Free ATS Resume Checker: check your ATS score in 10 seconds
Many companies filter resumes with software before a person reads them. Upload yours to find out how it scores and what could be getting it rejected.
By Skill Shiksha, a tech training institute in Lucknow. Updated 12 November 2026.
What is an ATS resume checker?
An ATS resume checker is a tool that estimates how well an applicant tracking system (ATS) can read and rank your resume. It gives you a score out of 100 and lists the problems that could get your resume filtered out before a recruiter sees it.
- Scores your resume out of 100
- Finds layout, keyword and writing issues
- Compares your resume with a job description
- Works with PDF and Word (.docx) files
- Free account, no payment needed
- Expert help to enhance it and apply
How to check your resume for ATS in 3 steps
Sign up free and upload your resume
Create a free account in a minute, then drop in a PDF or Word file. Add a job description if you are applying for a specific role.
We scan it like an ATS
We check layout, contact details, sections, keywords, achievements and writing in a few seconds.
See your score and a preview of your issues
Get a score out of 100 and the problems costing you shortlists. Share your phone number and ask us for the full report and the fix for each one, as often as you like.
What you get free, and what our team adds
Scanning is free with a Skill Shiksha account. When you want the complete picture, contact us as many times as you need.
Free when you scan
- Your ATS score out of 100
- A breakdown across seven areas
- A preview of your issues: one major and one minor
- Optional job description keyword match
When you contact our team
- Every issue on your resume, with the exact fix for each
- Help to enhance your resume further
- Guidance on how to apply so companies are more likely to accept it
- Ask again for any resume you scan
How the ATS score is calculated
Seven areas add up to 100 points. These are the checks most applicant tracking systems have in common, and the points each one is worth.
Readability and layout 20 pts
Can software read your text? Columns, tables, images, scanned pages and odd fonts are caught here.
Impact and achievements 20 pts
Action verbs, numbers behind your results, bullet points instead of paragraphs, and no passive phrases.
Keywords and skills 15 pts
The skills recruiters search for, and how well your resume matches a job description.
Resume sections 15 pts
Standard headings for experience or projects, education, skills and summary.
Contact information 10 pts
Email, phone, location and visible LinkedIn or GitHub addresses, in a place an ATS can find them.
Length and formatting 10 pts
Page count, word count, file name, dates and special symbols.
Writing quality 10 pts
Spelling, grammar and spacing slips, filler phrases, first-person wording and date formats.
What is a good ATS score?
Aim for 80 or more. Here is how to read the score our checker gives you.
| Score | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 85 to 98 | Excellent | Reads cleanly for an ATS. Remaining issues are small polish. |
| 70 to 84 | Good | A solid base, but a few issues could cost you shortlists. |
| 50 to 69 | Needs work | Many ATS may rank this below other applicants or filter it out. |
| Below 50 | At risk | Likely to be rejected automatically. Fix the critical issues first. |
ATS-friendly resume checklist
Do this
- Use a single-column layout with a clear top-to-bottom order.
- Use standard headings: Summary, Experience, Projects, Education, Skills.
- Save as a text-based PDF or .docx, and check you can select the text.
- Use a plain font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman at 10 to 12 pt.
- Write full LinkedIn and GitHub addresses as visible text.
- Start bullets with action verbs and add numbers to your results.
- Copy the exact skills and keywords from the job description, where true.
- Use one date format throughout, such as Mar 2024 to Aug 2025.
- Name the file YourName_Role_Resume.pdf.
Avoid this
- Two columns, sidebars, tables and text boxes.
- Scanned pages, screenshots and PDFs made from images.
- Photos, logos, icons and emoji.
- Putting your contact details only in the page header or footer.
- Fancy section names like My Journey or Superpowers.
- Skills hidden behind words such as GitHub or LinkedIn with no address.
- Long paragraphs instead of short bullet points.
- Filler such as team player, hard working or self-motivated.
- Spelling and spacing slips, which can break keyword matches.
How to choose the best ATS resume checker
There are many ATS checkers online. Whichever you use, look for these five things.
- 1
It shows specific issues, not just a number
A score alone tells you nothing. You need to know what is wrong, such as a two-column layout or missing keywords.
- 2
It reads your real file
Look for support for the formats you actually use, PDF and Word, and honest handling of scanned or image-only files.
- 3
It can compare against a job description
ATS rank you for a specific role, so matching a real job post matters more than a general score.
- 4
It is clear about its limits
Every company's ATS is different. A trustworthy checker says its result is an estimate, not a guaranteed pass.
- 5
It is easy to try
You should see your score and a preview of your issues before you pay anything. A quick free signup is fair. Paying first is not.
The Skill Shiksha ATS Resume Checker is free, needs only a free account, scores seven areas out of 100, supports PDF and Word files and compares your resume with a job description. It is an estimate: it cannot copy the exact rules of any one company's system, and it does not rewrite your resume for you.
ATS resume tips for freshers and students in India
If you are applying through campus placements, job portals or company career pages, your resume often meets an ATS first. As a fresher you will not have years of experience to show, so your projects, internships and skills carry the weight.
