# Understand bonus categories

> There are two types of bonus in the system. They are applied at different stages of the calculation.

## Start Value Bonus (SV Bonus)

* **What it is:** Typically the connection value bonus or dismount bonus.
* **When it is applied:** Added to the difficulty to form the **Start Value (D Score)**.
* **Where you see it:** When the Start Value / D Score is displayed on the scoreboard or in the app, the SV Bonus is **already included**.

**Example:**

| Component                   | Value   |
| --------------------------- | ------- |
| Difficulty                  | 4.9     |
| Start Value Bonus           | 0.5     |
| **Start Value (displayed)** | **5.4** |

The scoreboard shows **5.4** - the bonus is already part of the start value.

## Final Score Bonus (FS Bonus)

* **What it is:** A bonus added after all other calculations are complete.
* **When it is applied:** Added **after** the final score has been computed. On vault, this means **after** the vault decision (average, best, or single) has been applied.
* **Where you see it:** It is **not** included in the start value display. It appears as a separate addition to the final result.

**Example (non-vault):**

| Component                 | Value    |
| ------------------------- | -------- |
| Difficulty                | 4.9      |
| Execution (after trim)    | 8.5      |
| Base Final Score          | 13.4     |
| Final Score Bonus         | 0.5      |
| **Displayed Final Score** | **13.9** |

**Example (vault - Two Vault Average with FS Bonus):**

|            | Vault 1 | Vault 2 |
| ---------- | ------- | ------- |
| Base Score | 11.5    | 11.0    |
| FS Bonus   | 0.3     | 0.2     |

Average of base scores = (11.5 + 11.0) / 2 = 11.25 FS Bonus applied after = 0.3 + 0.2 = 0.5 **Final Score = 11.25 + 0.5 = 11.75**

> **Key Point:** The Final Score Bonus is always applied **last**, after any vault averaging or best-of selection. It is never included in intermediate calculations.

## Related

* [Score entry mode examples](https://docs.gymart.org/judges-companion/index/score-entry-mode-examples)
* [Vault calculation examples](https://docs.gymart.org/judges-companion/index/vault-calculation-examples)

[Back to guide](https://docs.gymart.org/judges-companion/index)
