How we evaluate and rate websites
We audit websites and the organisations behind them. The rating measures credibility, transparency and quality, not just how good a website looks.
Ratings come from a structured check of defined parameters and the evidence behind them. They are not an average of user reviews, and a website owner’s own claims count only once they have been verified.
The seven categories
Internal parameters cover what a website publishes and delivers. External parameters cover what independent sources confirm. Technical parameters cover security, reliability and accuracy.
The scoring scale
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Verified serious failure or complete non-compliance |
| 1 | Major deficiencies |
| 2 | Significant gaps or partial compliance |
| 3 | Satisfactory evidence of compliance |
| 4 | Strong evidence and well-established practice |
| 5 | Excellent, independently substantiated performance |
Missing information is never scored as zero. A parameter that cannot be checked is marked as not assessed, and a parameter that does not apply to a website is excluded from its category.
How the overall rating is calculated
A category’s score is the average of its scored parameters, expressed as a percentage. That percentage multiplied by the category’s weight gives the points it contributes. The points from all seven categories add up to the obtained score, out of an overall total of 100. The rating is also shown as stars, where 20 points equal one star.
For example, a website scoring 4, 3, 4, 5 and 4 on five parameters in a category gets 20 out of 25, or 80%. If that category carries 25% weight, it contributes 20 of the 100 points.
Rating bands
| Score | Band |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | Excellent |
| 80–89 | Very good |
| 70–79 | Good |
| 50–69 | Needs improvement |
| 0–49 | Poor |
A band never overrides a serious finding. If a material issue such as a false accreditation claim, or certificates issued without the advertised exam, is confirmed, the profile shows “Critical issue confirmed” whatever the numerical score.
When a website is Recommended
Only when all of these hold: a score of at least 90 out of 100 (4.5 stars), every category and parameter assessed, identity verified, evidence status Verified, no open critical issue and a current audit.
Status labels on every profile
The number is shown alongside separate labels for audit status, identity, accreditation, evidence and critical risk, so it is clear what has and has not been checked.
Accreditation and recognition
Accreditation, professional recognition and the quality of a certification are related but different. Where a website claims accreditation, we check it against the accrediting body’s official records, including scope and whether it is current. A website is not treated as illegitimate simply because accreditation is not required for its field; we check whether its claims are accurate. Our rating is not accreditation, government approval or a guarantee of any outcome.
User reviews
Reviews are moderated, limited to one per email address per website, and shown separately from the audit rating. Verified, corroborated feedback can be considered as evidence under External reputation, but reviews are never averaged into the rating.
Re-audits and updates
A rating reflects our findings on the audit date shown. Each website is scheduled for review at a set interval, and automated checks such as HTTPS and availability run in between. A rating changes only when the evidence changes, never automatically with time.
Independence and affiliation
Websites affiliated with the operator are audited with the same parameters and weights and carry a visible affiliation notice. Ratings cannot be bought, and any sponsorship is labelled separately from audit results.
Limitations
Websites, accreditation schemes and organisational practices change. Before relying on a rating, check that the website meets your own requirements.