San Diego Figure Skating Communications
a non-profit educational organization
Marking School Figure Tests
Range of Marks used for School Figure Tests
The Preliminary Figure is marked as "Pass or Retry". The first through eighth figure tests have minimum passing scores:
NOTE: the sixth through eight test cab be taken as two parts. Both
parts must be passed to earn the test medal. Each element on the
test is equal in value despite the level of difficulty some time referred
to as "factoring" that was used in competitive judging of figures.
FSR 1.21 Every figure is marked on a scale from 0 to 6, of which:
0 = not skated
1.0 = very poor
2.0 = poor
3.0 = mediocre
4.0 = good
5.0 = very good
6.0 = outstanding performance
Decimals to one place are permitted as further intermediate values (e.g., 3.8, 4.4, 5.5).FSR 1.22
In assigning marks, the judges must:
A. In the assessment of the marks, the judge must in the first instance pay special attention to theFSR 1.23
1. Above all the skater should demonstrate a feeling for the general geometry of the figure,B. It is not possible to assess exactly the penalty for any given error as it depends largely on the
which includes symmetry, proportional size and the roundness of the circle as a whole.
2. Furthermore a skater should maintain the long and short axes of a figure.
3. Attention must be paid to obvious changes of edge (i.e., before or after the cusp) and long
4. Finally the judges must look for continuity of flow, easy movement and good carriage
throughout the figure.
degree of the specific error.
1. The seriousness of a change of edge in a turn increases in direct proportion to the distance
from the point of the cusp at which the change of edge occurs;
2. A flat is of greater importance in direct relation to its length;
3. The degree of an error is accentuated if it is repeated throughout the figure;
4. A serious error is one which is connected with the main feature of a figure (the actual turn,
or loop or change of edge);
5. A serious error occurs when it immediately follows the execution of the main feature, as it
indicates a lack of control. An error becomes more serious if it facilitates the execution of
the figure (i.e., trailing on the take-off in paragraph figures or pulls before changes of edge)
or if it facilitates the execution of the main feature of the figure (i.e., flats or change of edge
6. An accumulation or combination of various and different errors in a figure incurs a greater
penalty than the single serious error alone.
7. Marks must be deducted if a figure is not finished at a reasonable speed.
8. Marks must be deducted if the size of the figure is not approximately the same in its triple
execution, or if a figure is abnormally small or so large that it is not wholly skated on a firm
Failure of a figure or its repetition occurs if the skater falls or touches down with the non-skating foot or any other part of the body in order to maintain balance or to complete the figure. The fact that a skater falls in a figure must not lead a judge to mark the figure as not skated. On the contrary, the successful part of the figure must be marked proportionately, with the tracing on each foot being considered separately.
For each failure in a tracing, the judges must deduct one-fifth (1/5) of the mark they would otherwise have given had the failure not occurred. However, in the case of multiple failures in a figure, regardless of whether they occurred on the same or on a different foot, depending upon the total number of failures, not more than four-fifths (4/5) of the mark that would have been given had the failure not occurred shall be deducted.
A skater who falls or stops while skating a compulsory figure shall be required to continue from the nearest technically practicable point and not necessarily at the exact point of interruption when the fall or stop is deemed the fault of the skater.
In all figure events, scribes and similar mechanical devices may not be used during the warm-up period.
School Figures - Table of Contents
Skating Training Programs
School Figure Test List
The following internet links have been gleaned from personal communications
combined with information from public institutions and athletic organizations/
associations that have a web presence with information concerning team and
individual sports programs:
All materials are copy protected.
The limited use of the materials for education purposes is allowed providing
credit is given for the source of the materials.