> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.layerlens.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.layerlens.ai/more-in-this-section-6/score-chat.md).

# Recipe: score a free-form chat output

Recipe — score chat output. Pointer to the canonical SDK text-evaluation sample.

The canonical sample lives in the SDK: [`samples/modalities/text_evaluation.py`](https://github.com/layerlens/stratix-python/blob/main/samples/modalities/text_evaluation.py) — score text completions across safety, relevance, helpfulness, factual accuracy, and compliance.

## Pattern

Build judges with `client.judges.create(name=, evaluation_goal=)` for the dimensions you care about, then run trace evaluations via `client.trace_evaluations.create(trace_id=, judge_id=)`.

For most chat use-cases, start from the SDK sample and adapt the rubrics to your team's bar. Use [Bootstrap a judge before GEPA](/more-in-this-section-6/bootstrap-judges.md) for the week-1 setup.

## See also

* [SDK sample: `text_evaluation.py`](https://github.com/layerlens/stratix-python/blob/main/samples/modalities/text_evaluation.py)
* [Tutorial 2: Build your first judge](/8.-evaluate-score-the-outputs/02-first-judge.md)
* [Concept: Judges](/8.-evaluate-score-the-outputs/judges-1.md)