Ao5, Ao12, +2, and DNF Calculator Guide for Speedcubing Practice

If you are tracking progress seriously, you need to understand how averages are calculated.

Many confusing trends come from one of three issues:

• forgetting how best/worst results are removed
• applying +2 inconsistently
• handling DNF as a fake slow time

This guide gives practical formulas and examples you can verify quickly.

How Ao5 calculation works

Ao5 means average of 5 solves.

Basic process:

1. Take 5 results.
2. Apply penalties first (+2 added to raw time).
3. Remove the best result and the worst result.
4. Average the remaining 3 results.

Formula view:

Ao5 = (middle_1 + middle_2 + middle_3) / 3

Key point: removal is based on final results after penalties.

How Ao12 calculation works

Ao12 means average of 12 solves.

Process is the same pattern:

1. Take 12 results.
2. Apply penalties first.
3. Remove best and worst result.
4. Average the remaining 10 results.

Formula view:

Ao12 = (sum of middle 10) / 10

Ao12 is not only a competition concept. In daily training, it is one of the best signals for true current level because it is less noisy than single times.

How +2 and DNF change averages

+2

+2 is a normal time with two seconds added before averaging.

Example:

• raw: 16.84
• with penalty: 18.84

Use 18.84 in all ranking and average steps.

DNF

DNF is treated as the worst result.

For Ao5 and Ao12:

• one DNF can be dropped as the worst single
• two or more DNF in the same average window makes the average DNF

This is why DNF frequency quickly affects trend stability.

Worked examples

Ao5 example with one +2

Results:

• 17.20
• 16.84 +2 -> 18.84
• 19.10
• 17.65
• 16.95

Sorted results:

• 16.95, 17.20, 17.65, 18.84, 19.10

Remove best (16.95) and worst (19.10), then average:

• (17.20 + 17.65 + 18.84) / 3 = 17.90

So Ao5 = 17.90.

Ao12 example with one DNF

If a 12-solve block contains one DNF:

• DNF is dropped as the single worst result
• best numeric result is also dropped
• remaining 10 numeric results are averaged

If the same 12-solve block contains two DNFs:

• one DNF is dropped as worst
• the other DNF remains in the middle 10
• Ao12 = DNF

Use automatic calculations in Speed Cube Timer

Automatic calculation helps because it removes manual arithmetic mistakes during sessions.

Quick verification checklist:

• confirm penalties were applied to the right solve
• confirm DNF was not entered as a fake large number
• confirm average updates match expected direction

If you want to improve penalty accuracy before deeper analysis, read Plus 2 and DNF in Speedcubing.

Try automatic average tracking