diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 31da83e..64a32bc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ For a browser demo that talks to the local FastAPI app, see [`web/README.md`](we
 | `nokaman rubrics list [-l en]` | Skill rubrics |
 | `nokaman rubrics explain -l en` | Print rubric skill weights, notes, frameworks, and bands |
 | `nokaman eval text …` | Evaluate free text |
+| `nokaman eval score --text "..." -l en` | Score text as a per-dimension rich table (Writing/Vocab/Grammar/Reading/Listening/Speaking + CEFR) |
+| `nokaman eval score --sample path/to/sample.json -l en` | Score a sample file with dimension breakdown |
+| `nokaman eval score --text "..." --json` | Same scoring as raw JSON output |
 | `nokaman eval batch --out data/out/batch.json` | Score every sample and write a JSON CEFR hit-rate report |
 | `nokaman train …` | Toy calibration with config/report exports |
 | `nokaman gui` / `nokaman-gui` | **Qt desktop app** (needs `.[gui]`) |
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 51f6b1f..5d1d3d7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -55,3 +55,6 @@ pythonpath = ["src"]
 [tool.ruff]
 line-length = 100
 target-version = "py311"
+
+[tool.ruff.lint.per-file-ignores]
+"src/nokaman/cli.py" = ["B008"]  # typer.Option in defaults is idiomatic typer usage
diff --git a/src/nokaman/cli.py b/src/nokaman/cli.py
index b104b41..0802818 100644
--- a/src/nokaman/cli.py
+++ b/src/nokaman/cli.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Optional
 
 import typer
 from rich.console import Console
@@ -11,7 +10,7 @@
 from nokaman import __version__
 from nokaman.config import OUT_DIR, RUNS_DIR
 from nokaman.data.coverage import language_skill_coverage
-from nokaman.data.loader import list_sample_files, list_rubric_files, load_rubric
+from nokaman.data.loader import list_rubric_files, list_sample_files, load_rubric, load_sample
 from nokaman.eval.metrics import batch_evaluate, placement_test
 from nokaman.eval.pipeline import evaluate_demo, evaluate_sample_file, evaluate_text
 from nokaman.eval.session import SessionManager
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ def languages_coverage(json_output: bool = typer.Option(False, "--json")) -> Non
 
 
 @rubrics_app.command("list")
-def rubrics_list(lang: Optional[str] = typer.Option(None, "--lang", "-l")) -> None:
+def rubrics_list(lang: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--lang", "-l")) -> None:
     files = list_rubric_files()
     if lang:
         files = [p for p in files if p.stem == lang.strip().lower()]
@@ -193,8 +192,8 @@ def rubrics_explain(
 @eval_app.command("text")
 def eval_text(
     lang: str = typer.Option("en", "--lang", "-l"),
-    text: Optional[str] = typer.Option(None, "--text", "-t"),
-    file: Optional[Path] = typer.Option(None, "--file", "-f", exists=True, dir_okay=False),
+    text: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--text", "-t"),
+    file: Path | None = typer.Option(None, "--file", "-f", exists=True, dir_okay=False),
     skill: str = typer.Option("writing", "--skill", "-s"),
 ) -> None:
     if file is not None:
@@ -212,6 +211,69 @@ def eval_demo(lang: str = typer.Option("en", "--lang", "-l")) -> None:
     _print_json(data=evaluate_demo(lang))
 
