Understanding score normalization in Performance reviews

To support flexibility in performance reviews, the Performance module applies score normalization so results remain consistent and easy to interpret across different rating scales.

In this article, we’ll walk through how score normalization works, how final scores are calculated, and how your normalization settings influence reports, benchmarks, and action plans.

The normalization approach in Performance

Performance reviews allow you to choose rating scales ranging from 3-point to 10-point, giving you maximum flexibility to rate different types of questions appropriately within the same review.

What normalization solves

Score normalization ensures that:

• Questions using different rating scales can be combined into one overall score
• Results remain comparable across teams, review cycles, and benchmarks
• Reports reflect a single, consistent scoring method

This makes it possible to mix rating formats such as 3-point, 5-point, or 10-point scales within the same performance review.

Setting up rating scales

You can create and manage rating scales at the organization level.
Create → Setup Defaults → Survey Defaults → (⋮) → Add scale

When adding a scale, you’ll configure:

• Type of measure (for example, Performance scale)
• Rating format (such as 3-point, 5-point, or 10-point)
  

Example

You might create a 3-point Performance scale with options like:

• Poor
• Moderate
• Excellent

Each scale is saved independently.

Note:
The Include NA option is now configured within the scale itself. It’s no longer dependent on question-level settings and applies only to that specific scale.

Applying scales to questions

Once scales are created, you can assign them to individual questions within a review.
Builder → Add questions → Select a question (or create a new one)

From the question settings:

• Open the Rating scale dropdown
• Click Configure
• Choose the Type (for example, Performance scale)

The response options are automatically populated based on the selected scale. This allows different questions in the same performance review to use different rating formats.

If a rating scale is changed for a question that already has responses, you’ll be prompted to delete the existing responses before applying the new scale. This ensures score consistency and prevents inaccurate calculations.

How final scores are determined

Normalization settings decide how all responses are converted into a final, unified score.
Configure → Review settings → Normalization

You’ll see two options:

• In score
• In percentage

By default:

• Both options are enabled
• In score is set as the default view
  

Customizing the score scale

If In score is enabled, you can define the final scale used for normalization.

For example:

Normalize all questions to a 5-point score, even if some questions use 3-point or 10-point scales
If you prefer percentage-only reporting:

• Disable In score
• Keep In percentage enabled

This choice applies across the entire review cycle, including Managers and approvers via Team Analytics. The option selected as default is what applies to performance reports and is also used as the default selection in the “Score by” dropdown in reports.

Benchmarks and scoring frameworks

Performance benchmarks support both score and percentage formats.
Configure → Review settings → Scoring framework → By competencies 

• Benchmarks are auto-populated using the selected normalization method
• Organizations can benchmark performance using scores, percentages, or both
• All thresholds across the Performance module automatically adapt to the chosen normalization settings.

Important:

If the default scoring option or normalization type is changed, sections such as Blind Spots, Hidden Strengths, Your Strengths, Areas of Improvement, and Benchmarks will be reset. You’ll see a warning prompt before making this change.

How normalization affects reports

Normalization directly impacts how data appears across reports and exports.
Configure → Reports (under Customize) 

Key behaviors:

• Subject and Group reports reflect only the default normalization format (score or percentage).
• The Score distribution chart on the reports page reflects only the default normalization setting.
• Sections such as Blind Spots, Hidden Strengths, Areas of Improvement, and Your Strengths in the report use the default normalization scale for calculations.
• Downloads reflect the normalized format

In other areas of the reports, you’ll have the option to toggle between normalization modes if both score and percentage are enabled in the settings. The default selection continues to follow the configured normalization preference.

Impact on action plans and highlights

Normalization settings are applied consistently beyond reports.

This means:

• Action plans are created using the score format selected at the time of creation, ensuring alignment with the chosen normalization setting.
• Highlights can be generated using either score or percentage, based on configuration
• Insights remain aligned across dashboards, reports, and exports

Why this matters

Score normalization ensures that:

• Performance reviews stay flexible without losing consistency
• Mixed rating scales don’t distort final outcomes
• Benchmarks and comparisons remain reliable
• Leaders and managers can interpret results with confidence

Different aspects of performance are often best measured using different rating scales. The Performance module gives you this flexibility while still maintaining a single, clear scoring framework, with the system handling all normalization in the background.

By standardizing how scores are calculated and displayed, the platform ensures consistency across reviews, reports, and benchmarks—so you can focus on performance insights, not score conversions.

If you have any questions or need help configuring score normalization, feel free to reach out to us.