<h1>Credit score determines access to credit and borrowing terms; improving payments and lowering utilisation boosts creditworthiness.</h1> Credit score is a numerical measure of creditworthiness derived from a credit report and based on payment history, amounts owed and utilisation, length of credit history, credit mix, new credit inquiries, and public records; it materially affects qualification for loans and credit cards and the terms offered, and improving it requires timely payments, lower utilisation, maintaining account age and mix, limiting new accounts, and monitoring the credit report.