 
+@eval_app.command("score")
+def eval_score(
+    sample: Path | None = typer.Option(None, "--sample", "-s", exists=True, dir_okay=False,
+                                          help="Path to a sample JSON file."),
+    lang: str = typer.Option("en", "--lang", "-l", help="Language code."),
+    text: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--text", "-t", help="Input text."),
+    skill: str = typer.Option("writing", "--skill", "-k", help="Skill to score."),
+    json_output: bool = typer.Option(False, "--json", help="Print raw JSON instead of a table."),
+) -> None:
+    """Score a sample or text and show per-dimension metrics as a rich table."""
+    if sample is not None:
+        result = evaluate_sample_file(sample)
+        input_label = str(sample)
+    elif text:
+        result = evaluate_text(lang, text, skill=skill)
+        input_label = text
+    else:
+        console.print("[red]Provide --sample or --text[/red]")
+        raise typer.Exit(code=1)
+
+    overall = result.get("score")
+    cefr = result.get("cefr")
+    if json_output:
+        _print_json(data=result)
+        return
+
+    # Per-dimension metrics from the underlying ToyAbilityModel.
+    scored_text = (result.get("source") or "") or (
+        load_sample(Path(sample)).get("text", "") if sample is not None else text
+    )
+    dims = _compute_dimension_scores(scored_text or "", lang)
+
+    table = Table(title=f"Score dimensions  —  {input_label}  ({lang})")
+    table.add_column("Dimension", no_wrap=True)
+    table.add_column("Score", justify="right")
+    for name, val in dims:
+        table.add_row(name, f"{val:g}")
+    console.print(table)
+
+    console.print(f"[green]Overall[/green]: [bold]{overall}[/bold]  "
+                  f"[yellow]CEFR[/yellow]: [bold]{cefr}[/bold]  "
+                  f"[dim]skill={result.get('skill')}[/dim]")
+    if result.get("expected_cefr"):
+        chk = result.get("band_check")
+        console.print(f"[dim]expected CEFR[/dim]: {result['expected_cefr']}  "
+                      f"band_check={chk}")
+
+
+def _compute_dimension_scores(text: str, lang: str) -> list[tuple[str, float]]:
+    """Return named (dimension, 0..100) scores so the CLI can render a table."""
+    from nokaman.models.toy import ToyAbilityModel
+
+    model = ToyAbilityModel(language=(lang or "en"))
+    return [
+        ("Writing (overall)", model.score_text(text, skill="writing")["score"]),
+        ("Vocabulary", model.score_text(text, skill="vocabulary")["score"]),
+        ("Grammar", model.score_text(text, skill="grammar")["score"]),
+        ("Reading", model.score_text(text, skill="reading")["score"]),
+        ("Listening", model.score_text(text, skill="listening")["score"]),
+        ("Speaking", model.score_text(text, skill="speaking")["score"]),
+    ]
+
+
 @eval_app.command("samples")
 def eval_samples() -> None:
     files = list_sample_files()
@@ -238,7 +300,7 @@ def eval_samples() -> None:
 
 @eval_app.command("batch")
 def eval_batch(
-    out: Optional[Path] = typer.Option(None, "--out", "-o"),
+    out: Path | None = typer.Option(None, "--out", "-o"),
     table: bool = typer.Option(True, "--table/--json-only"),
 ) -> None:
     report = batch_evaluate()
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index c800ce7..3f4e794 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -20,3 +20,42 @@ def test_eval_batch_writes_nested_output_path(tmp_path) -> None:
     assert report["n_samples"] >= 1
     assert "by_language" in report
     assert "rows" in report
+
+
+def test_eval_score_text_prints_table() -> None:
+    text = "Because the sun was bright, I walked to the market and bought fruit."
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        app, ["eval", "score", "--text", text, "--lang", "en"],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    out = result.output
+    # Rich table must appear with the named dimensions.
+    for dim in ("Writing (overall)", "Vocabulary", "Grammar", "Reading", "Listening", "Speaking"):
+        assert dim in out, f"missing dimension {dim} in: {out}"
+    assert "Overall" in out
+    assert "CEFR" in out
+
+
+def test_eval_score_text_json_is_valid() -> None:
+    text = "The cat sat on the mat because it was tired."
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        app, ["eval", "score", "--text", text, "--lang", "en", "--json"],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    data = json.loads(result.output)
+    assert "score" in data
+    assert "cefr" in data
+    assert "language" in data
+
+
+def test_eval_score_sample_prints_table() -> None:
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        app, ["eval", "score", "--text", "The project was large and complex.", "--lang", "en"],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+
+
+def test_eval_score_requires_input() -> None:
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(app, ["eval", "score"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 1, result.output
+    assert "Provide --sample or --text" in result.output