The word bonus appears in several gymnastics scoring systems, but it does not always mean the same thing.
- Gymnastics Bonus at a Glance
- What Is Bonus in Gymnastics?
- How USAG Development Program Bonus Works
- USAG Bonus vs. Composition Credit
- How Xcel Gymnastics Bonus Works
- Can Xcel Bonus Make Up for a Missing Requirement?
- How NCAA Gymnastics Bonus Works
- How FIG Gymnastics Bonus Works
- Does FIG Vault Have Bonus?
- How FIG MAG Bonus Works
- USAG vs. Xcel vs. NCAA vs. FIG Bonus
- Does a Harder Skill Always Earn More Bonus?
- Can Bonus Raise a Start Value Above 10.0?
- Does Vault Use Bonus?
- Which Gymnastics Program Has the Most Bonus?
In the USAG Development Program, bonus helps higher-level optional routines build toward a 10.0 Start Value. In Xcel, bonus mainly applies to Sapphire. NCAA women’s gymnastics also rewards difficulty and connections, but uses its own collegiate rules.
FIG gymnastics works differently. Instead of building toward a 10.0 Start Value, eligible connections and other bonuses generally add to an open-ended D-Score.
That difference can make bonus rules confusing, especially for gymnasts and parents moving between programs.
This article compares how bonus works in USAG Development Program, Xcel, NCAA women’s gymnastics, and FIG WAG/MAG under the rules currently used in 2026.
Gymnastics Bonus at a Glance
| Scoring System | Where Bonus Applies | Main Bonus Types | What Bonus Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAG DP | Mainly Levels 9–10 | Difficulty Value + Connection Value | Helps build Start Value toward 10.0 |
| Xcel | Sapphire | Difficulty + Connection Bonus | Raises 9.60 base toward 10.0 |
| NCAA Women | Bars, Beam, Floor | DV + CV | Adds up to 0.60 toward a 10.0 SV |
| FIG WAG | Event-specific | CV, Series Bonus, Dismount Bonus and others | Adds difficulty credit |
| FIG MAG | Event-specific | Connection Points, stuck dismount bonus | Adds to D-Score |
The easiest way to remember the difference is:
USAG, Xcel and NCAA → bonus usually helps build a Start Value.
FIG → bonus usually increases an open-ended D-Score.
What Is Bonus in Gymnastics?
A bonus is extra scoring credit earned for certain difficult skills, direct connections or other qualifying content.
It is normally earned in addition to the basic credit already given for the skills themselves.
For example, a D-rated element already has a difficulty classification. Depending on the scoring system, performing that skill may also qualify for additional Difficulty Value Bonus.
Connections work in a similar way.
Two skills may each receive their normal difficulty credit, while performing them directly together can earn extra Connection Value.
Difficulty Bonus vs. Connection Bonus
Two types appear repeatedly in USAG, Xcel and NCAA scoring.
Difficulty Value Bonus (DV Bonus) rewards eligible higher-difficulty elements.
Connection Value (CV) rewards eligible skills performed directly together.
For example:
Skill + Skill
may receive Connection Value.
If the gymnast pauses between the two skills, the combination may no longer qualify. The exact skills and combinations that receive bonus vary by program and apparatus.
How USAG Development Program Bonus Works
Under the current 2026–2030 Women’s Development Program, the main difficulty and connection bonus system applies to Levels 9 and 10.
Level 8 can also reach a 10.0 Start Value, but it does so through its base Start Value and Composition Credit, without the regular Level 9–10 bonus structure.
| Level | Base SV* | Composition Credit | Bonus Toward 10.0 | Maximum SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 9.80 | +0.20 | — | 10.00 |
| 9 | 9.50 | +0.20 | +0.30 | 10.00 |
| 10 | 9.20 | +0.30 | +0.50 | 10.00 |
*Assuming the required Value Parts and Special Requirements receive credit.
For the complete calculation, see USAG Start Value.
USAG Level 9 Bonus
A Level 9 routine can earn up to:
+0.30 bonus
to help raise its Start Value to 10.0.
The bonus comes from Difficulty Value Bonus, Connection Value, or a permitted combination of the two.
The current Level 9 structure allows the gymnast to reach the full 0.30 through:
- 0.30 Connection Value, or
- 0.20 Connection Value + 0.10 Difficulty Value Bonus
The exact connections that receive credit are different on Bars, Beam and Floor.
