Free ATS CV Checker
Upload your CV and get a score out of 100, with a clear list of what to fix. Then paste a job advert to see which keywords you are missing. Free, instant and private — your file never leaves your device.
Check your CV
Upload your CV to check it
PDF, Word (.docx) or text file · up to 15 MB · or drag & drop it here
Checked in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
What could be read from your file
ATS software reads your CV in a similar way. If something is not found here, a tracking system may miss it too.
Match your CV to a job
The score follows common ATS and recruiter guidelines. It is a guide to help you improve your CV, not a guarantee of an interview.
How the CV score works
The checker reads your CV the way applicant tracking software does — as plain text — and then runs 27 checks across eight areas. Every check is worth a fixed number of points, so you can see exactly where you are losing marks and what to change.
| Area | Points | What is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Contact details | 15 | Name, job title, valid email, phone, city and a LinkedIn or portfolio link. |
| Summary | 12 | A summary of 30–80 words that includes at least one number. |
| Work experience | 30 | Complete job entries, bullet points, strong action verbs and measurable results. |
| Education | 8 | Each qualification with the institution and dates. |
| Skills | 12 | 8–20 skills, with more job-specific skills than general ones. |
| Extra sections | 6 | Certifications, projects or awards, and the languages you speak. |
| Length & readability | 10 | Total length, short bullet points and no “I” or “my” statements. |
| ATS safety | 7 | Readable dates, no emojis or symbols, and little filler wording. |
Work experience carries the most weight because it is what recruiters read first. A CV with clear achievements and numbers will always beat a CV that only lists duties.
What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that employers and recruitment agencies use to collect, search and sort job applications. When you apply online, your CV is usually stored in an ATS, converted to text and matched against the job by keywords, job titles, dates and skills.
The software does not “reject” good candidates on purpose, but it can only work with what it can read. Text inside images, complicated tables, multiple columns, icons and unusual headings often come out jumbled or disappear. That is why a simple, single-column CV with standard headings is the safest choice.
How to make your CV ATS-friendly
- Use standard headings such as Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education and Skills.
- Keep one column. Avoid text boxes, tables and sidebars that scramble the reading order.
- Send a text-based PDF or a Word file, never a photo or scan of your CV.
- Write dates clearly, for example “Mar 2021 – Present”.
- Mirror the job advert. Use the same words for skills and job titles when they are true for you.
- Start bullet points with action verbs and add numbers wherever you can.
- Remove icons, emojis and graphics from the text of your CV.
For a deeper look, read our 12 ATS-friendly resume tips and the guide to the best CV format.
Low score? Fix it in a few minutes
Click Fix these in the free CV maker under your score. Your CV opens in the Free CV Maker with every section already filled in, and the score updates live while you edit. When you are happy with it, download a clean, ATS-friendly PDF or Word file — or write a matching letter with the cover letter maker.
Not sure what to write? Open one of our CV examples by job to see summaries, bullet points and skills for your role.
Frequently asked questions
Is this ATS CV checker really free?
Yes. The checker is completely free, with no sign-up, no email address and no limit on how many CVs you check.
Is my CV uploaded to a server?
No. Your file is read and scored inside your own browser. It is never sent to our servers, so nobody else can see your CV.
How is the CV score calculated?
The score adds up 27 checks in eight areas: contact details, summary, work experience, education, skills, extra sections, length and readability, and ATS safety. Each check is worth a set number of points and the total is out of 100.
What is a good CV score?
85 or more is excellent, 70–84 is good, and 50–69 means your CV has the basics but needs work. Below 50, add more detail before you apply. Aim for at least 80.
Does a high score guarantee an interview?
No. The score follows common ATS and recruiter guidelines, but every employer is different. A high score means your CV is complete, readable and specific — you still need to match it to the job you are applying for.
Which file types can I check?
PDF, Word (.docx) and plain-text files up to 15 MB. Scanned image PDFs and old .doc files cannot be read — which is also a sign that ATS software may not be able to read them.
What does the keyword match do?
Paste the job description and the checker lists the important terms from the advert, showing which ones already appear in your CV and which are missing. Add the missing ones only if they are true for you.
Build a higher-scoring CV — free
Open the CV maker, follow the score tips and download your CV as PDF or Word. No sign-up, no watermark.
Guides that raise your score
ATS-Friendly Resume: 12 Tips
Make sure applicant tracking systems can read your resume, with a simple test you can do in 30 seconds.
Read guide150+ Action Verbs for Your Resume
Power words grouped by skill, with before-and-after examples that turn duties into achievements.
Read guideSkills for CV: 100+ Examples
Hard and soft skills to put on your CV, grouped by job — and how to list them so recruiters notice.
Read guide