Testing

  • There are 8 levels in total for both skating skill tests and freeskate tests. They are:

    1.) Pre-Preliminary

    2.) Preliminary

    3.) Pre-Bronze

    4.) Bronze

    5.) Pre-Silver

    6.) Silver

    7.) Pre-Gold

    8.) Gold

    Tests are important because they give your skating a good foundation in many skills, the tests determine what levels you can or cannot compete at, and it is how other people know how much you know about figure skating. Your tests can be added to your college resume, and passing all of your Gold Skating Skills & Gold Freeskate tests in skating is the equivalent to getting your Bachelor’s degree in college.

  • First, what is Virtual Testing? Virtual testing is how we take our skating tests. Since 2020, US Figure Skating has started “Virtual Testing” where skaters simply send in a video of their test.

    The other option is to do in-person testing, but I generally do not do that for many reasons. I also believe the tests are their for skaters to “master” the skills at each level, and skaters learn to master the skills better in a virtual setting rather than in person.

    When I do scheduling the month prior, I will schedule your skater in for a private lesson that is designated for your skater’s test. In that lesson, I will video your skater’s test and also fill out my portion of the affidavit.

    If your skater needs their test videoed after I’ve done scheduling, I will see if I have open time to test them, or I will try to find another coach to video them.

  • As of now, your video for your test must be taken within 14 days of the date of the test session.

    After you sign up for the test session (Melissa will tell you what test session to register for), here are the forms you will need (click on the capital letters on the name of the form). You will simply fill them out and submit them through the links the test session sends you. Some of these links will take you to the US Figure Skating member portal, so be prepared to login!

    1. PERMISSION TO TEST *This is from your club. If your club is on Entryeeze, your PTT form is on your Entryeeze account so you can just download it without contacting anyone.

    2. CONSENT & LIKENESS FORM *Parents have to fill this out that they are okay with the judges and test chair watching the video of their skater. The test session will need to send this to you since each club has to individualize it.

    3. AFFIDAVIT/ATTESTATION Form

      *This is on page 14!

      *Bring this form onto the ice when I video your test. I have to sign it & another coach needs to sign it. You can upload the form after all the signatures are on the form. Double check the form- make sure every checkbox is checked, every line is filled out, etc. Some test session will refuse your skater’s test if one little thing is missing (and they are allowed to do that without refunding you).

    4. VIRTUAL TEST PLACARD *You can type in the info, print it out, and then bring it to your testing lesson.

    Lastly, please bring a phone or Ipad to your lesson that I can use to video your test. Please set it on airplane mode. It is a lot easier to upload the test from the device that took video.

  • For skating skill tests, skaters should wear tight black leggings (pants for boys) that do not have any holes or other colors on them.

    They should also wear a tight black leotard or black shirt that is tucked in so if they lift their arms, no one sees their tummy.

    Over the tight black leotard, skaters should wear a fitted black, zip up jacket without a hood. A tight fitting Columbia fleece jacket is fine, your club’s jacket is fine, a black solid Lululemon or other workout zip up top is also fine.

    Skaters should also wear gloves that are black or nude color that are clean and do not have holes.

    They should also have their hair pulled back out of their face nicely (no flyaways or messy looking hair). Buns are best, braids that stay out of your face are fine, and for the first four tests (Pre-Pre through Juvenile) a nice ponytail is okay.

    Make-up is not necessary, but you can wear some if it looks natural and enhances your performance.

  • For your freeskate test, you will need to wear a dress or costume that fits the theme or style of your program. Make sure you have discussed with Melissa what dress or costume you will wear.

    At the lower levels, wearing a simple outfit (i.e. a solid color dress) is fine. But by the time you get to the Pre-Gold and Gold levels, your costume is evaluated as part of your presentation/artistic score.

    Your hair should be pulled out of your face and look nice and put together.

    Your tights (unless you are a boy), should be clean and not have holes or runs in them. They should also match your skin tone. Watch that all your skin tone materials match your skin- ask Melissa if you need help or resources.

  • I HIGHLY suggest that you keep a folder with all of your test results in it. Sometimes tests get lost, test chairs don’t enter in results on time, US Figure Skating makes a mistake, etc. so if someone questions your test, it is verification that you passed if you have the actual test results!!