---
sourceDocument: Brazil Governance, Risk, and Compliance
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/governance-risk-compliance

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    - brazil

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Brazil Governance, Risk, and Compliance

ft:clusterId :

    - grc

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    - grc

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Compliance score calculation for a citation

# Compliance score calculation for a citation {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Brazil  
Updated September 10, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read  
Two methodologies determine a citation's compliance score. The previous method
averaged
child citations and associated control
objectives.
The
current method
averages
child citations and directly linked
controls.

## Old formula (before enabling property) {#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__section_wyl_cnm_3hc}

    Compliance Score for a Citation = Average(Child Citations + Associated Control Objectives)

Under the old calculation method, a citation's compliance score is based on the following
factors:

* The compliance scores of its child citations
* The compliance scores of its associated control objectives.

{#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__ul_xyl_cnm_3hc}  
Example 1:

* If a citation has no child citations and is associated with one control objective that has a compliance score of 42%, then the citation's compliance score is 42%.
* The control objective's score (42%) comes from averaging its own controls (50%) and its child control objective's score (33%).
{#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__ul_kqb_fbx_b3c}  
Example 2:

* If a citation has one child citation with a compliance score of 70% and one associated control objective with a compliance score of 42%, then the compliance score is 56%, which comes from averaging 70% and 42%.
*

      Compliance Score = (70% + 40%) ÷ 2 = 56%

  {#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__codeblock_ull_gbx_b3c}
{#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__ul_jts_fbx_b3c}

## New formula (after enabling property) {#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__section_zyl_cnm_3hc}

    Compliance Score for a Citation = 
    (Average of child citations + Average of directly linked Controls) ÷ 2

With the new feature enabled, the compliance score calculation changes significantly:

* Control objective scores are no longer used.
* Instead, the calculation considers the compliance scores of directly linked controls (Level 1 controls).  
  Note:  
  Level 1 controls are the controls of the control objectives directly associated with the citation.

{#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__ul_azl_cnm_3hc}

Example:  
If a citation has one child citation with a compliance score of 70% and four directly linked controls with compliance statuses of 100%, 0%, 100%, and 0%, then average compliance score for controls is as follows:

    Average compliance score for controls = 
    (100% + 0% + 100% + 0%) ÷ 4 = 50%

Compliance score = 70% + 50% = 60%.

## Weighted control average {#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__section_ghn_ywl_jhc}

When the Use weighted control average when calculating compliance scores property is enabled, the compliance score of a citation changes.  
For example, consider the following scenario:

1. Controls associated to the citation through one control objective: 3
2. The status of the controls: 1 compliant, 2 non-compliant
3. The weights of each control:
   * Control A (Compliant) → **100**
   * Control B (Non-compliant) → **10**
   * Control C (Non-compliant) → **10**
{#compliance-score-calculation-for-a-citation__ul_yyf_fxl_jhc}  
If you consider flat average, the compliance score is 33%.

    Compliance score = (100% + 0% + 0%) ÷ 3 = 33%

If you consider weighted average, the compliance score is 83.3%.

    Compliance score = (Sum of weights of compliant controls X 100) 
    ÷ Sum of weights of all the controls
    So Compliance score = (100 X 100) ÷ 120 = 83.3%