Understanding and Tracking Ao5 and Ao12 Averages
Published by System Administrator
What Are Cubing Averages?
In speedcubing, single solve times are highly variable — even elite cubers can have a 6-second solve followed by a 12-second solve. To measure true skill level, cubers use trimmed averages that smooth out this variation. The most common averages are Ao5 (Average of 5), Ao12 (Average of 12), and Ao100 (Average of 100), each serving a different purpose in tracking performance.
Understanding averages is essential for setting goals, measuring improvement, and comparing yourself to other cubers. When someone says they're "sub-15," they typically mean their Ao100 is under 15 seconds — not that every single solve is under 15.
How Averages Are Calculated
Ao5 (Average of 5)
Take your last 5 solves, remove the best time and worst time, then calculate the arithmetic mean of the remaining 3 times. This trimming removes outliers: a lucky 8-second solve and an unlucky 20-second solve are both discarded, leaving a more representative middle.
Example: Times are 14.2, 12.8, 16.1, 13.5, 15.7. Remove best (12.8) and worst (16.1). Average of 14.2, 13.5, 15.7 = 14.47.
Ao5 is used in WCA competition results and is the standard for official rankings. It provides a snapshot of your performance across a short session.
Ao12 (Average of 12)
Take your last 12 solves, remove the single best and single worst, then average the remaining 10. Ao12 is more stable than Ao5 because it uses more data points, making it less susceptible to a single outlier solve.
Ao12 is the most common benchmark for personal improvement tracking. When cubers practice, they typically track rolling Ao12 to assess their current form.
Ao100 and Ao1000
These extended averages (same principle: trim best and worst, average the rest) represent your long-term skill level. Ao100 smooths out session-to-session variation, and Ao1000 is essentially your "true average" — the speed you can consistently maintain over an extended period.
Using Averages to Set Goals
When setting improvement goals, use the appropriate average for your timeline:
- Session goal (today): Target a specific Ao12. "I want to get at least one Ao12 under 16 today."
- Weekly goal: Target Ao100 improvement. "I want my Ao100 to drop from 17.5 to 16.8 this week."
- Monthly goal: Target a new Ao5 personal best. "I want a sub-14 Ao5 this month."
Interpreting Your Averages
Your various averages tell different stories about your cubing:
- Ao5 much lower than Ao12: You have high potential but inconsistency. Focus on reducing bad solves rather than getting more fast ones.
- Ao12 close to Ao100: You're very consistent. Focus on efficiency improvements that shift your entire distribution faster.
- Large gap between best single and Ao5: Your best solves involve lucky skips or exceptionally easy scrambles. Focus on raising your floor (worst solves) rather than chasing the ceiling (best solves).
Tools for Tracking Averages
Several tools automatically calculate and display your averages:
- csTimer: The most feature-rich web timer. Tracks all averages, displays graphs, and allows session management.
- Twisty Timer (Android): Mobile app with automatic average calculation and trend graphing.
- ChaoTimer (iOS): Clean, simple timer for Apple devices with essential average tracking.
The Psychological Impact of Averages
Averages are motivating because they show gradual improvement that individual solves mask. Your singles might fluctuate wildly, but your Ao100 trends steadily downward over weeks of practice. This visible progress is powerfully reinforcing — it provides concrete evidence that your practice is working, even when individual sessions feel frustrating. Check your long-term averages weekly and celebrate each new personal best, no matter how small the improvement.