How many tests have you taken?

[JulieN]

The GC thread got me thinking about how many tests I've taken. Here's my stats:

Total tests taken (Passed + Retries): 54

Passed Total: 36
Dance: 22 (15 Standard, 7 Adult)
Moves: 9 (7 Standard, 2 Adult)
Freestyle: 4 (1 Standard, 3 Adult)
Figures: 1 (1 Standard)
Retry Total: 18
Dance: 13 (11 Standard, 2 Adult)
Moves: 5 (5 Standard)

Please share your test stats in this thread!

[jazzpants]

Passed Total: 2Moves: 1 (1 Standard, 0 Adult)Freestyle: 1 (0 Standard, 1 Adult)

Failed Total: 2 Moves: 2 (0 Standard, 2 Adult) (Will take Bronze Moves again for the third time... soon!!!)

[renatele]

Passed total: 4 (USFS)

Moves: 3 (standard)
FS: 1 (standard)

Failed: none so far

[jenlyon60]

Dance:

Passed Total: 10 (8 standard, 2 adult)/18 total taken (11 standard, 7 adult)
Failed Total: 6 (1 standard, 5 adult)

Moves:

Passed Total: 1 adult/1 adult taken

Freestyle:

Passed Total: 1 standard/1 standard taken

[TreSk8sAZ]

Passed: 13

Moves - 3 (standard)

Freeskate - 2 (standard)

Dance - 8 (standard)

Failed: 7

Moves - 4 (standard) (NOTE: Failed same test twice with 2 different tests)

Freeskate - 1 (standard)

Dance - 2 (standard) (NOTE: Failed same dance twice)

[flying~camel]

USFSA:

Passed - 10 total

Freestyle - 3 (1 standard - Pre-Prelim, 2 adult - Pre-Bronze & Bronze)

Moves - 4 (2 standard - Pre-Prelim & Prelim, 2 adult - Pre-Bronze & Bronze)

Dance - 3 (3 standard - Dutch Waltz, Rythmn Blues & Canasta Tango)

Retried - 0 (knock on wood!)

ISI:

Passed - 8 total

Learn to skate - 4 (Alpha - Delta)

Freestyle - 4 (FS 1 - FS 4)

Retried - 0

[Kristin]

Passed: 17 total

4 MITF tests (prepre, prelim, prejuv, Adult Silver)
3 FS tests (Prepre, Adult prebronze, Adult Bronze)
10 dances (9 up thru Bronze + 1 Pre-silver dance)

Retries: none.

Kristin

[becca]

Passed (all Standard)

Dance: 19
Figures: 2
Skills: 3 (similar to US moves in the field i think)
Artistic: 1 (now called interpretive)
Freeskate: 3.5 (this is possible here as we have elements and program)
Total: 28.5

Failed (all Standard)

Dance: 20 (mostly Killian, Foxtrot and Vianesse...those accounted for 15 fails)
Figures: 0.5
Skills: 0
Freeskate: 1
Total: 21.5

Gradfathered (given credit for tests I didn't take): 2 (1 skills and 1 interpretive)

[luna_skater]

Passed: 21 dances (prelim through gold, Canadian)

Retried: 1 (the Viennese)

Passed: 18 skills exercises (prelim through gold, Canadian)

Retried: 0

[lovepairs]

Here is my test history:

https://www.usfsaonline.org/history/listSkater_tests.asp

Everyone can find their "test history" on the USFSA website. Click on "About Us" in the menu bar. Next, click on Members Services (left column). Then click on Members Only (left column.) To log on you need your USFSA number and a password that they will assign to you. It's a really neat archive!

Lovepairs

[doubletoe]

The GC thread got me thinking about how many tests I've taken. Here's my stats:

Passed Total: 28
Dance: 16 (15 Standard, 1 Adult)
Moves: 7 (5 Standard, 2 Adult)
Freestyle: 4 (1 Standard, 3 Adult)
Figures: 1 (1 Standard)
Failed Total: 13
Dance: 12 (11 Standard, 1 Adult)
Moves: 1 (1 Standard)

Please share your test stats in this thread!

