--- title: "How are PickFu scores calculated? | PickFu Help Center" description: "When a poll has more than one option, how is a clear winner determined?" --- # Ranked surveys PickFu scores show you how much your audience preferred one option over another. The exact calculation depends on the survey type — Ranked, Head-to-Head, Single Select, Multi Select, and Star Rating each have their own scoring logic. Ranked surveys use [instant runoff voting (IRV)](https://www.fairvote.org/rcv#rcvbenefits) — the same method used in real elections. Each respondent ranks every option in order of preference, and the system runs as many rounds as needed to find an option with majority support. In each round, the option with the fewest votes is eliminated, and its votes redistribute to those respondents' next-preferred options. This continues until one option has more than 50% of votes. [![Example of a Ranked survey going through two rounds of instant runoff voting](https://pickfu.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/416862191/55842773db5a51bfcd6f076e/q4DQ75Pc8mhzNFAVV0yyxD0ACFzKTCEootp9UGAIN3wnsQrX-Mxa9o0ACe3fZzF17NIe85oO9fMun9tzW3eyOulCHR3TKCMz0BrbK_HkgrDXJeQniddPiriMpsuuFJwI4jC9_1a5?expires=1779484500&signature=5b5e31fa323e04aea0d13a9d1198618c77192a7984f626b341e31e5e196fbd6d&req=cCEhHs98nIheFb4f3HP0gPHjmKXDfS%2FM4a5byr4nEYPG9j71lXOXKWpw6pnP%0AvUqPO8UZe1jt4xxElA%3D%3D%0A)](https://pickfu.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/416862191/55842773db5a51bfcd6f076e/q4DQ75Pc8mhzNFAVV0yyxD0ACFzKTCEootp9UGAIN3wnsQrX-Mxa9o0ACe3fZzF17NIe85oO9fMun9tzW3eyOulCHR3TKCMz0BrbK_HkgrDXJeQniddPiriMpsuuFJwI4jC9_1a5?expires=1779484500&signature=5b5e31fa323e04aea0d13a9d1198618c77192a7984f626b341e31e5e196fbd6d&req=cCEhHs98nIheFb4f3HP0gPHjmKXDfS%2FM4a5byr4nEYPG9j71lXOXKWpw6pnP%0AvUqPO8UZe1jt4xxElA%3D%3D%0A) The score shown on each option's card represents its share of votes during the runoff. Only the winning option will have a score above 50. Because of how IRV adjusts during multi-round voting, displayed percentages may not match raw first-round vote counts exactly. ## When to use a Ranked survey Use a Ranked survey when you're testing 3+ options and want the fastest, most cost-effective way to find a clear winner from your audience. # Head-to-Head surveys Head-to-Head surveys show respondents your options two at a time, in every possible 1:1 matchup. Each respondent votes on each pairing and explains their choice in writing. Each option's score is the number of matchups it won, divided by the number of matchups it appeared in, expressed as a percentage. The winner is the option with the highest score. [![Head-to-Head survey showing four options compared in 1:1 matchups](https://pickfu.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/416862195/8d823130dc65acace90451a8/9UOiS3dIs7l-JAML6lTPA3eqBInpxIec0hkaF5BJaKBEW_jK-7-DfzXkzJTxo6A-jVvu237CEclXlroBEoBGxPa34N_YtDMNwXafPCWg_LZPzm3wiuQoEFFHD_ZsHLId-je0E7jK?expires=1779484500&signature=2bd02de036b9a4af781c2d7fe8177fdaa459856ac39c7ef23a2b1368f990e145&req=cCEhHs98nIhaFb4f3HP0gA%2Ffda9kOKr3x%2B4S2ERoNQtBqFi5ToCknB%2FaeV9S%0AmLJ9vNn3Bx5KpM%2B60A%3D%3D%0A)](https://pickfu.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/416862195/8d823130dc65acace90451a8/9UOiS3dIs7l-JAML6lTPA3eqBInpxIec0hkaF5BJaKBEW_jK-7-DfzXkzJTxo6A-jVvu237CEclXlroBEoBGxPa34N_YtDMNwXafPCWg_LZPzm3wiuQoEFFHD_ZsHLId-je0E7jK?expires=1779484500&signature=2bd02de036b9a4af781c2d7fe8177fdaa459856ac39c7ef23a2b1368f990e145&req=cCEhHs98nIhaFb4f3HP0gA%2Ffda9kOKr3x%2B4S2ERoNQtBqFi5ToCknB%2FaeV9S%0AmLJ9vNn3Bx5KpM%2B60A%3D%3D%0A) ## When to use a Head-to-Head survey Head-to-Head is more thorough than Ranked because every option is directly compared with every other option. Use it when you want richer comparative feedback and don't mind paying for the additional matchups. # Single Select and Multi Select surveys In a **Single Select** survey, each respondent picks one option from your list. The score for each option is the percentage of respondents who chose it. Scores across all options sum to 100%. In a **Multi Select** survey, respondents can pick more than one option. The score for each option is the percentage of respondents who included it in their selection. Scores can sum to well over 100% because respondents often pick multiple options. # Star Rating surveys Star Rating surveys ask respondents to rate each option from 1 to 5 stars. The score shown for each option is its average star rating, displayed both as a number (e.g., 4.2) and visually as filled stars. # Frequently asked questions ## Why don't the percentages add up to 100%? In a Ranked survey, scores reflect each option's share of the vote during instant runoff — only the winner clears 50%, and percentages won't sum to 100%. In Head-to-Head, each option's score is independent (its own win rate across matchups), so they won't sum to 100% either. Scores sum to 100% only in Single Select surveys. ## How close is too close to call a winner? There's no universal threshold, but if the top two options are within a few percentage points, [treat the result like a tie](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/1984384-interpreting-tied-results) — read the comments, segment by audience, and consider adding more respondents. ## Will my scores change if I add more respondents? Yes, often. Larger samples can shift Ranked and Head-to-Head scores because the system recalculates from scratch with the combined data. This is expected and gives you a more accurate picture of audience preference. See [how adding respondents affects ranked surveys](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/2312899-how-to-add-more-respondents-to-your-poll). * * * Related Articles [ How do I interpret tied results? ](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/1984384-how-do-i-interpret-tied-results)[ How do I add more respondents to my survey? ](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/2312899-how-do-i-add-more-respondents-to-my-survey)[ Which poll type should I use? ](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/7045606-which-poll-type-should-i-use)[ What is a Single Select poll and when should I use it? ](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/11833548-what-is-a-single-select-poll-and-when-should-i-use-it)[ How to test Amazon A+ Content with PickFu ](https://help.pickfu.com/en/articles/13919528-how-to-test-amazon-a-content-with-pickfu)