Abstract: An information retrieval system that interprets a query and determines a rank or score for selected records is disclosed herein, where the rank or score is based partly on determining the relevance between disparate items in a classification system. The query can be expanded by utilizing metadata about the query, which results in one or more query values for comparison. Depending on the type of records that are to be ranked or scored, different characteristics of the selected records will be extracted, optionally expanded, and then converted into record values for comparison. The query values and record values, which are part of the same classification system, can then be scored based on the relevance between these values in this classification system. Results can be weighed, or the final record score can be weighed. Finally, records are displayed to the user in final rank or score order.