In artistic gymnastics, the Difficulty Score (D-score) quantifies the complexity of a gymnast’s routine. It is a critical component of the overall score, reflecting the technical demands and difficulty level of the performance.
Unlike the Execution Score (E-score), which starts at 10.0 and deducts points for mistakes, form errors, and falls, the D-score starts at 0.0 and builds up based on the difficulty of elements performed.
The D-score is calculated by evaluating three primary components:
- Difficulty Value (DV) – The sum of the difficulty values of the most challenging elements performed.
- Composition Requirements (CR) – Specific required elements that must be included in the routine.
- Connection Value (CV) – Bonus points awarded for linking difficult elements seamlessly.
Let’s break down how each component contributes to the D-score calculation and how it affects final competition rankings.
Difficulty Value (DV)
The Difficulty Value (DV) is the foundation of a gymnast’s D-score, representing the total difficulty of the routine. It is determined by summing the difficulty ratings of the most challenging elements performed in a routine.
Each gymnastics skill is assigned a letter rating (A–J) that corresponds to specific point values. The more complex, risky, or physically demanding a skill is, the higher its rating and point value.
The DV is calculated by summing the difficulty ratings of the gymnast’s highest-valued elements:
- Men’s gymnastics (MAG) counts the top 10 most difficult skills.
- Women’s gymnastics (WAG) counts the top 8 most difficult skills.
If a gymnast performs more than the allowed number of counted skills, only the top 10 (MAG) or top 8 (WAG) difficulty skills are included in the D-score.
Letter-Based Difficulty Ratings in Gymnastics
| Difficulty Rating | Men’s Gymnastics (MAG) Value | Women’s Gymnastics (WAG) Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| B | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| C | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| D | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| E | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| F | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| G | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| H | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| I | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| J | N/A | 1.0 |
Top Highest-Value Elements in WAG
As of the 2022–2024 Code of Points, the most difficult skills in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) include:
Vault
- Yurchenko Double Pike – J (1.0 points): A round-off entry, back handspring onto the table, and a double pike somersault.
- Amanar Vault – I (0.9 points): Named after Simona Amanar, featuring a round-off entry, back handspring onto the table, and 2.5 twists.
- Triple-Twisting Yurchenko – H (0.8 points): A Yurchenko vault with three twists.
- Shirai (Vault) – H (0.8 points): Identical to the Triple-Twisting Yurchenko.
Floor Exercise
- Biles II – J (1.0 points): Two flips with three twists.
- Double-Double (Silivas) – H (0.8 points): Two flips and two twists.
- Biles – G (0.7 points): A double layout with a half twist.
- Triple-Double – G (0.8 points): Two flips with three twists.
Top Highest-Value Elements in MAG
In Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG), the most challenging skills (2022–2024 Code) include:
High Bar
- Kolman – J (1.0 points): A backflip with a full twist before regrasping the bar.
- Liukin – J (1.0 points): A double-twisting back somersault with a release.
- Tkatchev – G (0.8 points): A back somersault with a half twist.
Vault
- Yurchenko Double Pike – I (0.9 points): A round-off entry, back handspring, and a double pike.
- Tsukahara Double Back – I (0.9 points): A round-off entry, back handspring, and two backflips.
Floor Exercise
- Triple Twist – H (0.8 points): A full twisting triple flip.
- Double-Double – G (0.8 points): Two flips and two twists.
- Double Layout – F (0.7 points): Two extended backflips.
- Flick-Flack Full Twist – G (0.8 points): A back handspring into a full twist.
Pommel Horse
- Pommel Horse Handstand – H (0.8 points): A controlled handstand on the pommel horse, demanding balance and precision.
These high-value elements are only performed by the most elite gymnasts, as they require a combination of technical mastery, explosive power, and precise execution.
Composition Requirements (CR)
Composition Requirements (CR) (also called Element Group Requirements in MAG) are integral to a gymnast’s D‑score. Each apparatus (except vault) has four Element Groups, and gymnasts must include at least one element from each group to fulfill the requirements.
Composition Requirements in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG)
At the FIG elite level in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG), routines on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor typically have four composition requirements, which yield a maximum bonus of 2.0 points (4 × 0.5).
- Vault: Not applicable, as vault scores are based solely on the vault’s difficulty and execution.