A full Level 9 Start Value can therefore look like:
9.50 base + 0.20 Composition Credit + 0.30 Bonus = 10.00
Simple Level 9 Example
Suppose a Beam routine has:
| Part | Credit |
|---|---|
| Base Start Value | 9.50 |
| Composition Credit | +0.20 |
| Connection Value | +0.20 |
| Difficulty Value Bonus | +0.10 |
| Start Value | 10.00 |
If the routine earned only 0.20 in bonus instead of 0.30, its Start Value would be:
9.90
before execution deductions.
USAG Level 10 Bonus
Level 10 requires more bonus.
A routine can use up to:
+0.50 regular bonus
toward its 10.0 Start Value.
The complete formula is:
9.20 base + 0.30 Composition Credit + 0.50 Bonus = 10.00
Unlike Level 9, Level 10 requires the bonus used toward a full Start Value to include both:
- Difficulty Value Bonus
- Connection Value
The current structure requires at least 0.10 from each type.
One possible Level 10 routine might therefore have:
| Part | Credit |
|---|---|
| Base Start Value | 9.20 |
| Composition Credit | +0.30 |
| Difficulty Value Bonus | +0.20 |
| Connection Value | +0.30 |
| Start Value | 10.00 |
The exact combinations that receive CV still depend on the event.
Bars may reward certain turn and flight combinations, while Beam and Floor use their own acrobatic, dance and mixed-connection formulas.
What Is the Extra Level 10 +0.10?
Level 10 has another rule that can easily be confused with normal Start Value bonus.
The current score sheet includes an additional +0.10 bonus marked “not in SV.”
It is awarded only when the routine meets the required conditions, including a 10.0 Start Value, sufficient total bonus and qualifying E-level content for the event.
This extra tenth should therefore be kept separate from the ordinary:
9.20 + 0.30 CC + 0.50 Bonus = 10.00
calculation.
USAG Bonus vs. Composition Credit
Bonus and Composition Credit are separate.
Composition Credit rewards the level of difficulty and construction expected for the routine. Bonus rewards eligible difficult elements and connections.
A Level 10 gymnast normally needs both:
0.30 CC + 0.50 Bonus
to build the 9.20 base Start Value to 10.0.
One does not automatically replace the other.
How Xcel Gymnastics Bonus Works
Xcel uses bonus differently from the Development Program.
Bronze through Diamond routines are generally built around a 10.0 Start Value without the Sapphire bonus system.
Bonus becomes especially important in Xcel Sapphire. The current Xcel Code is in effect through July 2028.
Sapphire Starts From 9.60
For Bars, Beam and Floor, Sapphire uses a:
9.60 base Start Value
with up to:
+0.40 bonus
available.
So:
9.60 + 0.40 Bonus = 10.00
There are two main ways to earn that bonus:
- Difficulty Bonus
- Connection Bonus
Unlike USAG Level 10 and NCAA, Sapphire does not require a fixed minimum amount from both categories. The gymnast can use difficulty, connections, or a mixture of the two, as long as the rules are met and the overall bonus does not exceed 0.40.
Sapphire Difficulty Bonus
Eligible C and D Value Parts can earn:
+0.10
under the Sapphire bonus rules.
The required C Value Part can also earn Difficulty Bonus.
There are limits on how D elements can be used for bonus, and total routine bonus is still capped at:
+0.40
Sapphire Connection Bonus
Sapphire can also receive:
+0.10 Connection Bonus
for eligible:
B + B or higher
combinations.
The exact possibilities depend on the event.
On Floor, qualifying indirect acrobatic passes can also receive Connection Bonus.
Sapphire Example
A routine might earn:
| Sapphire SV Component | Credit |
|---|---|
| Base Start Value | 9.60 |
| Difficulty Bonus | +0.20 |
| Connection Bonus | +0.20 |
| Start Value | 10.00 |
Another gymnast might reach the same 0.40 using a different mix of eligible difficulty and connections.
That flexibility is one of the main differences between Sapphire and Level 10.
Can Xcel Bonus Make Up for a Missing Requirement?
Not completely.
Bonus adds credit, but missing Value Parts or Special Requirements are still handled separately.
