Everything that makes it into our articles has been trialled by experts, championed by readers – or both
Sally Graham Head of Testing, Recommended
Sally heads up testing at Telegraph Recommended and is responsible for making sure our reviews reflect what truly matters to our readers. She has developed our scoring system, which combines expert insights with feedback from everyday users, to ensure our reviews are accurate and reflective of everyday use. Sally brings over 20 years’ experience in product testing and scoring systems, along with a genuine commitment to helping readers make informed choices.
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I’m Sally Graham, Recommended’s Head of Testing. Below I’ve outlined how we work and the processes behind our testing and scoring systems.
Choosing which products to test
When the Recommended editors select a product category to review, based on market trends or reader feedback, I’ll work with them to choose the right brands to consider.
I ensure our selection is representative of the market, and that there are options for a range of budgets.
The line-up is a mix of current products and new launches – I never rule out older models if they’re still widely available.
All must be available through trusted UK retailers though – we don’t want readers who shop through our recommendations incurring any hidden costs, or have to wait too long for items to arrive.
The testing process
Products are sent to our experts to trial, and in the case of our Triple-check Guarantee products, are also tested by Recommended Community members. We ask everyone to use the products as part of their daily lives for a period of time (usually weeks, or even months) to see how they stand up to repeated use in real-world scenarios.
They mark them against a set of criteria, which makes up a rigorous 100-point rubric. To ensure our reviews remain digestible, we translate these granular scores into the five-star scale seen throughout our articles, the details of which I’ve outlined below.
Our star-rating system
5 Stars | The Gold Standard
This product is the ‘best-in-class’ for its category, with virtually no compromises.
4.5 Stars | Exceptional
A very high-performing product, with only small niggles.
4 Stars | Great
A high-performing product, with slightly more compromises than the above.
3.5 Stars | Good
A reliable product, with flaws in some areas, but still a contender if it aligns with specific needs.
3 Stars | Average
A functional product but with notable flaws.
Under 2.5 Stars | Not Recommended
A product whose flaws outweigh its benefits
The Telegraph Recommended Badges
Best Buy
Awarded to products that achieve high marks across all criteria.
Best Value
High-scoring products that offer particularly good value for their performance.
Approved
Given to products that score 3.5 stars or above.
‘Best for…’
Approved products that achieve the highest score in a specific area (e.g ‘Best for small kitchens’). If a product is rated under three stars but still carries this label, it means it excels in one niche area despite being underwhelming elsewhere.
Understanding ‘Also Tested’
If you see a product listed in our round-ups without a star rating or a Recommended badge, it means it has failed to meet the standards required. These will have scored three stars or below.