- Uneven Bars: Requirements typically include elements like flight from high bar to low bar, flight on the same bar, different grips, and a turning element.
- Balance Beam: Requirements often encompass acrobatic elements in different directions, dance elements, turns, and a dismount of a specified difficulty.
- Floor Exercise: Requirements usually involve dance passage with leaps and jumps, acrobatic lines with forward and backward elements, and a turn on one foot.
Failing to meet any of these requirements results in a deduction of 0.5 points per missing element from the D-score.
Composition Requirements in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)
In Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG), there are generally five element group requirements per routine (except vault), yielding a maximum bonus of 2.5 points (5 × 0.5).
- Floor Exercise: Typically includes requirements like acrobatic elements forward and backward, non-acrobatic elements, and elements with twists.
- Pommel Horse: Requirements often involve single-leg swings, circles, travels, and dismounts.
- Still Rings: Usually includes swing to handstand, strength elements, swing elements, and dismounts.
- Parallel Bars: Requirements generally encompass elements like swings, flight elements, upper arm elements, and dismounts.
- Horizontal Bar: Typically involves requirements such as flight elements, elements with grip changes, in-bar elements, and dismounts.
As with WAG, failing to meet any of these requirements results in a deduction of 0.5 points per missing element from the D-score.
Connection Value (CV)
Connection Value (CV) is the bonus added to a gymnast’s D‑score for linking skills seamlessly during a routine. CV is integral to the Difficulty Score (D-score) and varies based on the apparatus and the difficulty of the connected elements.
The bonus is only granted if the skills are connected smoothly—without noticeable pauses, hesitations, or interruptions. If a gymnast breaks the rhythm (for example, by pausing to recover balance), the connection bonus may be reduced or not awarded at all.
Connection Value in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG)
In WAG, CV is applicable on the Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. To earn CV, gymnasts must connect two or more elements without pauses or balance checks. Depending on the difficulty and type of the connected elements, a connection is awarded either 0.1 or 0.2 points.
| Event | Type of Connection Bonuses | Bonus Range |
|---|
| Uneven Bars | Flight elements, grip changes, same-bar release moves | +0.1 to +0.2 |
| Balance Beam | Acrobatic series, jumps, dance-acro connections | +0.1 to +0.2 |
| Floor Exercise | Tumbling pass connections, dance-acro elements | +0.1 to +0.2 |
On some apparatuses (especially balance beam), gymnasts can earn an additional “series bonus” if they connect three or more skills consecutively. This bonus is typically fixed (for example, an extra 0.1 point) and is added on top of the regular connection bonuses for each pair of skills.
Connection Value in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)
In MAG, CV is awarded mainly on High Bar, Parallel Bars, Floor Exercise, and Pommel Horse. The FIG Code of Points specifies that, when skills are connected directly (without noticeable breaks), gymnasts earn bonuses typically ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 points per connection; in some cases on high bar, the bonus may reach up to 0.3 points depending on the move’s nature (for instance, release-to-release moves or grip changes).. The exact bonus depends on the nature and difficulty of the elements being connected.
When skills are connected directly (without noticeable breaks), gymnasts earn bonuses typically ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 points per connection; in some cases on high bar, the bonus may reach up to 0.3 points depending on the move’s nature.
| Event | Type of Connection Bonuses | Bonus Range |
|---|
| High Bar | Release-to-release moves, grip changes | +0.1 to +0.3 |
| Parallel Bars | Swing connections, transition elements | +0.1 to +0.2 |
| Floor Exercise | Tumbling connections, skill combinations | +0.1 to +0.2 |
| Pommel Horse | Circles into travels, flairs into handstands | +0.1 to +0.2 |
Some MAG routines may also benefit from additional bonuses if multiple elements are connected in one continuous series. For example, a gymnast might earn an extra bonus if three or more acrobatic elements are linked, provided all conditions for connection are met.
Conclusion
In short, a gymnast’s D‑score is a measure of how hard their routine is. It is built up from three parts: the Difficulty Value (DV) of the most challenging skills, bonus points for meeting certain Composition Requirements (CR), and extra points for linking skills together smoothly (Connection Value, CV).
Together, these components show not only the difficulty of each move but also how well the routine flows. This system pushes gymnasts to perform routines that are both technically challenging and well‑coordinated.