The World Aquatics Point Scoring assigns point values to swimming performances, more points for world class performances typically 1000 or more and fewer points for slower performances.

Point values are assigned every year. The charts have one set of points for Short Course and another for Long Course. 

 

FORMULA

The points are calculated using a cubic curve. With the swim time (T) and the base time (B) in seconds the points (P) are calculated with the following formula:

P = 1000 * ( B / T )3

 

The exact formula is used to calculate points from times. Then all point values are truncated to the integer number. In point tables named with years 2009 and earlier, the point values are rounded.

If the needed time (T) for a certain number of points (P) should be calculated, the exact formula is used to calculate a first estimation. Then the time should be reduced by one hundredth of a second as long as the reverse calculation with the time still results in the original number of points.

BASE TIMES FOR 1000 POINTS

The base times are define for all common individual events and relays, separated for men / women and long course / short course.

The base times are defined every year, based on the latest World Record that was approved by World Aquatics. For short course (SCM) the base times are defined with the cut of date of August 31st. For long course (LCM) the base times are defined at the end of the year (December 31st). 

For "World Aquatics Point Scoring 2023" this means for example: Short course times until "31 Aug 2024", long course times until "31 Dec 2023".

The base times are published on the World Aquatics website within one month after the end of the relevant period.

Below files mention the formula for calculating World Aquatics points , the base time used in the formula and the points that would be allotted to athletes for achieving a particular timing in LCM or SCM.