Shooting Shooting is normally the first discipline in competitions. The athletes shoot with air pistol 20 shots at a range of ten metres on a target with ten circles (diameter 155 mm). A score of 172 shooting points out of 200 is worth 1000 pentathlon points. For each shooting point above/below 172 is worth +/- 12 points. 40 seconds are allowed for each shot.

Fencing Athletes fence every other competitor for one hit within a time limit of one minute. The weapon is an epee sword. 70 % victories are equal 1000 pentathlon points. How much each victory is worth depends on how many competitors there are. Normally each victory above or below is worth +/- 28 points.

Swimming The swimming discipline is a freestyle race over 200 metres. A time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds gives 1000 pentathlon points (2.40 for women). Every second above or below is worth 12 points.

Riding The athletes ride horses over show-jumping obstacles of up to 120 cm in height. Athletes pick their horses by lot and have 20 minutes for warm-up and to get to know the horse. New rules from year 2002: It is 9 obstacles and 12 jumps (one double and one triple are included). A faultless ride within a "standard time" will give 1200 points. The total score is then reduced for example for knockdowns, falling off and for each second over the standard time. See the point calculation page for more information.

Running The running is on a 3000 metres long cross-country track. The time 10 minutes is worth 1000 points (11.20 for women). Every whole second above or below that time is equal to plus or minus four points. The running discipline has "chase start". The leader after four disciplines starts first and the other competitors starts with a time interval corresponding to the points up to the person in front. With this system the person who wins the running wins the whole competition.