How is the total score calculated in powerlifting?

In powerlifting, the total score is determined by the sum of the best successful attempt in each of the three main lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. This method of scoring rewards athletes for their highest successful lifts in each discipline, which allows for a fair assessment of their strength across different movements.

By focusing on the best attempt for each lift, this approach emphasizes the athlete's peak performance while ensuring that only successful lifts are counted towards the total score. This practice also accommodates athletes who may have varying levels of performance across the different lifts, thereby providing a comprehensive representation of their abilities.

The other choices do not align with the standard scoring practice in powerlifting. For instance, only considering the best lift from each category would disregard the importance of performing multiple attempts. Taking the average of all attempts made during the event would not accurately reflect the highest capability of an athlete in each lift. Lastly, the combined weight of all lifts performed does not consider the fact that only successful attempts count toward the total score. Thus, option B accurately captures the method used to calculate the total score in powerlifting competitions.