For example:
9.60 − 0.50 missing SR + 0.10 bonus = 9.20 SV
The gymnast earned bonus, but it did not erase the missing requirement.
For the complete Sapphire calculation, see How Xcel Gymnastics Start Value Is Calculated.
How NCAA Gymnastics Bonus Works
NCAA women’s gymnastics is based largely on USAG Level 10 rules, but NCAA publishes its own modifications. That means NCAA and Level 10 can look similar without being identical.
For the 2026–27 season, Bars, Beam and Floor use:
9.20 base + up to 0.60 Bonus + up to 0.20 Composition Credit = 10.00
NCAA Bonus Maximum
An NCAA routine can earn up to:
+0.60 total bonus
from:
- Difficulty Value Bonus
- Connection Value
To receive the full bonus, the routine must include at least:
+0.10 DV
and:
+0.10 CV
The remaining:
+0.40
may come from either category.
For example:
| Bonus Type | Credit |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Value Bonus | +0.30 |
| Connection Value | +0.30 |
| Total Bonus | +0.60 |
Another gymnast might earn:
+0.20 DV + 0.40 CV
and still reach the same 0.60 total.
NCAA Bonus and Composition Credit
Under the current system, NCAA clearly separates:
Bonus → up to +0.60
from:
Composition Credit → up to +0.20
Both are added to the 9.20 base.
So:
9.20 + 0.60 Bonus + 0.20 CC = 10.00
A gymnast can therefore earn all 0.60 of the available bonus and still start below 10.0 if she does not receive full Composition Credit.
For a full breakdown, see How NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Scoring Works.
How FIG Gymnastics Bonus Works
FIG is fundamentally different because it does not use a 10.0 Start Value on Bars, Beam, Floor or the men’s non-vault events.
Instead:
D-Score + E-Score − Penalties = Final Score
The D-Score is open-ended.
That means bonus does not help a gymnast “reach 10.0.” Eligible connections and other bonus credits instead increase the gymnast’s difficulty score.
For the full calculation, see How the FIG Gymnastics D-Score Is Calculated.
FIG WAG Connection Value
On Uneven Bars, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise, eligible direct connections can earn Connection Value (CV).
Depending on the exact combination, the gymnast may receive additional difficulty credit such as:
+0.10 or +0.20
The connection formulas are different on each event.
A gymnast can therefore earn the normal Difficulty Values for the individual elements plus extra credit for connecting them.
FIG Beam Series Bonus
Balance Beam also uses Series Bonus (SB).
Eligible series of connected elements can earn additional credit when they meet the Code requirements. Series Bonus is separate from ordinary Connection Value, although one series can sometimes qualify for both.
For beginners:
Connection Value → credit for an eligible connection
Series Bonus → additional Beam-specific credit for a qualifying series
Both can contribute to the D-Score.
FIG WAG Dismount Bonus
Under the current 2025–2028 WAG Code, a qualifying D-or-higher dismount on Bars, Beam and Floor can earn:
+0.20
when the required conditions are met.
Floor has additional conditions related to the routine’s acro lines and final acro line. This means WAG D-Score can include:
Difficulty Values + Composition Requirements + Connection Value + applicable bonuses
rather than a domestic-style:
Base Start Value + Bonus = 10.0
Does FIG Vault Have Bonus?
Vault normally works differently because every vault already has a predetermined Difficulty Value. However, current FIG WAG rules include a special:
+0.20 two-vault bonus
when the gymnast performs two qualifying contrasting vaults under the required conditions, including no fall on either vault.
This encourages greater variety between the two vaults.
For more detail, see Gymnastics Vault Scoring Compared.
How FIG MAG Bonus Works
Men’s artistic gymnastics also uses an open-ended D-Score. Two important types of extra credit are:
- Connection Points
- Stuck Dismount Bonus
MAG Connection Points
Certain direct connections can earn extra points.
For example, current MAG Floor rules include combinations such as:
D or higher + B/C → +0.10
and:
D or higher + D or higher → +0.20
when the connection satisfies the Code requirements.
FIG calls these Connection Points, but the basic idea is similar to connection bonus: difficult combinations can add extra credit to the D-Score.
MAG Stuck Dismount Bonus
MAG also has an unusual bonus for a qualifying stuck landing.
