What type of course is not focused on a straight path from start to finish but rather the overall score from various checkpoints?

The chosen answer points to a concept where the assessment or evaluation is based on a cumulative outcome rather than a linear progression. In this context, the term refers to courses or assessments that consider multiple points of achievement, or checkpoints, instead of a singular starting and finishing point. This approach often allows for various means of participation or achievement to contribute to the final score.

In many competitive or academic scenarios, focusing on overall scores from various checkpoints enables a more nuanced evaluation of performance. This contrasts with a straightforward route or line course, which may imply a clear, singular path from start to finish without regard for the intermediate scores or evaluations. A cross-country course could suggest various terrains or challenges that do not inherently focus on cumulative scoring either; instead, it may be seen as a traditional racing format. Hence, score, as the correct choice, encapsulates the idea of a multifaceted performance assessment where overall results from various stages are considered rather than a simple linear progression.