Damn, that's a lot of tests, LOL! :bow:
So far, I've only taken the tests required to take the freestyle tests I've wanted to pass. This year will be the first time I'm planning to take a test that isn't required for freestyle competition: Intermediate MIF. Since I passed Gold MIF and there's only one new move on the Intermediate test, it just seemed like a waste not to go for it. Here's my test count so far:

MIF: 3 taken, 3 passed: Adult Bronze, Silver, and Gold (passed Pre-Bronze FS test before MIF requirement)

Freestyle: 5 taken, 3 passed: Pre-bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. I passed Pre-bronze and Gold on the first try but had to re-test Bronze and Silver 'cause my spins sucked. :roll:

[doubletoe]

Freestyle: 5 taken, 3 passed: Pre-bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. I passed Pre-bronze and Gold on the first try but had to re-test Bronze and Silver 'cause my spins sucked. :roll:

Thank goodness this wasn't a math test, LOL! I meant 6 taken, 4 passed.

[doubletoe]

Passed: 17 total

4 MITF tests (prepre, prelim, prejuv, Adult Silver)
3 FS tests (Prepre, Adult prebronze, Adult Bronze)
10 dances (9 up thru Bronze + 1 Pre-silver dance)

Retries: none.

Kristin

Wow, Kristin!! No retries! Very impressive!

[jazzpants]

Thank goodness this wasn't a math test, LOL! I meant 6 taken, 4 passed.Must be too much work, huh? LOL!!! :P (Which reminds me, I should get back to it... LOL!!!) :P

JulieN... my head is just spinning reading that you took 28 skating tests!!! 8O

[renatele]

Here is my test history:

https://www.usfsaonline.org/history/listSkater_tests.asp
Lovepairs

You mean this is where *my* test history is, right? :twisted:

Yes, USFS members can see their own test history there, but they cannot see the history of other members - so by going to the link you gave, the skater signs in, and sees her/his history.

[e-skater]

Keeping in mind I started skating at 48, two weeks before my 49th BD! I began private lessons in 4/99. All these tests were passed 8O , no retries YET! :roll: I'm sure that's a-comin' though! LOL!!!! :twisted:

11-00 Adult Pre Bronze
4-01 ISI Freestyle 1
3-04 Solo Preliminary Ice Dances ("standard track")
5-04 ISI Freestyle 2
11-04 Adult Bronze Moves
6-05 Solo Pre Bronze Ice Dance ("standard track" Cha Cha)

Am aiming for Adult Bronze Freeskate and two more ice dances in 9-06.

You guys are all doing great here! So many tests taken and passed.:bow: :bow: :bow:

[phoenix]

Passed:
15 adult dance (prelim through silver)
7 standard dance (went back to pre-silver, now through 1 pre-gold)
2 Free dances (intermediate & novice)
4 MIF (standard through Juvenile)
1 FS (lowly little Adult pre-bronze :P )

total passed: 29

Retries:
4 Rockers (3 adult, 1 standard)
3 Americans (1 adult, 2 standard)
1 Tango (adult)
1 European (standard)
1 Adult bronze FS

total retries: 10

Grand total tests taken: 39 :P

[jazzpants]

8O *Jazzpants faints dead away looking at how many tests phoenix has taken*

:bow: :bow: :bow:

[JulieN]

8O *Jazzpants faints dead away looking at how many tests phoenix has taken*

:bow: :bow: :bow:
Yes, and I nearly fainted when I counted up how many tests I've taken... and in particular how much money I wasted on failed tests!!! 8O

[slusher]

Tried: 12
Passed: 12

[lovepairs]

Renatele,

You are right, you can only see your own test history by going to the USFSA "test history" archive, but, yes this is where all of your test records are stored.