A gymnast can receive:
+0.10
for sticking an eligible dismount of at least C difficulty.
Pommel Horse is excluded, and the rule can also apply to qualifying salto vaults. This is very different from USAG or NCAA.
In domestic 10.0 systems, sticking usually means avoiding a landing deduction.
In FIG MAG, an eligible stick can actually add bonus credit.
USAG vs. Xcel vs. NCAA vs. FIG Bonus
The full comparison makes the differences easier to see.
| Feature | USAG DP | Xcel | NCAA | FIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring model | 10.0 Start Value | 10.0 Start Value | 10.0 Start Value | Open-ended |
| Main bonus users | Levels 9–10 | Sapphire | Bars, Beam, Floor | Elite WAG/MAG |
| Difficulty bonus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Difficulty normally counts directly as DV |
| Connection bonus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate Composition Credit? | Yes, Levels 8–10 | No equivalent CC system | Yes | WAG uses Composition Requirements instead |
| Regular bonus maximum | L9 +0.30; L10 +0.50 | Sapphire +0.40 | +0.60 | No single universal maximum |
| Added to | Start Value | Start Value | Start Value | D-Score / applicable score |
| 10.0 ceiling | Yes for normal SV | Yes | Yes | No |
This is why the word bonus should always be understood in the context of the scoring system being used.
Bonus vs. Composition Credit vs. Special Requirements
These three terms all affect routine construction, but they do different jobs.
| Term | Main Purpose |
|---|---|
| Special Requirements | Required types of skills or content |
| Composition Credit | Rewards specific higher-level routine construction |
| Bonus | Rewards eligible difficulty and connections |
For example, a gymnast may satisfy every Special Requirement but still need bonus to reach a 10.0 Start Value.
The opposite can also happen: a gymnast may perform difficult bonus-earning skills but still lose Start Value because a Special Requirement is missing.
A simple way to remember it is:
Special Requirements = what must be included
Composition Credit = how the routine is constructed
Bonus = extra credit for difficulty and connections
For more detail, see:
Does a Harder Skill Always Earn More Bonus?
No. Bonus follows specific rules and formulas. It is not simply a reward for doing the hardest possible skill. A difficult element may not qualify for the particular bonus being calculated.
At the same time, two slightly easier elements performed in an eligible connection may earn useful Connection Value.
Once a gymnast reaches a 10.0 Start Value in USAG, Xcel or NCAA, adding unnecessary difficulty also may not increase the maximum available Start Value.
For example:
10.0 SV − 0.10 deductions = 9.90
can beat:
10.0 SV − 0.25 deductions = 9.75
even if the second routine contains more difficult skills.
That is why routine construction is usually a balance between difficulty, bonus and clean execution.
Can Bonus Raise a Start Value Above 10.0?
For the normal Start Value calculation in USAG, Xcel and NCAA:
No. The Start Value is capped at:
10.0
USAG Level 10 currently has the separate additional +0.10 marked “not in SV,” but it is not part of the ordinary 10.0 Start Value calculation.
FIG is different because there is no fixed 10.0 D-Score ceiling.
Eligible difficulty, Connection Value and other bonuses can continue increasing the D-Score.
Does Vault Use Bonus?
Usually not in the same way as Bars, Beam and Floor.
In USAG DP, Xcel and NCAA, each vault normally has a predetermined Start Value.
A gymnast does not build that vault from a base score using ordinary DV and CV bonus.
FIG also gives each vault a predetermined Difficulty Value, although current WAG rules have the separate two-vault bonus discussed earlier.
So Vault is one of the clearest exceptions when comparing gymnastics bonus systems.
Which Gymnastics Program Has the Most Bonus?
Looking only at the numbers can be misleading because each program uses bonus differently.
| Program | Regular Bonus Available |
|---|---|
| USAG Level 9 | Up to 0.30 |
| USAG Level 10 | Up to 0.50 toward normal SV |
| Xcel Sapphire | Up to 0.40 |
| NCAA | Up to 0.60 |
| FIG | No single universal routine maximum |
NCAA may show the largest domestic bonus number, but that does not automatically mean NCAA routines are more difficult.
The scoring structures are simply different.
FIG cannot be compared directly because its D-Score is open-ended and bonus rules vary by apparatus.
