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How do you evaluate the retrieval component of a RAG system (separately from generation)?

RAG failures are usually retrieval failures, yet most teams only measure the final answer. The signal is scoring retrieval on its own (recall@k, precision@k, MRR/nDCG) to isolate exactly where the system breaks.

Updated Aug 2026 · Grounded in real Applied AI Engineer interview loops and written to a senior-engineer editorial bar.

RAG failures are usually retrieval failures, yet most teams only measure the final answer. The signal is scoring retrieval on its own (recall@k, precision@k, MRR/nDCG) to isolate exactly where the system breaks.

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