1. What is TrustScore?
TrustScore is a numerical score assigned to every onGist user that reflects the quality and authenticity of their contributions to the platform.
A living reputation metric
Unlike a one-time badge, TrustScore evolves continuously based on your activity, content quality, and how the community responds to your contributions.
It starts at 0 for new users and grows as you participate honestly and helpfully on the platform.
2. Why It Matters
TrustScore serves three key purposes on onGist:
Bounty Access
Controls which bounty reward tiers you can compete in.
Fair Competition
Prevents low-effort or spam answers from winning rewards.
Platform Health
Protects the ecosystem from bots and bad actors.
3. How It's Calculated
TrustScore reflects a combination of platform signals:
TrustScore is calculated continuously and may decrease during periods of prolonged inactivity to maintain platform freshness.
4. Access Tiers
Your TrustScore determines which bounty tiers you can access and how your answers are ranked:
New or low-activity users. Can only compete in small bounty rewards (₦500–₦2,000 / $1–$10).
40% reduction
Established users with good track record. Can compete in mid-tier bounties (up to ₦10,000 / $50).
20% reduction
Trusted power users. Full access to all bounties including HIGH tier (₦10,001+ / $51+).
No penalty
5. TrustScore & Bounties
When you answer a bounty question, your TrustScore influences your final ranking alongside answer quality and how early you submitted. Higher TrustScore gives you a competitive edge.
How ranking works
- Answer quality matters most: The quality of your answer is the biggest factor in ranking.
- TrustScore gives you an edge: A higher TrustScore boosts your position in the leaderboard.
- Be early: Answering sooner improves your chances.
- Your tier affects your score: Lower TrustScore tiers apply a small penalty to level the playing field.
⚠️ Answers must score at least 10 points to be eligible to win a bounty.
6. How to Improve Yours
Building a strong TrustScore takes consistent, honest participation:
💡 Pro tip: Winning a bounty gives you +10 TrustScore instantly — the fastest way to level up your access tier.
7. Penalties
Certain actions negatively impact your TrustScore:
- AI-confirmed plagiarism−10 TrustScore + answer rejection
- Exact duplicate answer detectedFull answer rejection
- High similarity to existing answer (≥70%)Score penalty (0.6–0.8×)
- Prolonged account inactivity−1 point per period (min 25)
- Bot behavior detectedBlocked from bounties
8. FAQs
Can I see my current TrustScore?
Yes. Your TrustScore is visible on your profile and in the bounty eligibility card when you view a bounty question.
Does TrustScore ever reset?
TrustScore does not reset, but it can decrease from inactivity or policy violations. It's designed to reflect your current standing.
I'm new. Can I still win a bounty?
Yes! New users can compete in LOW tier bounties (₦500–₦2,000). Your answers will have a 40% scoring penalty, but a great answer can still win.
What if my answer is flagged as plagiarism by mistake?
Our plagiarism detection uses multiple layers. If you believe it was an error, contact support and we'll review it manually.
Does TrustScore affect regular (non-bounty) answers?
TrustScore penalties only apply in bounty competitions. Regular answers are not affected by your TrustScore.