> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aiinterviewbuddy.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Evaluating Interview Performance > Understand how AI Interview Buddy evaluates your interview answers using a structured, AI-assisted methodology. AI Interview Buddy allows you to either **record interviews** directly using your device's microphone or **upload audio files** in most common formats (e.g., MP3, M4A, WAV). Once an interview is uploaded, the system uses **AI-based speech-to-text (STT)** to transcribe the audio. This includes **speaker diarization** meaning it can distinguish between the candidate and the interviewer(s). *** ## Extracting Questions and Answers After transcription, the system identifies individual **Q\&A pairs**. It’s common for an interviewer to ask **follow-up questions**, so the system intelligently **groups sequences of related questions and answers** into single Q\&A units for evaluation. evaluating-interview-performance *** ## Evaluation Criteria Each Q\&A pair is then evaluated across **seven key dimensions**. These are based on best practices in hiring and interview assessment: ### 1. Structured Response (Use of STAR Method) Did the candidate organize their answer clearly and logically? * Behavioral questions are ideally answered using the **STAR** model (Situation, Task, Action, Result). * Technical answers should explain the problem and solution in a **step-by-step** manner. * A good structure helps the evaluator follow the story and logic easily. ### 2. Relevance to the Question Did the answer directly address the question asked? * Strong answers **stay on topic** and answer all parts of a multi-part question. * Examples chosen must be aligned with the intent of the question. * Going off-topic or missing key elements reduces relevance. ### 3. Clarity and Conciseness Is the response easy to follow and free from unnecessary rambling? * Great candidates communicate in a **clear and focused** manner. * Long-winded or vague responses are penalized. * Clarity improves with structure and brevity. ### 4. Specificity and Detail Does the candidate give **concrete details**, real examples, and avoid vague generalities? * Strong answers include specific facts, tools used, data, names, and measurable outcomes. * Vague or generic statements (e.g., “I worked hard”) hurt the credibility of the answer. ### 5. Actions and Personal Contribution Does the candidate explain what **they** specifically did? * Evaluators look for **individual ownership** of actions. * Even in team settings, the candidate should highlight their **personal contribution**. ### 6. Results and Impact Does the answer explain **what happened** as a result of their actions? * Interviewers want to hear about **outcomes**, not just effort. * Strong responses include **quantifiable results**, lessons learned, or meaningful change. ### 7. Skill/Competency Demonstration Does the answer showcase the **skill or competency** the question is targeting? * For example: teamwork, leadership, communication, technical knowledge, problem-solving. * The answer should clearly demonstrate the **candidate possesses the desired quality**. *** ## Scoring and Final Evaluation Each of the 7 criteria is scored on a **0–10 scale**.\ The average of these scores is used to determine the quality of the answer. **Formula:** > (ST + RV + CC + SP + AR + CY + SK) / 7 = Q\&A Score Then, the scores of all Q\&A pairs in the interview are averaged to generate the final **Interview Score**. *** ## A Note on Subjectivity While this scoring process helps **quantify interview answers** in a structured and fair way, it’s important to remember: > **Interview performance is always somewhat subjective** - what’s considered a strong answer in one company or role may be seen differently elsewhere. That said, by applying a **methodical approach** to structure, relevance, clarity, and impact, candidates can significantly **improve the quality of their answers**. Successful candidates tend to **consistently demonstrate strength across these 7 dimensions**.