[JulieN]

You mean this is where *my* test history is, right? :twisted:

Yes, USFS members can see their own test history there, but they cannot see the history of other members - so by going to the link you gave, the skater signs in, and sees her/his history.
Plus it doesn't show tests failed before 2001 (which maybe is a good thing -- I wish they didn't show any of my failures!).

[BatikatII]

All standard track since there is no adult track in UK. I started skating as an adult (37 years old)

old UK NISA novice test (free)
compulsory dance 1 (novice foxtrot and rhythm blues) and 2 (Canasta tango and Dutch Waltz) (both tests solo)

level 1 freeskate elements

variation solo dance (rhythm blues) level 1

level 1 and 2 dance moves

level 1, 2 and 3 free dance (solo)

so 10 tests in total, 2 in free skating and 8 in dance. No retries so far.

I think we should have a 'how many medals' thread too and in what competitions (i.e club, opens, championships etc)

Now working on level 2 Free skating and inter-bronze Field moves.

[bbowie]

Can't believe u guys have like more than 20 times!! I only did 2 , so.....yeah, and i passed both of them!

[cutiesk8r43]

passed:6
pre preliminary fs and moves
prelimnary fs and moves
dutch waltz (retook)
canasta tango

retries: 1
dutch waltz

~cutie;)

[Perry]

Total: 48

Passed Total: 40
Dance: 24
Moves: 8
Freestyle: 7
Figures: 1

Failed Total: 8
Dance: 6
Moves: 1
Freestyle: 1

[jazzpants]

(*Jazzpants recovers from phoenix' post on how many tests she's taken, only to faint dead away again seeing PERRY's post*) 8O

[e-skater]

Total: 48

Passed Total: 40
Dance: 24
Moves: 8
Freestyle: 7
Figures: 1

Failed Total: 8
Dance: 6
Moves: 1
Freestyle: 1

WHOA! Good job! :bow: :bow: :bow: 8O

[doubletoe]

(*Jazzpants recovers from phoenix' post on how many tests she's taken, only to faint dead away again seeing PERRY's post*) 8O

Uh, yeah. I just dragged myself up off the floor as well, LOL!

[doubletoe]

Tried: 12
Passed: 12

Okay, you get a :bow:

[icedancer2]

Okay, I'll bite:

Lifetime total tests taken: 23
passed: 17

FIGURES: 4 - 3 Standard, 1 Adult

Passed 3 --

MITF: 1 Adult -- passed

Dance: 18 - 10 Standard, 8 Adult

Passed: 13

[NickB]

So far I've only taken and passed pre-preliminary MITF and adult pre-bronze MITF. I'm working on bronze MITF now and will probably test pre-pre and/or pre-bronze free skate sooner or later.

Nick

[Csk8er]

Total tests taken (Passed + Failed): 15

Passed Total: 11 (all standard)

Freestyle: 5
Figures: 6

Failed Total: 4 (all standard)

Freestyle: 0
Figures: 4 (3x on 2nd figure & 1x on 6th figure)

[VegasGirl]

6 taken, 6 passed (since July 2004) :) :

Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Delta
FS1
FS2

[pedonskates]

This is since 1991:

Tests passed:
Figures: 5 (Prelim, 1, 2, Adult Bronze, Adult Silver)
FS: 6 (Prelim, Juv, Int, Bronze, Silver, Gold)
Passed some before MITF requirement and before pre-pre and pre-juv existed
MITF: 5 (through intermediate)
Passed adult FS prior to MITF requirement
Dance: 13

Retries:
MITF 2
Dance 2

Total: 34

Adding ISI tests: passed 24 failed 2 = 26 (FS, figures, dance, couples)
Some of those duplicate USFS tests
60 tests since 1985 Yikes!

Pedonskates

[SkatingOnClouds]

Well I suppose it depends what the tests are. I'm in Australia, so most of the tests listed are a foreign language to me.

