What is a Skating Test like?

[FSWer]

Say,I would surely love to hear from all you fellow Skaters in your own words about what a Test is like. Please include what you have Tested in.

[GarrAarghHrumph]

I've done the first MITF test, and dance tests - I'm at pre-silver in dance now. I find tests really nerve-wracking! But I used to get ridiculously nervous before gymnastics meets as well, so that's just me.

Usually a test is scheduled to run, say, on Sunday from 10:30 through 12:00, and your coach will try to find out when, during that time, you'll actually be testing. You want to show up an hour or so before the test, in case they are running early.

When I get to the rink, I check in with the rink, then with my coach. I tend to get into my test dress right away, so that I don't have to worry about bathrooms or locker rooms being occupied when I need them. But I don't put on my skates yet. I then go warm up off-ice. I put on my skates maybe about 15 minutes before I will be testing.

The group you're in - say, pre-silver dancers - will have a warm up together. Then you may have to wait some time before you actually test, as other skaters test. You're normally waiting just outside the door to the ice at this point, so you can see the other skaters. Your coach is there with you.

When it's your turn, they call your name, and you step out onto the ice. You take your position, and in dance, when the music starts, you go. In dance, your dance partner escorts you to your position on the ice - you go out there together.

It is possible that there may be others on the ice testing at the same time as you are testing.

When you finish, you leave the ice, unless the judges call you/your coach over and ask you to re-do something.

[FSWer]

Ummm...interesting. I always thought Skaters Tested solo.

[GarrAarghHrumph]

Singles skaters do test solo. Dancers test with a partner, and in some specific cases, also do the dance as a solo.

[mkats]

When I was doing the edges part of the pre-pre moves, I ran out of speed on the last of the four backwards outside edges. I was about a foot and a half away from the line and started talking to myself - "please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeease make it....."

The judge laughed and passed me.

[quebecoise]

You can also do interpretive test in duo. I did introduction and bronze interpretive test in duo. That was fun because you always get someone to talk to in practices. I am from Canada, I don't know if interpretive tests exist in other countries.

I also passed preliminary tests(elements +solo).

Tests are stressful but it's a reward to all the hard work when you passed.

[Aussie Willy]

If you are a glutton for punishment, you do tests.

[mkats]

Tests are stressful but it's a reward to all the hard work when you passed.

Heck, I still have the ISI alpha badge I bought when I passed alpha... when I was 17 years old and I was SO proud of myself for just giving my childhood dream a try I never thought I would ever get as far as learning how to how to do forwards crossovers, but five years later it's a fun story to tell the little kids at the rink.

[FSWer]

Gee,are you guys nervous in front of Judges when you Test?

[GarrAarghHrumph]

I am so nervous when I test, it's not even funny. My legs get stiff, and I have to tell myself to breathe.

[overedge]

I don't think there's anyone in the world who isn't nervous when they do a test.

My former dance coach told me one thing that really helped me be less nervous....he said, "The judges *want* you to pass." And that is so true. Even if you are nervous, they want to see you do well and make their job easy.

[MusicSkateFan]

I have had fine test sessions and I have had others that were very stressful.

Yes it is true I have failed 2 tests in my time.

My favorite comment was after my bronze free. The judges called me to them,

"Your jumps are wonderful, your spins are horrible. We need to see your back spin now!"

Washed with confidence, I failed the re-skated spin. Failing the test. 32 days later I passed from all three judges(different club)

[danceronice]

Worst nerves I had was testing the Swing dance at SCOB in front of a panel including Ben Wright. Though I was "reassured" beforehand, by just about everyone, "Don't worry about Ben, he never passes anyone!"

[gkelly]

So did he pass you?

[Skittl1321]

I was so nervous on my pre-bronze moves test I only did 1.5 times around the circle on my forward crossovers. I didn't know it either until my coach called me over and told me my mistake. Then I was so upset because I knew I'd fail the test that I did horribly. The judges had me reskate the move, which my coach told me was "just cursory- they have to let you do the whole pattern" so I knew that since I did so horribly on everything else, I'd still fail. The reskate on the video is a whole 'nother animal. Since I knew I wouldn't pass and it just didn't matter I skated without nerves and looked like a whole different skater. I actually did pass the test, and with a few positive comments on the other moves, they weren't as bad as I thought they were- but now I will never take a coach to a test session. It made that one a lot worse for me. I had no idea I messed the move up.

For bronze moves I did the opposite of what I did for pre-bronze, rather than trying to calm myself and tell myself that the outcome didn't matter I freaked out for a week ahead of time. By the time I stepped out on the ice, the nerves had worked their way through the system and I wasn't nearly as nervous (still nervous.) I had a new coach by this point, but instead of going to the test session, she was at a football game. I called her just before the test and she gave me a pep talk yelled into the phone, and I called her after the test to share the news of my pass. She said she yelled YES! at a very inopportune time in the game- oops.


Prebronze freeskate I wasn't nervous. The moves are pretty basic, and kind of hard to mess up- so by the time you are ready to put it out, you are pretty well ready. At least for me.

[sk8er1964]

I am far more nervous in competition than I am in tests. Weird, but there it is.

[Doubletoe]

I am far more nervous in competition than I am in tests. Weird, but there it is.

I'm more nervous in tests than competition! Why? Because you can't "fail" a competition!

[FigureSpins]

I'm more nervous in tests than competition! Why? Because you can't "fail" a competition!

I feel the same way! Just getting out there and skating is worth the trip to a competition. Testing is so judgemental, lol.

[quebecoise]

Gee,are you guys nervous in front of Judges when you Test?

I am nervous before my turn to pass, in the dressing room. I always tell to myself: "what I do this to myself?" but when I do the test, I'm trying to have fun. At first, it was really stressfull but with more experiences, I am learning to have fun because it's like a little competition( I would say a competition with yourself lol).

[danceronice]

So did he pass you?

Oh, hell, no. I flunked that, two judges to one. Passed on my next try at a different club. Of that test level that was the dance that gave me the most fits anyway.

And, as I was also warned, his notes on the sheet were brief and made sense only to him. I'm still keeping that particular test form FOREVER.