for the samba schools parading in the sambódromo, a more rigid set of rules must be followed, and points in the competition may be lost if they are not.

the competing samba schools are judged on their performance in ten competitive categories: the percussion band, the samba song, the overall impression, the school's theme of the year, the costumes, the floats and props, the vanguard group (which is the school's opening wing), the flag-carrying couple, the harmony, and the flow and spirit.

each of these categories has four judges assigned to it, with forty judges in total judging the competition.