20+ years ago I did my preliminary figures, preliminary freestyle, and bronze freestyle. I also did Aussie Skate badge tests, which must be around 14 tests. So that would make 18. All passes.

I'm not trying to be snide here, but I am wondering why there are so many failures or retries (by retry, do you mean doing an element again at the same test, or taking the whole test again?). My coach years ago didn't put people in for tests unless she was convinced you could pass it standing on your head on a bad day.

Is this ultra-performance nerves affecting how people skate on the day, or is there something else going on here?

[Isk8NYC]

I was an ISI skater, so I don't have very many USFSA tests.

ISI Alpha - Freestyle 5 (9)
ISI Figures 1 and 2 (2)

USFSA Preliminary Freestyle (old and now lost) (1)
USFSA Preliminary Figures (1)
USFSA Dance - taken on a dare (1)

Update:
USFSA Preliminary MITF and Freestyle

Total: 17
No retries.

[NickiT]

I've taken and passed the following UK NISA tests:-

Free Skating
Novice One (old test)

Level 1 Elements

Level 2 Elements

Level 2 Free

Field Moves
Prelim

Inter-Bronze


I did fail my very first test - the novice one test, but out of nine skaters taking it that day they failed eight so it was just one of those days when the judges were being extremely picky.

I'm hoping to take my level 3 elements and free tests later this year.

Nicki

[Kristin]

Wow, Kristin!! No retries! Very impressive!

.....SO FAR!!! Knock on wood.....LOL!

I guess since I started skating as an adult, I always felt like I had to work twice as hard & make things twice as technically perfect to be considered 1/2 as good as the kids! Good thing is that along the way, I discovered I really DO love to skate so it isn't "work" to me anymore.....more like a hobby that I love to do OFTEN. :)

Someday I'm hoping to take a figures test to add to my collection (hopefully some of the figures judges will still be around...;) LOVE working on figures! It appeals to my *very* technical nature.

Kristin

[Kristin]

I passed Pre-bronze and Gold on the first try but had to re-test Bronze and Silver 'cause my spins sucked. :roll:

Spins!!! The BAIN of my existence, LOL!

I always tell new adult skaters that spinning is hard for us to learn as adults because there is nothing in our daily lives that even comes close to putting our bodies into a "spin". And then we are on the ice & expected to go round & round & round? Yikes!!! Scary! We just have to keep working on it..... ;)

Kristin
who also has to work very hard on spins.

[Kelli]

Passed (all standard tests):
6 MIF (through novice)
3 FS (through pre-juv)
6 dance (through pre-bronze, though this probably should count as two tests)

Failed:
3 MIF (*&^# novice moves!)
1 FS (brain not on properly that day)


So 15 tests passed out of 19 total attempts. Fortunately, I stopped paying for tests years ago!

[Summerkid710]

USFS Standard
Figures: 1
Freestyle: 2 (Prelim & Juvie -- before they did Pre-Pre & Pre-Juv)
Dance: 7
Moves: 1 (Grandfathered to start at Intermediate)

Retried: 1 (Moves)

ISI
Figures: 2
Freestyle: 10 (Alpha - FS6)

Total: 24 tests

[Debbie S]

Tests Passed:
2 MIF (Adult Pre-Bronze and Bronze)
1 FS (Adult Pre-Bronze)

Retries:
2 MIF (blasted Bronze moves!)

[MusicSkateFan]

:roll: Some massive totals out there....very small here, but a good record!

MIF : 2 taken, 2 passed Adult Pre-Bronze, Bronze

FS: 3 taken, 2 passed Adult Pre Bronze, Bronze

Score 4 passed 1 Fail (1st attempt at Bronze FS!)

Time taken to do this: 13 months


Onward to silver moves (after I recover from knee surgery, TBA!)

[Kristin]

20+ years ago I did my preliminary figures, preliminary freestyle, and bronze freestyle. I also did Aussie Skate badge tests, which must be around 14 tests. So that would make 18. All passes.

