Watch an elite gymnastics routine and the skills can look almost impossibly difficult. But how do judges actually decide that one element is harder than another?
- Quick Guide: Gymnastics Difficulty Values
- Difficulty Rating vs. Difficulty Value vs. D-Score
- Why Do Some Basic Gymnastics Moves Have No Difficulty Value?
- Can the Same Element Count More Than Once?
- Does a Harder Element Always Produce a Higher Score?
- What Is the Highest Difficulty Value in Gymnastics?
- Why Is Vault Different?
- How Is the Women’s Gymnastics D-Score Calculated?
- How Is the Men’s Gymnastics D-Score Calculated?
- How the 2025–2028 Code Changed Difficulty
That is where Difficulty Values (DV) come in.
Under the current 2025–2028 FIG Code of Points, recognized elements are assigned lettered difficulty categories. An A element is worth 0.10, a B is worth 0.20, and the scale continues upward to J at 1.00.
This guide explains what A through J mean, how Difficulty Values work, how they contribute to the D-score, and why a harder routine does not always produce a higher final score.
Quick Guide: Gymnastics Difficulty Values
A Difficulty Value (DV) is the numerical value assigned to a recognized element in the FIG Code of Points. The Codes organize elements into apparatus-specific Tables of Elements, where each skill is given a difficulty rating and corresponding value.
| Difficulty Rating | Difficulty Value |
|---|---|
| A | 0.10 |
| B | 0.20 |
| C | 0.30 |
| D | 0.40 |
| E | 0.50 |
| F | 0.60 |
| G | 0.70 |
| H | 0.80 |
| I | 0.90 |
| J | 1.00 |
The basic idea is simple: the farther the letter progresses through the alphabet, the higher the Difficulty Value of the element.
For example:
- C-rated element → 0.30 DV
- D-rated element → 0.40 DV
- E-rated element → 0.50 DV
- H-rated element → 0.80 DV
A D element therefore contributes 0.40 toward difficulty, while a G element contributes 0.70, provided the element is recognized and counted.
These individual Difficulty Values help build the gymnast’s D-score, but they are only one part of the total difficulty calculation.
Difficulty Rating vs. Difficulty Value vs. D-Score
These terms are closely related, but they mean different things:
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty Rating | The letter assigned to an element | D |
| Difficulty Value (DV) | The numerical value of that element | 0.40 |
| D-Score | The total difficulty of the routine | 5.70 |
For example, a D-rated element has a Difficulty Value of 0.40. If that element is one of the skills that count, the 0.40 contributes to the gymnast’s overall D-score.
Replacing a C element (0.30) with an E element (0.50) could therefore increase the routine’s Difficulty Value total by 0.20.
In simple terms:
Difficulty Rating → Difficulty Value → contributes to the D-Score
Higher-value elements can increase the potential D-score, but the final D-score may also include requirements, connection value and applicable bonuses.
Why Do Some Basic Gymnastics Moves Have No Difficulty Value?
The FIG Code of Points is designed for competitive scoring, not for listing every skill gymnasts learn in training.
Basic moves such as rolls, bridges, handstand drills and simple swings may not have their own Difficulty Value because they are mainly used to build strength, technique and body control.
Some basic-looking moves can still have a FIG value, but it depends on the apparatus and exact variation. For example, one type of handstand may be a recognized element while another is only a training skill.
That is why basic moves may be listed as “N/A,” “varies,” or “not separately FIG-rated” rather than automatically being given an A value.
Can the Same Element Count More Than Once?
Usually, no. A gymnast generally cannot repeat the same element and receive its Difficulty Value twice.
If the same element is performed again, it may still be part of the routine, but it normally does not add another DV to the D-score.
Some similar-looking skills are treated as different elements when they have different twists, body positions, grips, or other technical features.
This rule helps prevent gymnasts from building difficulty simply by repeating the same high-value element.
Does a Harder Element Always Produce a Higher Score?
No. A harder element can increase the D-score, but it can also lead to more execution deductions.
For example, gaining 0.20 in difficulty may not help if the gymnast loses 0.30 in execution.
That is why a cleaner, slightly easier routine can sometimes score higher than a harder routine with mistakes.
What Is the Highest Difficulty Value in Gymnastics?
For most non-vault events, the highest current difficulty rating is J, worth 1.00. The 2025–2028 FIG Codes use the scale from A (0.10) to J (1.00).
Only a small number of elements reach J difficulty. In men’s floor exercise, for example, the Jarman and Nagornyy are J-rated elements.
Vault is different. Vaults use separate numerical Difficulty Values rather than A–J ratings, so their values can be much higher than 1.00 and should not be directly compared with the A–J scale.
Why Is Vault Different?
Vault is the major exception to the normal D-score construction process. Instead of performing a routine containing numerous separately valued elements, the gymnast performs a single recognized vault.
Each vault in the FIG Table of Vaults already has a predetermined numerical Difficulty Value. Both men’s and women’s vault follow this general approach.
How Is the Women’s Gymnastics D-Score Calculated?
In women’s artistic gymnastics, the D-score on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise is built from:
- the eight highest Difficulty Values (DV), including the dismount
- Composition Requirements (CR)
- Connection Value (CV)
- applicable bonuses
Under the current 2025–2028 Code, the four Composition Requirements can add up to 2.00 points.
For example:
3.10 in Difficulty Values + 2.00 in Composition Requirements + 0.60 in Connection Value = 5.70 D-score
Vault is different: each vault already has its own numerical Difficulty Value, which becomes its D-score.
How Is the Men’s Gymnastics D-Score Calculated?
In men’s artistic gymnastics, the D-score on floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and horizontal bar is built from:
- the Difficulty Values (DV) of the counting elements
- Element Group requirements
- Dismount credit, where applicable
- Connection Value, where applicable
- applicable bonuses
Under the current 2025–2028 Code, most men’s routines count eight elements toward difficulty, reduced from 10 in the previous Code. Element Group credit can add up to 2.00 points, depending on the difficulty of the elements used to fulfill the requirements.
How the 2025–2028 Code Changed Difficulty
Difficulty Values can change when FIG updates the Code of Points.
For the 2025–2028 cycle, some skills were upgraded or downgraded. In women’s gymnastics, for example, the full-twisting double layout bars dismount increased from E to F.
Men’s gymnastics had bigger changes, including:
- counting elements reduced from 10 to eight
- some floor, rings, parallel-bars and high-bar skills increased in value
- some pommel-horse skills decreased in value
- all vault values were reduced by 0.40
The current men’s Code also includes J elements worth 1.00.
Because values can change, an element’s Difficulty Value should always be checked against the current Code of Points.
