HOME

Welcome to FigureLee

What is Testing?

You may have seen Olympic competitions and performances widely broadcasted and viewable online or on TV, but a part of skating many have not heard of is testing. Skating tests are managed under the US Figure Skating governing body (USFSA as it’s usually referred to). You don’t need to be a member of the USFSA to test, but you must follow their guidelines (more information available on the official site linked here). There are multiple pathways of tests, and passing certain levels for certain pathways is a prerequisite for official competitions. A skater can test as many pathways as they would like, but the Skating Skills pathway is the most common one that almost every skater begins on. As a synchro skater, Skating Skills tests were necessary to qualify for higher difficulty lines (see Synchro Structure).

When you complete a pathway by passing every level, you can earn the title of “gold-medalist” and are eligible to purchase an official gold-medalist jacket from the USFSA store (expensive but come on, you’ve worked so hard)!

Test Pathways and Levels:

1. Skating Skills (Previously named Moves in the Field)

  • The most fundamental skating test, testing a skater’s strength, flexibility, and ability to execute common moves. This doesn’t test jumps, spins, or choreography–focusing instead on glide, edge-control, turns, and the fundamentals of skating.
  • Levels (low to high):
    • Pre-Preliminary
    • Preliminary
    • Pre-Bronze (Previously named Pre-Juvenile)
    • Bronze (Previously named Juvenile)
    • Pre-Silver (Previously named Intermediate)
    • Silver (Previously named Novice)
    • Pre-Gold (Previously named Junior)
    • Gold (Previously named Senior)

2. Singles (Previously named Free Skate)

  • The pathway focused on jumps and spins. Later levels also test a skater’s ability to perform to music and weave skills into choreography (the coach usually helps come up with the choreography).
  • Levels (low to high):
    • Pre-Preliminary
    • Preliminary
    • Pre-Bronze (Previously named Pre-Juvenile)
    • Bronze (Previously named Juvenile)
    • Pre-Silver (Previously named Intermediate)
    • Silver (Previously named Novice)
    • Pre-Gold (Previously named Junior)
    • Gold (Previously named Senior)

3. Pattern Dance

  • Like its name suggests, these tests evaluate a skater’s ability to follow a pattern (provided by the USFSA) and stay on beat to music. Here, a “pattern” is both the path a skater must take on the ice and the skills incorporated into that path. Each level in this pathway has 3-4 dances, each dance with its own pattern and music type (ie. tango, waltz, swing, etc.). Dances don’t include jumps or spins, instead focusing on power, glide, timing, turns, and extension. Skaters can choose to test these dances solo or with a partner. When testing with a partner, they must use the partner version of the pattern and, on higher levels, perform both the partner and single version. Most skaters test with their dance coach as their partner.
  • Levels (low to high):
    • Pre-Preliminary
    • Preliminary
    • Pre-Bronze
    • Bronze
    • Pre-Silver
    • Silver
    • Pre-Gold
    • Gold
    • International* (*This level isn’t necessary to get the “gold medalist” status of test completion and most skaters don’t test these)

4. Free Dance

  • A combination of Pattern Dance and Singles, the Free Dance pathway is one where you can skip immediately to the highest level (Gold) after completing all of your Skating Skills and Pattern Dance tests (that’s what I did). Free dance levels have a list of requirements, and you test with your own choreography and music. There are no jump requirements, but skaters must be able to spin (a scratch spin is technically enough, but judges usually prefer higher level spins). Like Pattern Dance, Free Dance can be tested either with a Partner or Solo.
  • Levels (low to high):
    • Bronze
    • Pre-Silver
    • Silver
    • Pre-Gold
    • Gold

5. Pairs

  • I’ve never tested any levels in this pathway and neither have any of my friends or teammates, so my knowledge of these tests is minimal. Like its name suggests, Pairs tests are for pairs (my favorite group to watch on the Olympics). These tests require you and your partner to choreograph a sequence that incorporates required elements (like with Free Dance). Unlike Free Dance, Pairs also requires pairs spins, synchronized jumps, lifts, and throws.
  • Levels (low to high):
    • Bronze
    • Pre-Silver
    • Silver
    • Pre-Gold
    • Gold