I'm not trying to be snide here, but I am wondering why there are so many failures or retries (by retry, do you mean doing an element again at the same test, or taking the whole test again?). My coach years ago didn't put people in for tests unless she was convinced you could pass it standing on your head on a bad day.

Is this ultra-performance nerves affecting how people skate on the day, or is there something else going on here?

Keep in mind that many of the posters on this thread are adult (over the age of 21) skaters & many of them started skating *after* 21 or have returned to skating after a long absence involving starting families or having an illness, whatever! It can be very difficult to master some of these skating elements when your agility is not the same as a 12-yr old. I can't speak for the individual posters here, but as a judge I can tell you I have seen plenty of "nervous" testers/competitors out there. Sometimes it just isn't your day but it doesn't make you any less of a skater. It's the same as bowlers who go out one day and bowl a perfect 300 game, but the next day they don't & that has nothing to do with nerves either.

Sometimes you don't get enough sleep. Maybe your skates need sharpening & you have had to "adjust" your body to try to compensate for dull blades. Maybe you have issues outside of skating or injuries which have kept you off the ice. Sometimes you are rushing to finish a test (due to an upcoming competition deadline) and you may have taken it too early. Some tests are simply a real bugger to pass (European waltz dance, Intermediate & Novice field moves, for example). Int. moves is level 5, Novice is level 6 (out of 8 US testing levels, where "Senior" is level 8 & the level of skaters you see on TV), for example. So as you go up in level, things just simply get tougher & as an adult skater, it can be harder & harder to fit in all the practicing required to get to those higher levels.

Most coaches I know would never put out a test unless they feel that the student is capable of passing it since if they put out bad tests, then it is a reflection on them as a coach.

"Retry" means that you have to retake the whole test (must wait a min. of 30 days before doing so). If you miss an element on a test, the judges can ask you to reskate just that element at the conclusion of your test & then only the reskate of that element is taken into consideration.

Kristin

[phoenix]

I'm not trying to be snide here, but I am wondering why there are so many failures or retries (by retry, do you mean doing an element again at the same test, or taking the whole test again?). My coach years ago didn't put people in for tests unless she was convinced you could pass it standing on your head on a bad day.

Is this ultra-performance nerves affecting how people skate on the day, or is there something else going on here?

This Just In: skating is hard.

And you can't control the judges.....and you can't always control nerves.....and as you get to the higher levels you get less and less leeway for mistakes. And things like expression and the overall "look" of the skater are also getting judged. (2nd time I failed my American Waltz the comments were "good flow, good timing, good pattern, lacks expression." In other words, I did everything 'technically' right, but it didn't look 'waltzy' enough.) And you have to get a higher score at each higher level to pass the test. Novice moves is one that is nortorious for having multiple retries--the test lasts 15 minutes (I believe?) so stamina plays a huge part and the elements are very difficult. It's just very very hard to expect everything to come together perfectly every time you take a test.

[jenlyon60]

If you count each MIF in USFS Novice Moves, and each direction (since several of them have to be skated both Counter-clockwise and Clockwise), there are 11 separate pieces to Novice Moves.

As Phoenix said, it is a long test. Even without re-skates, our test chair allows about 20-25 minutes per tester (generally double paneled with 2 skaters skating all of the MIF except the Spiral sequence at the same time, starting at opposite ends of the rhink).

[PattyP]

All Adult track

Passed:

FS: 4 (PB thru Gold)

MIF: 1

Retry:

FS: 1 (Gold)

[Ellyn]

Passed:

Figures: 1 (preliminary, on the second try)

Freestyle: 1 (adult bronze, before there was pre-bronze)

MITF: 1 (pre-preliminary)

Dances: 8 (prelim, pre-bronze, and Hickory and Willow on the second try each)


Failed:

Figures: 1
MITF: 1 (preliminary)
Dances: 5 (Hickory and Willow once each, Ten-Fox three times)

I plan to get the preliminary MITF this summer, and then try adult silver and/or prejuvenile next winter although I'm not counting on passing the first try.

