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Dataset Evaluation

  • 121 installs
  • 850 repo stars
  • Updated August 3, 2026
  • awslabs/agent-plugins

Dataset evaluation is a Claude skill that validates dataset formatting and quality for Amazon SageMaker model fine-tuning (SFT, DPO, or RLVR) by detecting file format and checking schema compliance.

About

Dataset evaluation is a skill that validates dataset formatting and quality for Amazon SageMaker model fine-tuning and evaluation. A developer uses it before starting a fine-tuning job to detect the file format and check schema compliance against the chosen model family and technique (SFT, DPO, or RLVR). It runs a bundled format_detector.py script and reports whether the data is ready for training or evaluation.

  • Validates dataset formatting and quality for SageMaker fine-tuning (SFT, DPO, RLVR)
  • Detects file type and checks schema against the selected model and technique
  • Runs a self-contained format_detector.py and reports if data is ready for training or eval

Dataset Evaluation by the numbers

  • 121 all-time installs (skills.sh)
  • Ranked #765 of 2,064 Data Science & ML skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
  • Data as of Aug 4, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
At a glance

dataset-evaluation capabilities & compatibility

Requires an AWS/SageMaker account; format validation runs locally

Capabilities
dataset transformation · finetuning · finetuning setup
Works with
aws
Use cases
data analysis · testing
Pricing
Bring your own API key
From the docs

What dataset-evaluation says it does

Validates dataset formatting and quality for SageMaker model fine-tuning (SFT, DPO, or RLVR).
SKILL.md
Run the tool format_detector.py to make sure the file conforms to formatting requirements.
SKILL.md
npx skills add https://github.com/awslabs/agent-plugins --skill dataset-evaluation

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Listed on Skillselion
Installs121
repo stars850
Last updatedAugust 3, 2026
Repositoryawslabs/agent-plugins

What it does

Validate a training or evaluation dataset's format against a SageMaker fine-tuning model and technique before training.

Who is it for?

Checking whether a dataset is correctly formatted for SageMaker fine-tuning before a training run

Skip if: Non-SageMaker training pipelines or datasets unrelated to model fine-tuning

When should I use this skill?

You have a dataset and need to confirm it is valid for a specific SageMaker model and fine-tuning technique before training.

What you get

A clear verdict on whether the dataset is ready for training or evaluation, with format mismatches flagged.

  • Format validation report
  • Readiness verdict for training or evaluation

By the numbers

  • supports 3 fine-tuning techniques (SFT, DPO, RLVR)
  • one self-contained format_detector.py script

Files

SKILL.mdMarkdownGitHub ↗

Workflow Instruction

Follow the workflow shown below. Locate the dataset, check the file type, and resolve any issues with missing files or wrong file types. Determine the fine-tuning model and fine-tuning strategy. Run the appropriate validation based on the model family. Summarize the results: is the dataset ready for fine-tuning?

Prerequisites

  • The SDK environment has been verified (SDK version, region, execution role). If not done, activate the sdk-getting-started skill first.

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Workflow

1. Locate Dataset:

  • The full path may be a local file path, or an S3 URI
  • Resolve the full path to the dataset file, make sure read permissions are available, and help the user if the file is not found

2. Determine strategy and model:

  • File formatting depends on the currently selected fine-tuning strategy and fine-tuning base model.
  • If the strategy and model are already known from the conversation context (e.g., selected via the model-selection and finetuning-technique skills), use them.
  • If not available in context, activate the model-selection and/or finetuning-technique skills to determine them before proceeding.
  • Exception: If the user is validating an evaluation dataset (not a training dataset), neither model nor technique is required — the format detector can validate eval format (query/response structure) independently. Do not block on model-selection or finetuning-technique for eval dataset validation.

3. Check File Formatting: Run the tool format_detector.py to make sure the file conforms to formatting requirements.

  • Send the full path directly to the format_detector script as an argument
  • Do not send the model and strategy as arguments
  • Do not download data from S3
  • Do not make local copies of data

4. Summarize Results: Tell the user if their data is ready

  • Examine the output of format_detector and compare to the known strategy and model
  • Important: training datasets and evaluation datasets have different format requirements.
  • Training datasets must match the fine-tuning strategy format per references/strategy_data_requirements.md
  • Evaluation datasets (for model evaluation) must match one of the SageMaker evaluation dataset formats.
  • Custom Scorer evaluation datasets have scorer-specific requirements. If the dataset is intended for Custom Scorer evaluation (Prime Math, Prime Code, or Custom Lambda), read references/custom-scorer-evaluation-dataset-formats.md and validate against the scorer-specific schema. The scorer type should be known from conversation context (determined in the model-evaluation skill).
  • Report back to the user if their current dataset is valid for its intended purpose
  • Warn the user if their dataset is valid, but for a different strategy or model
  • Warn the user if their dataset is not valid for any strategy/model pair
  • If the user plans to finetune a model with the evaluated dataset, it needs to be uploaded to an S3 bucket in the same region as the planned training job (usually the default region). Warn the user if this is NOT the case.
  • If the dataset is NOT in the necessary format, recommend transforming it using the dataset-transformation skill, wait for user confirmation, and update the plan based on their response

Messages to the User

  • Introduction: "This skill checks the structure of your dataset for model fine-tuning."
  • File types: This skill applies to files that are formatted according to the Amazon SageMaker AI Developer Guide

Resources

  • scripts/format_detector.py is self-contained format validation script that can be run independently
  • model-selection and finetuning-technique skills should have already determined the base model and fine-tuning strategy
  • references/strategy_data_requirements.md contains data format requirements per strategy

Script Details

  • scripts/format_detector.py is self-contained format validation script that can be run independently:
# With the file path argument identified in workflow step 1
python scripts/format_detector.py local_path/to/dataset

References

  • scripts/format_detector.py — Self-contained format validation script
  • references/strategy_data_requirements.md — Data format requirements per strategy

Related skills

FAQ

What does it check?

It detects the file format and checks schema compliance against the selected fine-tuning model and technique, then reports if the data is ready for training or evaluation.

Do training and evaluation datasets differ?

Yes; training datasets must match the fine-tuning strategy format, while evaluation datasets must match SageMaker evaluation dataset formats.

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