What Are Figure Skating Tests?
The most important factor for promoting enjoyment is achieving success.
All skaters must experience some measure of consistent success for an activity to be enjoyable. All the lessons have fundamental skills that are the building blocks to more advanced skills. Fundamental skills are required before proceeding to other more specialized areas of skating.
There are two options for testing:
As a registered ISI skating school and ISI-certified Gold Judge, Coach Aimée can test skaters on the ISI levels during lessons. Unlike Learn to Skate USA instructor evaluations, ISI tests are registered with ISI and are official tests. Learn to Skate USA and U.S. Figure Skating do not keep records of Learn to Skate USA evaluations.
The benefit of testing with Coach Aimée Skating academy is that skaters feel accomplished that they have reached official benchmarks without having to perform their maneuvers at a sanctioned test session in front of a panel of judges. While you must also be a member of ISI, Coach Aimée is happy to register you for membership.
Unlike ISI, Learn to Skate USA and U.S. Figure Skating do not keep records of Learn to Skate evaluations. Official U.S. Figure Skating tests are separate from ISI and Learn to Skate USA evaluations differ from Learn to Skate USA evaluations, where an instructor or the skating director evaluates your elements.
To take an official U.S. Figure Skating test, you must be a full member of U.S. Figure Skating, either directly or through the club of your choice. Tests are performed at U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned test sessions hosted by member clubs where panels of official U.S. Figure Skating judges evaluate skaters based on the standards and expectations of a particular test.
Coach Aimée Ricca with her skaters Shirley Chen and Monica Feinberg after passing their Moves Tests
U.S. Figure Skating tests are offered in the following:
- Moves in the Field (will be called Skating Skills as of the 2023 season)
- Free Skate (will be called Singles as of the 2023 season)
- Pattern Dance or Solo Pattern Dance
- Free Dance or Solo Free Dance
- Pairs
The level you enter in competitions is determined by your highest Singles (Free Skate) test passed.
You are required to pass your Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) test of that same level before you can test your Singles (Free Skate) of that same level.
Some rinks divide freestyle sessions by test levels. Skaters may also be divided by test level when registering for a skating camp or clinic. Plus, each U.S. Figure Skating test you pass goes on your member record and is a lifelong achievement you carry with you.
Coach Aimée with Efstathia Bermudez Petrakos after passing Pre-Preliminary Moves / Skating Skills
Peyton Crimi at Mennen Arena After Passing Her Adult Pre-Bronze Singles Free Skate
With Aimée, I passed Pre-Preliminary moves in under a year and Preliminary in under three months! She explains the moves thoroughly, helping me improve faster. Aimée is passionate about skating and dedicated to coaching. She'll be there to help me when I have questions or concerns.
Shirley Chen, Skater
Test Results
Tests Passed in 2023
Tests Passed in 2023
Tests Passed in 2023
- Peyton Crimi: Adult Pre-Bronze Singles Free Skate
- Monica Feinberg: Preliminary Solo Dances - Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, Rhythm Blues (Colleen O'Connor-Towill Dance Coach)
Tests Passed in 2022
Tests Passed in 2023
Tests Passed in 2023
- Shirley Chen: Preliminary Moves (Skating Skills) +3
- Monica Feinberg: Adult Pre-Bronze Singles Free Skate
- Karen Grill: Adult Pre-Bronze Moves (Skating Skills)
- Angelica Ingham: Adult Pre-Bronze Moves (Skating Skills) - WITH HONORS
- Kaitlyn Mink: Adult Pre-Bronze Moves (Skating Skills)
- Andie Wei: Adult Pre-Bronze Moves (Skating Skills)
Tests Passed in 2021
Tests Passed in 2023
Tests Passed in 2021
- Efstathia Bermudez Petrakos: Pre-Preliminary Moves (Skating Skills)
- Shirley Chen: Pre-Preliminary Moves (Skating Skills)
- Peyton Crimi: Pre-Preliminary & Preliminary Moves (Skating Skills)
- Monica Feinberg: Adult Pre-Bronze Moves & Adult Bronze Moves 50+ (Skating Skills)
- Aashritha Jaiganesh: Pre-Preliminary Moves (Skating Skills)
My 10-year-old son had difficulty passing his Pre-Preliminary MIF test that he needs to compete nationally in the Netherlands. Luckily, we found Aimée's website and asked her for her opinion. Aimée helped with very detailed information and useful examples. We now feel more confident to try again.
