The execution score (E-score) in gymnastics represents a detailed assessment of how cleanly and precisely a routine is performed.
Unlike the Difficulty Score (D-score), which evaluates the complexity of skills in a routine, the execution score strictly focuses on the quality of execution, technique, form, and overall artistry.
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How Execution Scores are Calculated
The Execution Score (E-score) in gymnastics begins at a maximum of 10.0 points, with deductions subtracted based on the quality of execution. Judges analyze every aspect of a gymnast’s performance to identify errors in form, balance, amplitude, landings, and artistry.
Here’s a step-by-step look at how the execution score is calculated:
Step 1: Starting at 10.0 Points
Every gymnast begins with a perfect 10.0 in execution. This starting score represents an ideal, flawless performance, with each deduction reflecting specific imperfections, regardless of the routine’s difficulty. The E-score thus emphasizes technical skill and clean performance.
Step 2: Applying Deductions for Execution Faults
Deductions are applied for various types of execution errors, each based on its severity and impact on performance. Here are the primary categories of deductions:
- Form Errors: These include incorrect body positioning, bent arms or legs, flexed feet, or a failure to maintain straight lines. Form issues affect the routine’s aesthetic and are easily noticeable.
- Balance Errors: Any visible adjustments to maintain stability, such as wobbles or balance checks, are penalized. Balance issues are most commonly observed on apparatuses like the balance beam but apply to any element requiring control.
- Amplitude and Height Issues: Gymnasts are expected to achieve maximum height, rotation, and extension in leaps, jumps, and tumbling passes. Insufficient amplitude, under-rotation, or a lack of “lift” results in deductions.
- Landing Errors: Landings are highly scrutinized, with penalties for minor and major mistakes. Steps, hops, lunges, or falls impact scores depending on the scale of the error.
- Artistry and Presentation: On apparatuses like floor and beam, artistry—such as fluidity, expression, and rhythm—plays a role in execution. A lack of expression, stiff movements, or choppy transitions may lead to artistry deductions.
Step 3: Deduction Scale for Error Severity
Each observed fault corresponds to a specific deduction, which varies based on the severity of the error. Here’s how these deductions generally break down:
- Small Error (0.1): Minor flaws, such as slight body adjustments, minor arm or leg bends, or tiny foot shifts.
- Medium Error (0.3): More noticeable issues, like visibly bent knees or arms, pronounced wobbles, or multiple steps upon landing.
- Large Error (0.5): Major mistakes, such as significant balance checks, large steps, or pronounced hops upon landing.
- Fall (1.0): Falls or any major interruptions, such as falling off an apparatus or hitting the ground after a tumbling pass.
Each deduction is subtracted from the starting score of 10.0, and judges carefully evaluate the routine to capture all imperfections.
Step 4: Summing the Deductions
Judges observe each element of the routine and record corresponding deductions. These deductions are then totaled to calculate the overall reduction in the E-score. Here’s an example:
Suppose a gymnast’s routine includes the following errors:
- Slight flexed feet (0.1)
- Noticeable wobble on beam (0.3)
- Large step on landing (0.5)
- Fall during a skill (1.0)
The total deductions would be calculated as follows:
Total deductions=0.1+0.3+0.5+1.0=1.9
The final E-score would therefore be:
E-score=10.0−1.9=8.1
Step 5: Averaging the Scores (for Elite Competitions)
In elite competitions, multiple judges independently assess execution to provide a balanced view. Generally, five judges calculate individual E-scores, and the highest and lowest scores are discarded to reduce outlier effects. The remaining three scores are averaged to determine the gymnast’s final E-score.
For example, suppose the gymnast’s routine receives the following E-scores:
- Judge 1: 8.5
- Judge 2: 8.4
- Judge 3: 8.6
- Judge 4: 8.3
- Judge 5: 8.5
Following the removal of the highest (8.6) and lowest (8.3) scores, the remaining scores are averaged:
Final E-score Outcome
The final E-score is used alongside the D-score to determine the gymnast’s total score, combining difficulty and execution.
Integration with Difficulty Score
The E-score begins at a maximum of 10.0 points, from which deductions are taken based on execution, artistry, and technical precision.
While the D-score reflects the complexity of skills performed, the E-score rewards clean, flawless execution. For example, a high D-score can be severely impacted if the E-score includes numerous deductions due to execution flaws.
Balance Between Difficulty and Execution
In gymnastics scoring, a delicate balance exists between difficulty (D-score) and execution (E-score).
While a high D-score signals a complex routine, achieving a strong overall score also requires high execution. Gymnasts combining challenging elements with flawless performance gain a competitive edge, but focusing solely on difficulty without precise execution can hinder success.
Here’s a breakdown of this balance:
High D-score + High E-score: This is the ideal combination. A gymnast who performs a difficult routine with minimal deductions will achieve a high total score, showcasing both skill and precision.
High D-score + Low E-score: A challenging routine with numerous execution errors results in a lower overall score, as deductions erode the benefits of a high D-score. This is often a risky approach, as it can leave gymnasts vulnerable to those who execute cleaner, simpler routines.
Low D-score + High E-score: A simpler routine performed with near perfection can yield a competitive score. This strategy works well when higher-difficulty routines struggle with execution, as consistency and precision can compensate for lower difficulty.
Example of Scoring Scenarios
Suppose two gymnasts, Gymnast A and Gymnast B, perform routines with varying levels of difficulty and execution quality:
- Gymnast A: D-score of 6.0 but with multiple form breaks and landing errors, resulting in an E-score of 7.5. Their total score would be:
6.0+7.5=13.5
Gymnast B: D-score of 5.4 with near-perfect execution, achieving an E-score of 9.1. Their total score would be:
5.4+9.1=14.5
In this scenario, Gymnast B, despite a lower difficulty, scores higher due to fewer execution errors. This illustrates the value of execution in gymnastics scoring: while difficulty is essential, high-level execution can elevate a gymnast’s final score and make them more competitive.
What Is The Highest Execution Score In Gymnastics?
While perfect 10s are rare under today’s rigorous judging standards, some gymnasts have achieved impressive E-scores in recent competitions, reflecting near-flawless execution. One prominent example is Simone Biles, known for consistently receiving high execution marks due to her precision and skill.
During the 2023 U.S. Championships, Biles achieved a remarkable 9.8 in execution for her Yurchenko double pike vault. This score highlighted her ability to maintain excellent form, height, and control—qualities that are essential for high execution ratings.
This score is one of the highest in recent years, demonstrating her elite-level mastery and the exceptional quality of her routine.
