CDP 2025: Can Mock Scoring Boost Your Score Before September?
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The annual CDP deadline is fast approaching, and submissions for the 2025 cycle are due by the week of September 15, 2025. For sustainability teams, this marks the start of a demanding period: months of data collection, analysis, and reporting to meet one of the world’s most influential standards for environmental reporting. Yet, despite the strategic importance of a strong CDP score, many companies struggle with the complexity and evolving requirements of the process.
At KERAMIDA, our team has years of experience supporting organizations through CDP mock scoring and reporting. We’ve seen firsthand the issues that can undermine a company’s score and the practical steps that can help transform reporting into a driver of transparency, credibility, and strategic value.
CDP Reporting Challenges
Why Scoring Trips Up Even the Best Teams
Data Collection and Quality Issues
CDP reporting requires comprehensive and accurate data across climate, water, and forest impacts. Many companies find themselves chasing inconsistent data from multiple departments, resulting in discrepancies that can reduce scores. Even minor oversights, such as mismatched units or incomplete emissions data, can lead to point deductions.
Evolving Requirements and Methodology
Every year, CDP updates its questionnaires and scoring criteria. Although CDP’s 2025 questionnaire did not introduce major changes, the expectations around data quality, verification, and clarity remain as rigorous as ever. The level of precision needed to achieve high scores continues to present challenges. Even in years with minimal updates, companies must navigate a complex and detailed reporting framework, where careful preparation, consistency, and internal coordination are essential for strong performance.
Verification and Assurance Hurdles
To qualify for CDP’s A List in 2025, companies must provide third-party verification of 100% of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and at least 70% of emissions in one Scope 3 category. For Leadership level scores, the threshold requires at least 95% verification for Scope 1 and 2, as well as verified Scope 3 emissions for at least one category. Without robust assurance processes, companies risk falling short of the A-List or leadership levels, even if their sustainability efforts are strong.
Time and Resource Constraints
CDP reporting requires significant coordination and effort, stretching teams thin and diverting attention from strategic initiatives. The pressure to meet the deadline can lead to rushed or incomplete submissions.
CDP Score Boosting Strategy
How Mock Scoring Bridges the Gap
Mock scoring is a proven tool that helps companies address the challenges outlined above and maximize their CDP performance. Here’s why it’s so effective:
Identify Gaps Before Submission
A mock score simulates the real CDP scoring process, flagging missing data, inconsistencies, and weak responses before the official deadline. This gives your team time to address issues, gather better evidence, and refine your answers for maximum points.
Benchmark Against Best Practices
Mock scoring provides a clear benchmark against CDP’s four scoring stages: Disclosure, Awareness, Management, and Leadership, so you can see exactly where you stand and what’s needed to move up. This targeted feedback is more actionable than generic guidance.
Adapt to New Requirements
Even in years with fewer updates, such as 2025, mock scoring remains a valuable tool for reinforcing alignment with scoring criteria, identifying overlooked gaps, and maintaining high-quality submissions. It helps ensure your response reflects best practices, regardless of the scale of annual changes.
Save Time and Reduce Stress
By highlighting quick wins and priority areas, mock scoring streamlines your team’s efforts, reducing wasted time and last-minute scrambles. It also provides peace of mind that your submission is robust and competitive.
What to Expect From Mock Scoring
Partnering with an experienced CDP advisory team can provide critical insight into how your response will be evaluated and where improvements are needed to increase your score. While each mock scoring should be tailored to the specifics of your organization, here’s what the mock scoring process typically includes:
Comprehensive Mock Assessment: A detailed review of your draft CDP response is conducted using the latest CDP scoring methodology and sector-specific benchmarks. This step offers a realistic preview of how your disclosure would be scored.
Framework Familiarization: This process prepares your team for current and future reporting cycles by helping them better understand CDP’s technical framework, including scoring logic, mandatory documentation, and scoring weight for each section.
Constructive Feedback: An analysis of your response’s strengths and weaknesses, along with clear, actionable recommendations for improvements, including data quality, narrative clarity, and evidence requirements.
Response Optimization: Assistance with refining or reworking sections of your disclosure to better align with CDP expectations and maximize scoring potential.
Scenario Testing: An evaluation of different response scenarios to help your organization determine which approach is most likely to improve your grade or achieve leadership status.
Best Practice Guidance: Recommendations for improving internal data collection, documentation practices, and quality assurance to meet scoring criteria.
Score Boosting Suggestions: Identification of opportunities to achieve CDP Leadership recognition, also known as A List status.
The CDP deadline is more than a reporting milestone. It’s a chance to showcase your company’s sustainability leadership, attract ESG-focused investors, and drive meaningful operational improvements. By investing in mock scoring now, you can avoid common pitfalls, improve your score, and position your company for long-term ESG success.
Ready to prepare for the September CDP deadline? As a CDP Gold Accredited Provider, KERAMIDA is ready to help make your CDP submission your strongest yet. For more information on the latest CDP scoring methodology or to get started with a CDP mock scoring, contact us or call (800) 508-8034 to speak with one of our CDP reporting experts today.
Authors
Anastasia Kyrmanidou, Ph.D.
Senior Sustainability Analyst
GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
KERAMIDA Inc.
Contact Anastasia at akyrmanidou@keramida.com
Anisa Chowdhury, CPA, CA
Vice President of Corporate Sustainability & Assurance
KERAMIDA Inc.
Contact Anisa at achowdhury@keramida.com
Related Services
Trusted for Verification and Assurance by Fortune 500 companies from a major U.S. stock market index and a global media & entertainment conglomerate to one of the largest U.S. steel producers and a world leader in marine recreation. KERAMIDA provides independent verification and assurance of GHG emissions for organizations across any industry in accordance with a variety of accepted standards, including ISO 14064-3 standards. KERAMIDA is a CDP Global Gold Verification Provider and an AA1000 Licensed Assurance Provider.
From readiness assessments to full third-party assurance, we tailor our support to your maturity and goals. We use a risk-based, sector-specific methodology backed by deep technical expertise in ESG, sustainability reporting, and regulatory compliance. Our multidisciplinary team includes Accredited Lead GHG Verifiers, ESG specialists, Chartered Professional Accountants, Engineers, and Environmental Scientists. KERAMIDA is a CDP Global Gold Verification Provider and an AA1000 Licensed Assurance Provider.