- Put Projects and Internships under a clear heading, each with dates and short bullet points.
- Add numbers to project results: users, requests handled, load time cut, tests written.
- List your skills in their own section using the exact names from the job post, such as React, Node.js or MongoDB.
- Write your GitHub and LinkedIn addresses in full, and add your city and a 10-digit phone number.
- Keep it to one page unless you have strong content for a second.
- Use one date style for your degree and graduation year, such as Aug 2022 to May 2026.
What is an ATS, and why does it reject resumes?
An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is software that employers and job portals use to collect applications, pull the details out of each resume and rank candidates against a role. When hundreds of people apply, recruiters often start from the top of that ranked list.
A resume can lose out for reasons that have nothing to do with your ability. If the file is a scanned image, if text sits in columns or tables, if standard headings such as Experience and Skills are missing, or if the keywords from the job post never appear, the system may not understand or score your resume well.
The fixes are usually simple: a clean single-column layout, clear headings, a proper skills section, bullet points that start with action verbs and show numbers, and the language of the job you want. This checker shows where you stand on each of them.
ATS resume checker questions, answered
+What is an ATS resume checker?
An ATS resume checker estimates how well an applicant tracking system (ATS) can read and rank your resume. Companies use an ATS to collect applications and filter them before a recruiter looks. The checker reports your score and the issues that could get your resume filtered out.
+How do I check my resume for ATS?
Create a free Skill Shiksha account, then upload your resume as a PDF or Word file to the ATS Resume Checker. You get a score out of 100 and a preview of your issues in about 10 seconds. For a role-specific result, paste the job description first and we also show how many of its keywords your resume covers.
+What is the best ATS resume checker?
The best checker is one that shows specific issues, reads PDF and Word files, compares your resume with a real job description and is honest that its score is an estimate. The Skill Shiksha ATS Resume Checker is free, needs only a free account, scores seven areas out of 100 and supports job description matching. No tool can promise a pass with every employer's system.
+Is the Skill Shiksha ATS checker really free?
Yes. Creating an account, scanning your resume and seeing your score and a preview of your issues is free. If you want the complete list of issues and the exact fix for each one, you can contact our team. They also help you enhance your resume and show you how to apply, and you can ask as many times as you need.
+What do I get free, and what does Skill Shiksha add when I contact you?
Free: your ATS score out of 100, a breakdown across seven areas, and a preview of your issues (one major and one minor issue from your resume). When you contact our team: the complete list of issues with the exact fix for each, help to enhance your resume further, and guidance on how to apply so companies are more likely to accept it. You can ask again for any resume you scan.
+Do I need to sign up to use the ATS checker?
Yes, you need a free Skill Shiksha account. Sign up with your name, email and phone number, or with Google, then upload your resume. The account lets you see your result and lets you ask our team for the full report whenever you want, for as many resumes as you like.
+What is a good ATS score?
A score of 80 or more is a good target. In our checker, 85 and above is Excellent, 70 to 84 is Good, 50 to 69 needs work and below 50 is at risk of automatic rejection. A very high score on the wrong resume still will not help, so also match the keywords of the job you want.
+Is my resume stored or shared?
Your resume file itself is read on our server to produce the score and is not saved. We keep the score and the list of issues with your account so our team can help you if you ask. Your name, email and phone number are used only to reach you about your resume, and we do not sell or share them.
+How accurate is the ATS score?
It is an estimate. Every company uses different ATS software with its own rules, so no tool can promise a pass or fail. The score is based on the checks that most systems share, such as readable text, clear sections, standard headings, keywords and measurable achievements.
+Which file format is best for an ATS?
A text-based PDF exported from Word or Google Docs, or a .docx file, works with almost every ATS. Avoid scanned pages, screenshots and PDFs made from images, because the system cannot read the text in them.
+Can an ATS read two columns, tables or images?
Often not well. Many systems read line by line, so text in side-by-side columns or tables gets mixed together, and text inside images is invisible. A single-column layout with standard headings is the safest choice.
+Why is my resume rejected by an ATS?
Common reasons are a two-column or table layout that scrambles the text, missing standard sections such as Experience or Skills, too few keywords from the job description, no measurable results, and an unreadable file such as a scanned image.
+How many keywords should my resume have?
There is no fixed number. Use the skills and terms from the job description that are true for you, in your skills section and in your bullet points. Stuffing in keywords you cannot back up hurts you in the interview.
+Is this ATS checker good for freshers and students?
Yes. It understands projects and internships as experience, so freshers are not penalised for having no full-time job. It also checks the things campus and entry-level applicants often miss, such as visible GitHub and LinkedIn addresses, a skills section and numbers in project results.
+How do I improve my ATS score?
Use a single-column layout with standard headings, list your skills in a Skills section, start bullets with action verbs, add numbers to your achievements, include the keywords from the job post and fix spelling. Contact our team and we will share the full list of fixes for your resume.
Ready to see your ATS score?
It takes about 10 seconds and costs nothing. Create a free account, upload your resume and find out what to fix.
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