I'll get the Ten-Fox eventually to finish those bronzes, but right now I'm not dancing.

[jazzpants]

I'm not trying to be snide here, but I am wondering why there are so many failures or retries (by retry, do you mean doing an element again at the same test, or taking the whole test again?). My coach years ago didn't put people in for tests unless she was convinced you could pass it standing on your head on a bad day.*sigh* My primary coach was like that too, until he got his first retry ever... but we all learned from those notes that the judges put in and well, I did improve on my second try at Bronze Moves (and one judge passed then that day.) Just have to keep pluggin' at it 'til I pass it. Sometimes a retry can be a good judges critique.

I don't know if it's me, but it seems that these days the MITF tests are much harder to pass than back a few years ago. A fellow coach (not my coaches) said that as MITF mature, the judges are more particular about what they want and that's why they're tougher. Some judges are from FS backgrounds. Others are from ice dance backgrounds and as phoenix says, you really can't control who you're gonna get as a judge.

One other thing I found is that if your coach is from a FS background with no ice dance background and you get a panel of three tough judges with strict ice dance background, your chances of passing is definitely lower!!! So if you are in this case, I suggest getting someone with a strong ice dance background also to take a look at your moves too. (I have at least two people like that...and one of them is coaching me.)

phoenix: Don't remind me of the stamina problem! I told my coach to have an oxygen tank on hand at my next test session! (Of course, he cracks up at the joke then says "Two laps around the rink!" -- this is after I've did a runthru of the Moves test. Yes, I know I'm a cardio wimp and I'm supposed to SLOWLY bring down the heart rate!!! :P :lol: )

[JulieN]

I'm not trying to be snide here, but I am wondering why there are so many failures or retries (by retry, do you mean doing an element again at the same test, or taking the whole test again?). My coach years ago didn't put people in for tests unless she was convinced you could pass it standing on your head on a bad day.
I've had 13 retries total, of which 9 of them are Foxtrot dances (5 Rocker Foxtrots, 3 Keats Foxtrot, 1 Ten-Fox). Let's just say I'm "foxtrot challenged"! I'm so glad there's no more Foxtrots to test!

Also, 10 of my 13 retries had one judge passing me (in the US, most tests require 2 out of 3 judges to pass). So it's not like I'm signing up for tests that I have no prayer of passing. Each time, I'm close and can pass on a good day. I also have a tendency to "play it safe" and hold back on test day, and in the end that tends to hurt more than help.

As the tests get harder, if I wait until I can "pass it standing on my head on a bad day", I probably will never test at all! Plus I'm the kind of person that needs to test to work harder. If I don't sign up to test, I just don't work as hard.

[jenlyon60]

Of my retries,

3 were European Waltz (1 back in 1988, when you still had to do 3 patterns pair, 2 patterns solo). The other 2 retries were in 2001/2002... both coaches thought it was passing when we put in the papers.

3 Tango retries (all last year)

2 American Waltz retries (both in the last 4 months). First time we put the American Waltz out, it was because coaches felt it was relatively solid and since I was testing Tango, "why not". 2nd time on AW, we put the papers in, then I promptly came down with sinus problems and tested even though I hadn't hardly been able to do complete run-throughs for a week.

Now AW is on hold, between Pro-Am coming up and other irons in the fire.

MIF-wise, I trained for Pre-Bronze MIF and passed them less than a month after I started working on them. We started working on Bronze MIF but it's always been a "back of the burner" thing so I've never bothered to maintain them for testing. Coach pulls out different MIF from the test, though, each week and makes me do them. One of these days I'll get bored and spend a month bringing them to test standard.

[Summerkid710]

My only retry was on my Intermediate moves test. It was the first time in 12 years that I had taken a US test and I had never taken a moves test before. It was like I forgot how to bend my knees. I know the nerves got the better of me -- plus my parents and boyfriend were there. When I retested it, I did not want anyone there and that I'd call them to let them know how it went. Needless to say, I passed. I am not looking forward to Novice. It's like a marathon but at least the two perimeter patterns (well, four if you count both directions) are at the beginning.

