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A CONSIDER rating means your script reader saw real potential in your work but flagged specific problems standing between your script and a RECOMMEND.
If you just opened a coverage report on a spec script, pilot, or contest submission and saw the word “CONSIDER,” this guide covers the exact steps that can move your next draft closer to RECOMMEND. See where CONSIDER sits on the Pass/Consider/Recommend scale and the possible reasons why your script landed there.
The Logline
- A CONSIDER rating signals real promise in your concept, characters, or marketability, along with specific issues your reader wants fixed before a RECOMMEND.
- Most CONSIDER scripts share the same root cause: structural or character-arc problems.
- A triaged revision beats a full rewrite in almost every case, since sorting your notes by impact gets you to RECOMMEND faster than starting over from page one.
What Does a CONSIDER Mean in Script Coverage?
A CONSIDER rating means your reader sees enough concept, character, or market strength to keep your script in play. However, there are still specific issues you need to resolve before you earn a RECOMMEND.
How the Pass/Consider/Recommend Scale Works
Coverage services and production companies use a three-tier rating scale to sort scripts fast. A reader scores your story, character work, dialogue, pacing, and marketability. Then the reader rates your screenplay as PASS, CONSIDER, or RECOMMEND. CONSIDER sits right in the middle of it.
Read more: Script coverage ratings explained
Where CONSIDER Falls in the Rating Spectrum
| Rating | What It Means | What To Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | The script needs foundational work on concept or structure before it can move forward. | Revisit your concept and structure, then submit a fresh draft. |
| Consider | The script shows real promise, but specific issues stand between it and a RECOMMEND. | Triage your notes and target a focused rewrite. |
| Recommend | The reader endorses the script for development as it stands. | Move forward with submissions, pitches, or representation. |
CONSIDER ranks as the middle tier between Pass and Recommend, and most scripts submitted for coverage never get past Pass.
Why Scripts Receive a CONSIDER Rating
Scripts receive a CONSIDER rating because of a small number of fixable issues, not because the underlying idea is weak.
Common Reasons Scripts Land at CONSIDER
Readers cite the same handful of problems again and again. Here are the most common reasons a script lands a CONSIDER rating:
- Weak or unclear structure. Your protagonist doesn’t have a clear goal by page 30, your midpoint drags, or your ending feels unearned.
- Underdeveloped character arcs. Your characters don’t change, or the change doesn’t feel earned on the page.
- Inconsistent pacing, especially a slow second act.
- Dialogue that doesn’t sound distinct between characters, or leans too hard on exposition.
- A concept that’s engaging but not distinct enough in a crowded genre or market.
- Formatting or craft issues, like typos or deviations from industry-standard format, that distract from otherwise strong material.
How Rare is a RECOMMEND?
RECOMMEND is the rarest of the three ratings. Fewer than 1% of scripts submitted for coverage receive one because there is a difference between competent and market-ready writing. Plenty of scripts read well, but very few clear the bar of “ready to shoot as-is.” A CONSIDER, by comparison, is a realistic and achievable middle ground most working screenwriters pass through before a RECOMMEND.
How to Upgrade from CONSIDER to RECOMMEND on a Rewrite
Follow a repeatable, four-step revision process to move from CONSIDER to RECOMMEND. Do not do a full rewrite from scratch. A good triage system provides you with a roadmap for a targeted rewrite.
Step 1: Read and Triage the Coverage Notes
Let the notes sit for 48 to 72 hours before you touch your draft. Your first emotional reaction to feedback clouds your judgment, so give it time to settle.
Then read the notes and sort each one by impact instead of the order it appears in the report. Sorting this way clarifies which notes are essential versus optional revisions.
Use a table like this to sort your notes:
Note | Category (Structure / Character / Dialogue / Pacing / Marketability) | Impact (High / Medium / Low) | Action |
Step 2: Prioritize the Highest-Impact Fixes First
Then, identify which categories need the most attention and rearrange your table. Tackle structural and character-arc notes before you touch scene-level or dialogue polish. Working in this order helps you prioritize which weaknesses most affect the grade and guides you toward addressing the most-cited weaknesses first.
