Article Assessment on Wikipedia: How Quality Is Measured and Improved

When you see a Wikipedia article labeled as article assessment, a system used by editors to rate the quality and completeness of articles. Also known as article grading, it’s how volunteers decide if a page is a stub, a solid reference, or ready for featured status. It’s not just a label—it’s a roadmap. Every article on Wikipedia gets reviewed by editors who check for depth, sourcing, neutrality, and structure. These assessments help prioritize which articles need work and which are already strong enough to be trusted.

Article assessment isn’t done in a vacuum. It ties directly to B-class articles, a mid-tier rating that means an article is well-structured, cited, and covers the topic thoroughly. Many editors start by turning stubs into B-class pages—adding context, fixing tone, and pulling in reliable sources. That’s how you go from "this is bare bones" to "this is useful." Tools like Wikipedia edit filters, automated systems that flag low-quality edits on high-risk articles. help keep the process clean. And when a page gets flagged for improvement, it doesn’t just sit there. Editors use the assessment as a checklist: Did we cite every claim? Is the lead section clear? Are there any biased phrases? It’s like a quality control system built by volunteers, for everyone.

What you won’t see on the surface is how much this affects real people. Teachers use B-class articles in classrooms because they’re reliable. Journalists cite them because they’ve been vetted. And when a news story breaks, editors rush to upgrade related articles—sometimes within hours—using the same assessment standards. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. The system works because it’s transparent, community-driven, and focused on one thing: making sure the information you find is worth your time.

Below, you’ll find real examples of how editors turn weak pages into strong ones, how tools support the process, and what happens when a community decides a topic deserves better coverage.