How is rhythmic gymnastics scored?
B · Beginner · The individual exercise · 2 of 5Three scores are added. The D score counts the difficulty of what the gymnast did with her body and with the apparatus, and has no fixed maximum. The A score for artistry and the E score for execution each start at 10 and lose points for faults. Penalties for time, lines and attire then come off the total.
How it works
- The sum: the final score is the D score, the A score and the E score added together. Penalties are deducted from it.
- Three juries: difficulty, artistry and execution, with four judges each.
- The D jury in two pairs: one pair counts the body difficulties and the throws with rotation. The other counts the apparatus difficulties.
- The D score: the sum of the two pairs' scores.
- Artistry: four judges each total the artistry faults. "the highest and the lowest deductions are eliminated, and the remaining 2 deductions are averaged".
- The A score: that average subtracted from 10.00.
- Execution: worked out the same way by four other judges, and subtracted from 10.00.
- Smaller panels: with two or three judges, all the deductions are averaged.
- Time and line judges: they report their penalties separately.
- The responsible judge: one of the apparatus difficulty judges takes the penalties for attire, replacement apparatus and discipline.
- No phones: judges at the table may not use any electronic device to communicate.
The glossary has the D, A and E scores entry, the final score, the judges, the rhythmic artistry entry, the execution entry and the difficulty entry.
Tricky cases
What is the highest possible score?
There is no fixed maximum. Artistry and execution are each capped at 10, but the D score depends on how much difficulty is performed and credited.
Can the artistry judges mark down an exercise for being too easy?
No. The artistry judges "are not concerned with the level of Difficulty of an exercise".
One execution judge deducts far more than the other three. Does that count?
No, with four judges. The highest and lowest deductions are dropped.
Can a coach challenge a score?
Yes, through an inquiry under the FIG's technical regulations, which were not read. Line and time penalties can also be reviewed on a spoken request.
Why the rule exists
Splitting the mark three ways stops one quality hiding another. A gymnast with enormous difficulty still loses points if the exercise has no connection to its music, and a beautiful exercise with little in it earns a low D score. Separate juries mean no judge has to watch for everything at once.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythmic | Three scores: D, A and E | FIG RG Part 1, A 5.2 |
| Artistic | Two scores: D and E | ../artistic/ set |
| Four judges | Highest and lowest dropped | FIG RG Part 1, A 3.5.2; A 3.6.2 |
| Two or three judges | All averaged | FIG RG Part 1, A 3.5.3; A 3.6.3 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, Code of Points 2025-2028, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Part 1, section A, articles 3, 5 and 6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: 2025-2028 Code of Points, Rhythmic Gymnastics (PDF).