Step 3: Revise One Pass at a Time
Next, pick one revision goal per draft pass. Fix structure in one pass, then character, then dialogue. Do not chase everything at once. Working pass by pass lets you decide whether you need a whole page-one rewrite or just a polish. Working pass by pass also keeps earlier fixes intact while you tackle new ones.
Step 4: Resubmit and Compare Drafts
Resubmit your revised script for coverage once again. Then compare the notes in your new draft and score them against your last version. See what changed and what you missed out. Repeat these steps until you reach the RECOMMEND score.
Read more: Does AI script feedback help?
Who Issues CONSIDER Ratings
Professional script evaluators and screenplay coverage platforms issue PASS, CONSIDER, and RECOMMEND verdicts.
Professionals from the film industry use these ratings for different purposes:
- Production companies and studios use these ratings to sort submissions fast. Their verdict provides objective criteria for a producer’s investment decision.
- Screenplay competitions and festivals use these ratings to filter entries, and a strong CONSIDER signals readiness for query letters or contest submissions.
- Agencies and management companies use these ratings as well to evaluate query submissions, and their notes signal to executives which scripts warrant a second read.
Measuring Progress from CONSIDER to RECOMMEND
Category-level score changes across drafts show whether a flagged structural or character issue actually got fixed.
What to Track Between Drafts
- Your overall rating movement (Pass to Consider to Recommend) draft over draft
- Category-level score or note-count changes in structure, character, dialogue, and marketability
- The number of high-impact notes you’ve resolved versus the ones still outstanding
- Reader comments on whether a flagged issue, like a specific structural note, got fixed
- The time between drafts and how it lines up with note resolution
Using the Rewrite Feature to Track Change
Greenlight Coverage gives screenwriters AI-powered script coverage with PASS, CONSIDER, and RECOMMEND ratings. Its Rewrite feature keeps reviewer memory across every draft you upload, so your coverage in draft two speaks directly to what changed since draft one, rather than starting from scratch.
Consistent tracking improves a script’s competitive standing in later submissions, because you walk into your next pitch with proof your revisions worked.
Draft-to-draft tracking moves you toward RECOMMEND faster than guessing at what you need to revise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a CONSIDER rating mean in script coverage?
A CONSIDER rating means your reader sees real potential in your script, but flagged specific, fixable problems. It sits between Pass and Recommend on the three-tier scale used industry-wide by production companies, contests, agencies, and coverage services.
How is a CONSIDER different from a RECOMMEND?
The main difference between a CONSIDER and a RECOMMEND is readiness. A CONSIDER means your script has real promise but still carries unresolved issues. A RECOMMEND means your reader judges the script ready for serious consideration as it stands, with no major fixes required.
What are the most common reasons a script receives a CONSIDER?
The most common reasons a script receives a CONSIDER include unclear protagonist goals and an underdeveloped character arc. Pacing problems in act two and dialogue that doesn’t yet sound distinct between characters also drag your score down.
How rare is a RECOMMEND rating in script coverage?
RECOMMEND stands as the rarest of the three ratings, earned by fewer than 1% of scripts submitted for coverage. Most scripts land at Pass, so a CONSIDER already puts your script ahead of most submissions.
What should I do after receiving a CONSIDER rating?
Triage your coverage notes by impact. Fix structural and character-arc issues before you touch line-level polish. One focused revision gets you closer to RECOMMEND than trying to fix everything at once.
Can I track how my script improves between drafts?
Yes. Greenlight Coverage’s Rewrite feature retains AI memory across every draft you upload, so you can see how your notes and score shift from one version to the next. This shows you whether your revision actually resolved the issues your coverage flagged.
Ready to Move Your Script Toward RECOMMEND?
Moving from CONSIDER to RECOMMEND is achievable with a focused, triaged revision. Greenlight Coverage provides you with a full coverage report to see exactly how you can improve your screenplay. Its Rewrite feature allows you to track changes you’ve made previously, draft after draft.