How to use Ruthless Evaluator. Step by step guide

How to use Ruthless Evaluator

Ruthless Evaluator simulates an official Horizon Europe or EIC evaluation before submission.

It provides scores, structured comments, and concrete improvement recommendations aligned with real evaluator logic, allowing teams to identify and fix weaknesses before they cost points.

1. Account setup

Go to: ruthlessevaluator.ai

• Click Register and create your account using your name, organisation, and email
• Confirm your email address through the link sent to your inbox
• If you forget your password, use the Forgot password option on the login page

2. Dashboard overview

After logging in, you will see your My Projects dashboard.

From here you can:

• Create and access evaluations
• Review past scores and version history
• Filter by evaluator persona or programme
• Monitor scores by Excellence, Impact, and Implementation criteria

3. Launching a new evaluation

Step 1. Click New Evaluation

You will find the New Evaluation button at the top of the dashboard.

Step 2. Fill in the required details

Project ID Use the acronym or internal project name. Each submission under the same project ID is tracked as a new version.

Evaluator style Choose a persona such as Ruthless, Polite, Data Freak, or Corporate. All personas apply the same scoring logic, but differ in tone and emphasis.

Programme and context Select the relevant programme, such as Pathfinder or Accelerator, and the topic if applicable.

Upload or paste text

• Recommended: upload a DOCX or PDF
• Alternatively: paste the proposal text directly into the input field
• Minimum input length is 40 characters

Step 3. Submit

Once submitted, the platform starts processing the evaluation.

Typical processing time is around 8 minutes, depending on proposal length.

4. Reading your evaluation

When the evaluation is ready, you are redirected to the Project Detail view.

Here you will find:

• An overall score, for example 90.7 out of 100, with a performance band such as Excellent
• General comments with high level impressions
• Internal notes with detection insights and scoring logic
• Structured criteria tabs

For each of Excellence, Impact, and Implementation, you will see:

• A concise section summary
• Clearly highlighted strengths and weaknesses
• Concrete, actionable improvement recommendations

Note: if the selected call does not require Implementation, such as Pathfinder RIA Stage 1, that section is excluded automatically.

5. Comparing versions

When you submit a new version under the same project ID, you can:

• Compare it against earlier versions
• See score changes by subcriterion
• Track whether previous weaknesses were resolved
• Identify new issues introduced during revision

6. Exporting reports

Each evaluated version can be exported in DOCX format, ready to:

• Share with internal teams
• Annotate using track changes
• Review offline or include in funding dossiers

7. Tips for getting the most from Ruthless Evaluator

• Test different evaluator styles to compare tone and emphasis
• Submit different types of proposals to assess flexibility
• Pay close attention to red flag comments and low sub scores
• Use the platform early in drafting, not only just before submission

8. Support

If you encounter any issues or unexpected outputs, contact: [email protected]