Lina B., Skating Parent
Moves in the Field / Skating Skills Tests
Taking Your First Official U.S. Figure Skaitng Test
The formal U.S. Figure skating testing structure is much different from Learn to Skate USA group lessons evaluations!
Instead of your coach evaluating you, you will be performing the moves in front of official U.S. Figure Skating judges. These judges will be marking your test against the established standards and expectations.
This testing structure can be confusing to those new to figure skating, but it is one of the most critical aspects of figure skating. So I explain it all in this video!
Pre-Preliminary Moves / Skating Skills Virtual Test Passed
Review my skater's PPM Virtual Test, including the Judges Remarks and my commentary.
Deep Dive into Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field / Skating Skills - Virtual Test
This is a deep dive into the Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field Standard test.
In this video, we review my skater Peyton's passing Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field test that was taken virtually in January of 2021.
At the time of the test, Peyton had been skating for two years with me as her coach.
Pre-Preliminary & Adult Pre-Bronze Moves / Skating Skills Tests
This video documents the first in-person test session that my skaters have tested at since March 2020.
We review Monica's Adult Pre-Bronze Moves in the Field 50+ passing test and Shirley's Pre-Preliminary Moves Standard passing test.
At the time of this test, Shirley had only been skating for six months, and Monica had recently returned to skating after a decades-long hiatus.
Preliminary Moves / Skating Skills Test Passed with +3!
What does it take to pass your Preliminary Moves in the Field (Skating Skills)test? In this deep dive,
I'll show you how this skater passed with a +3 after getting a RETRY, so that you can prepare for passing your own Preliminary test!
Adult Pre-Bronze Moves / Skating Skills Passed - WITH HONORS!
My skater, Angelica, passed her US Figure Skating Adult Pre-Bronze Moves in the Field WITH HONORS as a Virtual Test.
I take a very DEEP DIVE into the test and explain each move, the skating skills required, standards and expectations, techniques to execute them and review the judging form with you.
Adult Bronze Moves in the Field / Skating Skills 50+
My skater, Monica, passed her US Figure Skating Adult Bronze Moves in the Field as a Virtual Test 50+.
I take a very deep dive into the test and explain each move, the standards, and expectations, techniques to execute them and review the judging form with you.
If you're preparing for your USFSA Adult Bronze Moves test, you don't want to miss this one!
Preliminary Moves in the Field / Skating Skills - Virtual Test
This is another deep dive! This video examines Peyton's passing Preliminary Moves in the Field Standard Test.
Peyton tested her Preliminary Moves seven months after passing her Pre-Preliminary Moves test.
Evolution of Figures to Moves to Skating Skills + Adult Pre-Bronze MIF Test Passed
Kaitlyn just passed her Adult Pre-Bronze Moves in the Field test. Next year, this will be called Skating Skills. How did we get from Figures to Moves to Skating Skills, and what does it take to pass an adult figure skating test? How does it compare to Pre-Preliminary moves in the field test? What is it like taking a virtual figure skating test?
Test Rule Changes for the 2021-2022 Season
There have been a number of rule changes from U.S. Figure Skating for the 2021-2022 season that began on July 1, 2021!
Will Virtual Testing continue?
Have there been changes to the Retry timeline?
Find out what you need to know for this year!
Become Personally Involved & Invested in Your Skating Skill Development!
I've created Moves in the Field worksheets where you and your coach can review your progress concerning each of the moves in the field patterns as well as the test standards and expectations.
I initially created these worksheets for the skaters that I coach. However, because I saw a need for them, I decided to offer them to every skater!
These worksheets provide you with a Moves in the Field checklist that can assist you in practicing on your own and while in lessons with your coach:
Moves in the Field Checklists - Standard
Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field
Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field
Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field
Preliminary Moves in the Field
Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field
Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field
Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field
Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field
Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field
Coming Soon
Juvenile Moves in the Field
Intermediate Moves in the Field
Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field
Coming Soon
Intermediate Moves in the Field
Intermediate Moves in the Field
Intermediate Moves in the Field
Coming Soon
Novice Moves in the Field
Intermediate Moves in the Field
Intermediate Moves in the Field
Coming Soon