diff --git a/tests/test_basic.py b/tests/test_basic.py
index a66c75b..ed176fc 100644
--- a/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -127,6 +127,25 @@ def test_score_single_project_no_match():
     assert score == 0, f"Expected 0 but got {score}"
 
 
+def test_score_single_project_alias_matching():
+    """Project skills should be alias-resolved so 'JS' in a project matches 'javascript' from the user."""
+    project = {
+        "skills": ["JS"],
+        "level": "Beginner",
+        "interest": "Web",
+        "time": "Low"
+    }
+    score = score_single_project(
+        project,
+        user_skills=["javascript"],
+        level="Beginner",
+        interest="Web",
+        time_availability="Low"
+    )
+    # 1 skill match (3) + level (2) + interest (2) + time (1) = 8
+    assert score == 8, f"Expected 8 but got {score}"
+
+
 def test_get_recommendations_returns_results():
     """Python + Beginner + Data + Low should always return at least one result."""
     results = get_recommendations("Python", "Beginner", "Data", "Low")
@@ -280,7 +299,8 @@ def test_download_code_found():
     response = client.get("/project/1/download")
     assert response.status_code == 200
     
-def test_health_check(client):
+def test_health_check():
+    client = get_client()
     response = client.get("/health")
     assert response.status_code == 200
     data = response.get_json()
diff --git a/utils/recommender.py b/utils/recommender.py
index 308c14f..ed41c0a 100644
--- a/utils/recommender.py
+++ b/utils/recommender.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def score_single_project(
     score = 0
 
     # Compare user's skills against the project's required skills
-    project_skills = [s.lower() for s in project.get("skills", [])]
+    project_skills = [SKILL_ALIASES.get(s.lower(), s.lower()) for s in project.get("skills", [])]
     # Count how many user skills overlap with the
     # skills required by the current project.
     matched_skills = sum(1 for skill in user_skills if skill in project_skills)