Mass spectrometric data for the ratio of unsubstituted to alkyl-substituted aromatics in electrode binder pitches of coke-oven origin correlate with the pitch quality index and an overall ranking of the pitches based on numerous tests. The importance of several structural parameters (based on mass spectrometric data) in determining the suitability of binder pitch was investigated. This method of judging electrode binder pitches could provide a rapid screening for quality, eliminating many of the physical tests and chemical analyses now used.