In artistic gymnastics, the Execution Score (E-score) reflects how cleanly, precisely, and confidently a routine is performed. While the Difficulty Score (D-score) measures what skills a gymnast performs, the E-score evaluates how well those skills are executed.
Execution scoring applies to both Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) and plays a major role in separating great routines from medal-winning ones.
What Is the Execution Score?
In both women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics, the E-score always begins at 10.0. Judges then subtract points for execution and artistry errors as outlined in the FIG Code of Points. The final E-score is combined with difficulty to calculate the final result:
Final Score = D-score + E-score − Neutral Deductions
How Judges Calculate the Execution Score
Execution is evaluated by a dedicated E-panel, whose judges watch the routine in real time and record every visible fault. The process follows a clear sequence.
Step 1: Fault Detection During the Routine
Judges first identify what went wrong, without assigning numbers yet. They focus on four main areas:
Form & Body Position
Straight legs and arms, pointed toes, tight body lines, and correct shapes (tuck, pike, layout) are expected. Bent limbs, leg separation, poor posture, or misalignment are noted immediately.
Technique & Control
Judges watch how skills are performed, not just whether they are completed. Rushed takeoffs, under-rotation, late twists, or loss of control count as execution faults. On rings and pommel horse, unwanted swings or instability are also penalized.
Balance, Rhythm & Flow
Especially on beam, bars, and pommel horse, judges record wobbles, pauses, extra swings, or breaks in rhythm. Any hesitation between elements can result in deductions.
Landings & Support Errors
Steps, hops, deep squats, arm swings, or touching the mat for balance are recorded. Falls are clearly identified at this stage, as they carry the largest single execution deduction.
At this point, judges are identifying faults only, not subtracting points yet.
Step 2: Assigning Deduction Values
After faults are identified, judges assign deduction values based on severity using the FIG deduction scale.
Most execution errors fall into one of three categories:
- Small fault (−0.10): Minor imperfections that do not significantly disrupt the skill or routine, such as a slight leg separation, a small foot adjustment on landing, or a brief loss of tight body line.
- Medium fault (−0.30): Clearly visible mistakes that affect form or control, including bent arms or knees, noticeable balance checks, under-rotated skills, or a large step on landing.
- Large fault (−0.50): Major execution breaks, such as deep squats on landings, significant loss of balance, major form breakdowns, or clear lack of control during an element.
Falls receive the largest deduction:
- FIG competitions: −1.00 per fall
- NCAA / USAG optional levels: typically −0.50 per fall
Multiple faults on one skill can add up, but under FIG rules, execution deductions on a single element are capped at −0.80 if no fall occurs. If a fall happens, the −1.00 deduction is applied separately.
Step 3: Panel Scoring and Averaging
After assigning deduction values, each exEach execution judge totals their deductions and subtracts them from 10.0 to produce an individual E-score.
To reduce bias, FIG competitions use multiple E-judges:
- 5 judges: highest and lowest scores dropped; middle 3 averaged
- 7 judges: two highest and two lowest dropped; middle 3 averaged
That average becomes the gymnast’s official E-score.
In NCAA gymnastics, fewer judges are typically used and averaging is simpler, but the principle remains the same: multiple evaluations ensure fairness.
Step 4: Artistry and Expression Assessment
After technical deductions are calculated and panel scores are averaged, judges also consider artistry and expression, especially in WAG floor exercise and balance beam.
Artistry deductions are part of the E-score, not a separate category.
Judges evaluate:
- Musical interpretation and timing (floor exercise only)
- Expression, projection, and confidence
- Variety of movement and use of space
- Flow and continuity between elements
- Body posture, carriage, and movement quality
Under the FIG Code of Points, artistry deductions are applied using a structured scale:
- 0.10 (small) – Slight lack of expression or limited movement variety
- 0.20 (medium) – Weak musical connection, repetitive choreography, or inconsistent performance quality
- 0.30 (large) – No clear artistic intent, disconnected choreography, or minimal engagement
These deductions apply across the routine and can accumulate if issues persist.
Gymnastics Execution Deductions by Event
Although the E-score always follows the same logic, execution priorities vary by apparatus.
| Apparatus | Key Focus | Common Faults |
|---|---|---|
| Vault | Height, distance, direction, landing | Low height, steps/hops, deep squat, off-center landing |
| Uneven Bars / High Bar | Swing rhythm, handstands, body line | Off-vertical handstands, bent arms, leg separation, pauses |
| Balance Beam | Balance, posture, precision | Wobbles, balance checks, poor landings |
| Floor Exercise | Landings, artistry, choreography | Steps/hops, weak leaps, lack of expression |
| Still Rings (MAG) | Strength control, stillness | Shaky holds, bent arms, poor handstands |
| Pommel Horse (MAG) | Rhythm and leg form | Leg separation, bent knees, rhythm breaks |
| Parallel Bars (MAG) | Swing amplitude, transitions | Low swings, form breaks, landing errors |
How the Execution Score Is Calculated in NCAA Gymnastics
NCAA gymnastics does not use open-ended difficulty scoring like FIG competition. Instead, routines earn a start value (up to a maximum of 10.0) based on required elements and bonus opportunities. Judges then subtract execution deductions to determine the final score.
Start Value and Bonus
Most routines begin with a base start value around 9.4 for events such as bars, beam, and floor when minimum requirements are met. To earn a 10.0 start value, gymnasts must perform a combination of required elements and earn difficulty and connection bonuses.
- Skill difficulty bonus: D-level skills earn +0.10, E-level skills earn +0.20.
- Connection bonus: Bonus credits are awarded when skills are linked in ways defined by NCAA rules.
- A total of up to ~0.6 bonus tenths can be earned to bring the start value from the base up to 10.0.
If required elements or bonuses are missing, deductions are taken from the start value before execution deductions are applied.
Execution Deductions
Once the start value is established (up to 10.0), judges apply execution deductions for errors in performance, similar in principle to FIG scoring.
Common execution deductions include:
- Minor faults – legs apart, flexed feet, small balance checks
- Larger faults – major steps on landings, noticeable form breaks, poor control
- Falls and major errors – result in significant deductions
Artistry and control are evaluated indirectly through execution, with deductions applied for issues such as lack of rhythm, poor movement quality, or weak presentation.
The final routine score is calculated as:
Final Score = Start Value − Execution Deductions
Example in Practice
A gymnast who meets all special requirements and earns the maximum available bonus (for example, +0.6 from difficulty and connection bonuses) can start from a 10.0. Judges then subtract execution errors to determine the final score.
Clean routines with minimal deductions often score in the high 9s, and perfect 10s remain possible in NCAA gymnastics when execution is nearly flawless.
Neutral Deductions vs. Execution Deductions (Quick Clarification)
Before closing, it’s helpful to clarify one final distinction that often causes confusion for fans and parents: the difference between execution deductions and neutral deductions, affect the final score in different ways.
Execution deductions come out of the E-score. Every routine starts with an execution score of 10.0, and judges subtract points for how the skill was performed. These deductions reflect performance quality and include things like bent knees, flexed feet, balance wobbles, low height, poor rhythm, or falls.
Neutral deductions, on the other hand, are taken after the D-score and E-score are combined. They do not judge how clean the skills were. Instead, they penalize rule or procedural violations. Neutral deductions apply even if the routine itself was performed perfectly.
In simple terms:
- Execution deductions = performance mistakes → taken from the E-score
- Neutral deductions = rule violations → taken off the top of the final score
This distinction is important because a gymnast can have a very clean routine (high E-score) and still lose points due to neutral deductions that have nothing to do with technique or artistry.
