TL;DR If you want to know more about how points are assigned, do read the README file/link, which should come with your copy of Zuma.

In each level in Zuma there are 2 portions, 1. filling the point gauge and 2. clearing the mess left. This guide is more focused on 1, and how to do it quicker, and hopefully so that part 2. is simpler. Note: Single numbers refer to "chapters", i.e. the temple door to enter.

How are points to get the point gauge tabulated? (In adventure mode. Not the same as in practice and survival mode) [Information was gathered through speed runs on the leaderboard.]

First off, you can get points even though you don't perform a clear; just get a coin. Each coin is worth 500 points in 1,4,7,10, 600 in 2,5,8,11 and 700 in 3,6,9,12. Coins do not spawn in 13-1(?).

A "clear" has several variables, it includes (i) the number of balls cleared, denoted by N, (ii) the gaps the ball shot passed through, G. (iii) the chain the balls are part of, C. Note that chain only affects score when it is more than or equal to 5. OR (iv) the combo the clear is part of, C*. Note that (iii) or (iv) must be 1, since you can't have a combo with a shot ball. Points do not change based on the balls cleared; i.e. special balls (except for bombs) do not add to this score.

Each "clear" has a base score based on (i) and a bonus score based on (ii), (iii) and (iv). (i) gives (10×N) points (ii) gives a varying amount based on how large the gap is. When the gap is very small (roughly 3 balls length), it can give up to 500G. When the gap is very large, it can give a small bonus of 10. (iii) gives (10×C+50) points (iv) gives (100×C) Add up scores to get the total points earned by the "clear". EXCEPTION: If you shoot a ball and it enters the track a few frames before a clear and so clears as well, that ball gives a +10.

• There are also ways to trick G to be 2 when it should be 1. This is quite a useful bug if we could use it, but not quite understood.

NOTE: All of this information can also be found on the README file on your copy of Zuma Deluxe. (Which i didn't know until 6 hours after I typed this :( )