Reference
How scoring works. How to improve.
A breakdown of the four evaluation dimensions, the STAR method, and concrete techniques for performing better in blind video interviews.
Scoring
The overall score is a weighted average
Each response is scored across four dimensions. The overall score is computed directly from those four numbers — not estimated separately.
Strong
75 and above
Developing
55 to 74
Needs work
Below 55
Measures
Is the response easy to follow? Well-organized? Complete sentences with a clear through-line from opening to close?
Strong
Crisp first sentence, logical progression, definite conclusion. No backtracking.
Weak
Circular thinking, incomplete sentences, trailing off without landing anywhere.
Measures
Did the candidate use a recognizable framework? STAR for behavioral questions. Logical organization and a clear throughline for forward-looking ones.
Strong
All four STAR components present and balanced. Each section earns its place.
Weak
Jumped straight to action with no setup. Result is vague or absent entirely.
Measures
Does the response directly and specifically address the question? No filler, no tangents, no generic observations that could fit any question.
Strong
Every sentence earns its place. The answer fits the specific prompt precisely.
Weak
Recycled content that doesn't fit the question. Generic claims without evidence.
Measures
Does it feel genuine, specific, and personal? Or rehearsed, corporate, and interchangeable with any other candidate?
Strong
Real details. Personal ownership. A specific moment rather than a composite story.
Weak
Buzzwords. Plural 'we' where 'I' belongs. A story that could belong to anyone.
Framework
The STAR method
STAR is evaluated on behavioral questions only — questions about past experiences. For forward-looking questions like "Why this school?" the Structure dimension uses logical organization and completeness instead.
Set the scene briefly. Where were you, what was the context, and what made it significant enough to discuss? Keep it tight — this is the foundation, not the story.
Define your specific role or responsibility. What were you personally accountable for? This is what distinguishes your contribution from the team's.
Describe the concrete steps you took. Use 'I' not 'we'. This is the heart of your answer — what you decided, built, or led, and why you made those choices.
State the outcome and quantify it if you can. Then close with what you learned or what you would do differently. That last part signals self-awareness.
Common mistake
Most candidates spend 60% of their time on Situation and Task, then rush through Action and skip the Result. Flip it. Evaluators care most about what you did and what came of it. Keep the setup brief so you have time for the substance.
Best Practices
How to perform better
Techniques that apply to every blind video interview, regardless of category.
Setup
Look at the camera, not the screen
Camera contact reads as eye contact to the viewer. Cover your self-view if watching yourself is distracting — it usually is.
Use the think time deliberately
Jot three words before recording: situation, action, result. A 5-second pause to collect your thoughts reads as composure. Starting before you know where you're going reads as disorganization.
Control your environment
Solid background, a light source in front of you (a window works well), no audio distractions. Technical problems distract evaluators before you've said a single word.
Content
One example, explored fully
A single specific story with real depth beats three examples touched briefly. Evaluators remember specifics. Breadth without depth reads as a lack of preparation.
Quantify the result
'The project went well' is not a result. '23% faster, delivered on time, under budget' is. Find a number — even an approximate one — and use it.
Own your actions with 'I'
Teams accomplish things. You are being evaluated individually. Describe what you decided, built, or led — not what the group did together.
Close with a takeaway
End on what you learned or what you would change. It signals self-awareness, which evaluators value as much as the outcome itself.
Delivery
Start with a sentence, not a filler word
Opening with 'So...' or 'Um...' costs you clarity and composure in the first five seconds. Draft your opening sentence during think time and say it cleanly.
Finish every sentence
Trailing off or restarting mid-thought signals uncertainty. Speak at 80% of your natural pace and complete every thought before moving to the next one.
Rehearse out loud, not in your head
You will not notice your own filler words until you hear them. Record yourself once before a real session. The gap between how you think you sound and how you actually sound is always larger than expected.