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High Test Days

Tests are what enable the skaters to move ahead, and they spend countless hours perfecting the skills needed to pass the tests. Evaluators from outside the club are brought in to assess the skaters according to national standards that are pre-determined by Skate Canada. When your coach feels that your skater is ready to take a test, his/her name will be forwarded to the test chair. A time will be reserved for your skater to take the test and your will be notified. There is also a fee that must be paid in advance in order for your skater to take the test.  

Test days are usually scheduled by the club twice a year - once in the Fall and once in the Winter.

Test Areas 

The STARSkate program tests in four areas of  figure skating: Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive.

Skating Skills

The objective of the Skating Skills program is mastery of the basic fundamentals of skating – edge quality, control, power and speed.  Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements, executed on a pattern and skated solo. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing. 

Free Skating

Free skating consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music.

Dance

The Dance Test program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. The dances in the STARSkate Program can be tried in any order but a candidate must pass the required number of dances in a dance test before proceeding to the next level. In addition to the traditional compulsory dances, there are also Creative Dances to challenge skaters’ creativity, artistry and originality.

Interpretive

The objective of the Interpretive program is to encourage and develop skaters’ creativity, expression, musicality, movement, interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rhythm, line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements. The Interpretive tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length. Skaters can take Interpretive tests as individuals and/or as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male).  The emphasis is on the intrepretation rather an on jumps or spins.

Test Levels

Each area is divided into the following levels:

Primary Level Tests

Intermediate Level Tests

  • Skating Skills: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
  • Free Skating: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
  • Dance: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
  • Interpretive: Bronze

Senior Level Tests

  • Skating Skills: Senior Silver, Gold
  • Free Skating: Senior Silver, Gold
  • Dance: Senior Silver, Gold, Diamond
  • Interpretive: Silver, Gold

Attire & Equipment for Skating Tests

  • Although skates should be sharpened by a professional regularly, edge preference is a personal choice. Check with your coach about sharpening before test day.

  • Competition attire is appropriate to where on test day.  if you are taking an interpretive program test, wear your program costume. Girls must wear a skating skirt and a neat fitted top or a skating dress; boys must wear skating pants and a shirt or t-shirt style top (it must have sleeves). Your attire should be neat and tidy. 

  • Your skaters hair should be neat and tidy and long hair should be pulled back from the face. Makeup is not required. A warm up jacket or sweater and gloves are recommended for the pre-test practice/warm up.

  • Please discuss any questions that your skater may have about attire or equipment with your coach prior to the test day.

Tips for a Successful Test Day

  • Your skater should arrive at the rink 30 to 45 minutes before their scheduled time. This will give enough time to warm up properly and prepare mentally without feeling rushed.
  • Attire for test day is important! Test day attire is to be simple, dark colours with little embellishments (except for freeskate tests), clean, in good repair (no holes in tights). Hair is to be off the face in either a secure ponytail or bun. Make-up is to be modest and keeping with the test and skater’s age. Please confirm this with your coach.
  • It is possible to “scratch” a skater from a test if they are not ready. Please discuss the “scratch date” with your coach. A skater who does not withdraw by the scratch day WILL be charged for the test regardless if they take it or not.
  • Unfortunately test fees are not refundable if a skater fails to pass a test.
  • Skaters will be given time to warm up on ice prior to testing.
  • Following warm-up, your skater will perform for the evaluator. The evaluator will observe and make comments on the test sheet.
  • Periodically, the test sheets will be collected and handed to the coaches. Your skaters coach will hand the test paper to your skater. The test sheet will indicate whether your skater has passed or must retry the test. Evaluators are trained by Skate Canada to provide positive feedback to help skaters progress.
  • Don’t be surprised if you skater does not pass the test. Sometimes it takes two or more attempts to pass a test.
  • Your skater should discuss the evaluator’s feedback with your coach as soon as possible.
  • Please encourage proper etiquette in the lobby on test day.

Test Results

All tests are evaluated according to Skate Canada standards. Skaters are not compared to other skaters results. Depending on the level of the test being taken, there are certain passing criteria that the judges are marking against.

Your coach will discuss your test results with you. Your test will be evaluated overall as either “Pass” or “Retry”. There is no limit to the number of times that a skater can attempt a test. Each test in the Skate Canada program must be taken sequentially. Skaters are not permitted to skip a level in the STARSkate test stream; the requirements to complete a level must be fulfilled before attempting the next level.

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