How is a credit score generated?

A credit score is generated primarily from a detailed examination of an individual's credit report. This report contains a comprehensive history of a person's borrowing and repayment activities, including the types of credit accounts they have, their payment history, outstanding debts, length of credit history, and any recent credit inquiries.

Credit bureaus use algorithms to analyze this information, assigning a numerical score that reflects the individual's creditworthiness. A thorough analysis ensures that the credit score accurately represents the person's financial behavior over time, which is critical for lenders when assessing risk for new loans or credit lines.

Other methods referenced in the options, such as analyzing income and employment history, can be useful for lenders but do not directly contribute to the credit score generation process. Similarly, loan types applied for can influence credit utilization and, in turn, the score, but they are not the mechanism through which a credit score is derived. Lastly, a self-assessment questionnaire lacks the objective data required for generating a credit score, as it would rely on personal judgments rather than the factual information found in a credit report.