, not as a verdict.
What does the GenCVMaker ATS score measure?
The GenCVMaker ATS scan gives an overall score out of 100 and a breakdown across six areas:
| Area | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Resume sections | Whether standard headings such as Summary, Experience, Education and Skills are detected |
| Keywords | The number of recognisable skills and role-related terms |
| Resume length | Whether the amount of text suits a typical one or two page resume |
| Experience quality | Clarity of roles, dates and responsibilities |
| Achievement strength | Use of action verbs and measurable results |
| Readability | How cleanly the text extracts and how easy it is to scan |
It also checks whether your email, phone number and LinkedIn link are found, and lists critical issues and recommendations. Very short extracted text, for example from a resume saved as an image, limits the score because there is almost nothing for software to read.
So what is a good ATS score?
There is no universal passing mark, but as a practical rule of thumb:
- Below about 50: the resume probably has structural problems such as unreadable text, missing sections or very little content. Fix these first.
- About 50 to 70: the resume is readable but missing keywords, achievements or clear structure. There is clear room to improve.
- About 70 to 85: a solid, well-structured resume. Improve keywords and achievements for each specific job.
- Above about 85: very clean and well-optimised. Extra points matter less than tailoring the content to the job.
A resume with a perfect score but no real achievements will still lose to a human reader. Do not chase 100 at the cost of truth or readability.
10 ways to improve your ATS score
1. Use a simple, single-column layout
Columns, tables, text boxes and graphics can scramble the reading order. A plain layout is the safest choice for online applications.
2. Use standard section headings
Write 'Work Experience', 'Education', 'Skills' and 'Projects'. Creative headings like 'My Journey' or 'What I Know' may not be recognised.
3. Make sure the text is selectable
Open your PDF and try to select a sentence with your mouse. If you cannot, it is probably an image, and software cannot read it. Export from Word or Google Docs as a text-based PDF.
4. Put contact details in the main body
Some parsers ignore page headers and footers. Place your phone, email, city and LinkedIn link at the top of the main content.
5. Add the right keywords, honestly
Read the job description and note the tools, skills and qualifications that appear repeatedly. Include those that you genuinely have, using the same wording (for example 'Microsoft Excel' or 'Power BI'). Our Resume Keyword Checker guide explains how.
6. Show skills in context
Do not only list skills; prove them. 'Built REST APIs in Flask and PostgreSQL' is stronger than a standalone 'Flask' in a list because it shows the skill in action.
7. Write achievement-focused bullets
Use action verbs and results: 'Reduced report preparation time by 40% by automating Excel tasks with macros'. This improves both the achievement and experience scores. The achievement generator can help you reword duties into results.
8. Keep dates and job titles consistent
Use one date format (for example, Jun 2024 to Present) and list real job titles. Inconsistent formats can confuse parsing.
9. Choose a sensible length
Freshers should aim for one page; experienced professionals can use two. Too little text weakens the scan; too much hides the important points.
10. Tailor the resume for each job
Compare your resume with the posting using Resume vs Job Description, then adjust your summary, skills and bullets. A resume that matches the job is more likely to be found by recruiter searches.
Common ATS myths
- 'ATS auto-rejects most resumes.' Not necessarily. Many systems simply store and rank resumes, and recruiters decide. Parsing problems still hurt your visibility.
- 'You must hide white keywords in the background.' This is a bad idea. Hidden text can be detected and looks dishonest.
- 'A higher score guarantees an interview.' No. Scores check readability and structure, not your qualification for a role.
- 'PDFs are always safer than Word.' Text-based PDFs and DOCX files both usually parse well. Follow the employer's instructions if they specify a format.
A quick improvement routine
- Scan your current resume and note the weakest areas in the breakdown.
- Fix structural problems first: sections, selectable text, contact details.
- Add missing keywords from the job description, only where true.
- Rewrite weak bullets with numbers and outcomes.
- Scan again and compare. Repeat until the remaining issues are minor.
- Save a tailored version for each type of role.
Start by uploading your resume to the ATS Resume Checker. If you are building a new one, our guide to the resume format for freshers in India shows an ATS-friendly structure you can follow.
Key takeaway
A good ATS score tells you that software can read your resume and that its basic structure is sound. It does not replace clear writing, real achievements and tailoring to each job. Aim for a clean, readable resume with relevant keywords and measurable results, and treat the score as a helpful checklist rather than a goal in itself.