In this article, we will explain how to configure weights and how they influence a candidate's final score in assessments.
In any evaluation process, we know that some skills are more fundamental than others. To reflect this reality, Coodesh utilizes a weighting system (from 1 to 5).
This ensures that a talent's final grade is not just a simple count of correct answers, but a faithful reflection of the competencies most critical to the company's objectives.
1. What are weights?
Think of weight as the importance level of a task. In the Coodesh system, you can assign a weight to each individual question or to each test within an assessment:
Lower weights (1 or 2): For complementary or theoretical knowledge.
Higher weights (4 or 5): For crucial skills, such as the ability to write clean code or solve complex problems.
The higher the weight, the more that specific question or test will influence the final result.
2. How is the score calculated? (Weighted Average)
To reach the final result, we don't just add up the scores and divide by the number of questions. We use a Weighted Average, which accounts for the relevance of each item.
The Weighted Arithmetic Mean is used when certain elements carry more significance than others. In this calculation, each element is multiplied by its respective weight.
3. Practical Example: Evaluating a Backend Node.js Talent
Imagine an assessment track consisting of two parts: a Theoretical Questionnaire and a Coding Challenge. Since the focus is on practice, we define different weights:
Node.js Questionnaire (Theory): Weight 2
Backend Challenge (Code): Weight 5
The Candidate's Performance:
The candidate performed very well in theory but struggled during the coding phase:
Theory Score: 9.0
Coding Score: 6.0
The Calculation:
Multiply the score by its weight:
Theory: $9.0 \times 2 = 18$
Coding: $6.0 \times 5 = 30$
Sum these values: $18 + 30 = 48$
Divide by the sum of the weights ($2 + 5 = 7$):
$48 \div 7 = \mathbf{6.8}$
If this were a standard average, the score would be 7.5. However, because the coding test (where the candidate struggled) was much more important for the role, the final grade is 6.8.
4. Where to configure weights?
You can apply this logic at two levels:
At the Question level: Useful for questionnaires where one specific question is more relevant than others.
At the Assessment level: Useful for giving more relevance to one specific test/challenge over others.