What Happens If My Evaluation Score Is Low?
What to do when your evaluation score is lower than expected
What Happens If My Evaluation Score Is Low?
A low evaluation score isn't a failure—it's valuable feedback about areas to strengthen before filing. Here's what it means and what you can do.
Understanding Low Scores
Score Ranges
- 50-69 (Needs Strengthening): Significant improvements needed
- 30-49 (Clarification Risk): High risk of Copyright Office questions
- 0-29 (Approval Unlikely): Insufficient human authorship evidence
What a Low Score Means
A low score indicates:
- Not ready to file yet - Your current narrative needs strengthening
- Opportunity for improvement - Clear areas to work on
- Educational value - Learning what makes strong applications
- Honest assessment - Better to know now than after filing
Important: A low score doesn't mean your music can't be copyrighted. It means your current documentation of human contributions needs work.
Why Scores Are Low
Common Reasons:
1. Vague Descriptions
"I did some editing" doesn't tell the Copyright Office enough.
Fix: Be specific about what, how, and why you edited.
2. Minimal Human Involvement
Simple prompting without additional creative work may not meet standards.
Fix: Add more human creative contributions to the track, or better document existing contributions.
3. Missing Creative Rationale
Describing actions without explaining creative thinking behind them.
Fix: Explain your artistic vision and how your choices served it.
4. Overemphasis on AI
Spending more narrative on what AI did than what YOU did.
Fix: Refocus on your human creative contributions.
5. Lack of Specificity
Generic statements like "I made creative choices."
Fix: Provide concrete examples and specific details.
6. Single Area of Contribution
Only one type of involvement (prompting only, for example).
Fix: Document additional contributions across multiple areas.
Your Options
Option 1: Refine Your Narrative (Recommended First Step)
You have unlimited refinements for 30 days. Use them to:
- Add more detail - Expand vague statements into specific descriptions
- Document additional work - Include contributions you didn't mention
- Explain creative thinking - Show your artistic vision and intent
- Reorganize information - Present your work more effectively
- Learn through iteration - See what improves your score
Each refinement provides:
- New evaluation score
- Updated recommendations
- Progress tracking
- Learning about what works
Option 2: Add More Creative Work
If your actual involvement was minimal, consider enhancing the track with additional human creative work:
- Edit lyrics or melodies
- Add original vocal or instrumental layers
- Perform mixing and mastering
- Rearrange or restructure sections
- Create original production elements
Then update your narrative to reflect this additional work.
Option 3: Consult With Us
Contact support if:
- You believe the evaluation missed important contributions
- You need guidance on strengthening specific areas
- You're unsure how to improve your score
- You want a second look at your narrative
We can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation.
Option 4: Hold Off on Filing
Sometimes the best decision is to:
- Wait until you have stronger human involvement
- Build your skills and process
- Apply lessons learned to future tracks
- File when you have more copyrightable work
Your documentation doesn't expire. File when you're ready.
Step-by-Step Improvement Process
Step 1: Review Your Evaluation
Read all recommendations carefully. They identify specific weaknesses and suggest improvements.
Step 2: Identify Easiest Improvements
Look for quick wins:
- Adding more detail to existing statements
- Including work you forgot to mention
- Explaining creative reasoning behind actions
- Reorganizing information for clarity
Step 3: Make Strategic Edits
Focus on sections that scored lowest:
- If "Human Creative Control" is weak, add more about your artistic vision
- If "Technical Evidence" is weak, provide more production details
- If "Copyright Compliance" is weak, improve terminology and structure
Step 4: Re-Evaluate
Submit your refined narrative and see your new score. Did it improve? What specific areas changed?
Step 5: Iterate
Continue refining based on new feedback. Most creators see significant improvement over 2-4 refinement cycles.
Success Stories
Many creators start with low scores and successfully improve:
Example Improvement Path:
- Initial score: 45 (Clarification Risk)
- After refinement 1: 58 (Needs Strengthening)
- After refinement 2: 72 (Strong Case)
- After refinement 3: 81 (Strong Case)
- Final result: Filed with confidence, approved in 10 weeks
The refinement process is designed for this kind of improvement.
What NOT To Do
Don't File With a Low Score
Filing before strengthening your narrative:
- Wastes the $15 Copyright Office fee
- Risks denial or extensive correspondence
- Misses opportunity to improve first
- May require reapplying anyway
Don't Exaggerate or Lie
Inflating your contributions to raise your score:
- Can lead to registration denial
- May have legal consequences
- Doesn't actually help you
- The Copyright Office can spot dishonesty
Don't Give Up
A low initial score doesn't mean your work is worthless. It means:
- Your documentation needs work
- You're learning the process
- You have opportunity to improve
- Future tracks will benefit from this knowledge
Learning From Low Scores
Low scores provide valuable education:
- What the Copyright Office values - You learn their standards
- How to articulate contributions - Better communication skills
- Gaps in your process - Areas to enhance future work
- Documentation requirements - What makes strong applications
This knowledge improves all your future copyright applications.
Realistic Expectations
Can Every Track Score High?
No. Some tracks genuinely have minimal human involvement that doesn't meet copyright standards. That's okay and honest.
Should I Force It?
If your involvement was truly minimal, consider:
- Accepting that this particular track may not be copyrightable
- Learning for next time
- Increasing involvement in future projects
- Focusing on tracks with stronger human contributions
Questions About Low Scores?
"Is my low score permanent?"
No! You can refine unlimited times for 30 days. Most creators improve significantly.
"Does a low score mean I wasted my money?"
No. You learned valuable information about copyright standards and your work. That knowledge is valuable even if you don't file this particular track.
"Can I get a refund if my score is low?"
Assessment packages are generally non-refundable once you've accessed the evaluation, as you've received the service (guidance, evaluation, documentation). The evaluation's value is in the honest feedback, not just high scores.
"Will support help me improve my score?"
Yes! Contact us for guidance on strengthening your narrative. We're here to help you succeed.
Moving Forward
If you received a low score:
- Don't panic - This is fixable
- Review recommendations carefully - They're your roadmap
- Start with easiest improvements - Build momentum
- Use your refinements - That's what they're for
- Contact support if needed - We're here to help
- Learn for next time - Apply lessons to future tracks
Remember: A low score is feedback, not failure. Use it to improve.