[Sk8pdx]

Passed Total: 2Moves: 1 (1 Standard, 0 Adult)Freestyle: 1 (0 Standard, 1 Adult)

Failed Total: 2 Moves: 2 (0 Standard, 2 Adult) (Will take Bronze Moves again for the third time... soon!!!)

Keep your chin up (and your knees bent) Jazzpants. One lady at my rink had to take her Bronze MIF test 5 x before she passed.

I have only had a critique done of my Pre-Bronze MIF.
I will be taking my Pre-Bronze test in June. It will be my first try.

[phoenix]

Of my retries, most were the results of nerves, one my heart just wasn't in it, & twice I skated well & thought I would have passed--but didn't.

I'll never forget the one time I tried Adult bronze FS--the sound system was so bad I could barely hear the music, so every little scratch my blades made sounded SO loud (also why I hate moves tests). It freaked me out & I missed my first jump, which I NEVER missed. So that freaked me out even more, & it just got worse from there! I don't know if I even landed one clean jump in the that whole program. Never tried it again, shortly after that I went back to dance.

[icedancer2]

I don't know if it's me, but it seems that these days the MITF tests are much harder to pass than back a few years ago. A fellow coach (not my coaches) said that as MITF mature, the judges are more particular about what they want and that's why they're tougher. Some judges are from FS backgrounds. Others are from ice dance backgrounds and as phoenix says, you really can't control who you're gonna get as a judge.

One other thing I found is that if your coach is from a FS background with no ice dance background and you get a panel of three tough judges with strict ice dance background, your chances of passing is definitely lower!!! So if you are in this case, I suggest getting someone with a strong ice dance background also to take a look at your moves too. (I have at least two people like that...and one of them is coaching me.)



The thing I wonder about this statement is whether those FS coaches have a figures background. In my area, the older FS coaches with a very strong figures background usually have kids (and adults) who can pass the Moves tests. It scares me that some FS coaches with no figures background and no dance background are having trouble getting kids through their tests.

I guess my main concern is: what is going to happen to the future of our sport with no figures, no figures judges and no one teaching who used to do them or teach them???? Arrrgghh!

The other thing I have definitely seen as far as adults testing is that the adult will often decide they are going to test and sign up for the test and then don't pass. The coaches sign the test application -- I don't know why, maybe they are just wimps, knowing that the person isn't going to pass but they let them go anyway, "for the experience".

I guess there are a lot of approaches. When I was a kid the worst thing that happened to me regarding testing was the night before I was to take my 2nd figure test my coach told me that there was no way in h*ll I was going to pass this test and he didn't know why I was even taking it (gee, why had he signed the papers). I was devastated. Another coach overheard me telling my parents about it -- I was crying -- and he got really angry with my coach and said that that kind of talk should never, ever happen.

Needless to say, I "flunked" (we didn't have the very PC "retry" back then) and got "pulled" after my third figure. They could do that in those days. If the judges felt after a certain number of figures that you weren't going to pass they would ask you to stop the test. It was devastating.

So, welcome to the wonderful world of figure skating, everyone!

[jenlyon60]

For what it's worth, it's not fun to judge a test that you know early on isn't going well for the skater... either due to nerves/"bad skate day" or because the skater clearly wasn't really ready to take the test.

It's one thing when a skater has one bad element or MIF, but the rest of the test averages out and the skater either passes, or ends up being marked just below passing average.

It's another when the execution is such that every MIF on the test ends up being marked down .1 or .2, and the judge ends up essentially writing the same basic comment (maybe slightly differently phrased because of differences in primary foci) on each MIF.

[vendetta]

Anyone who's taken 30+ tests has definite respect in my book! :)

Here's my "statistics"...

Tests Taken: 26

Passed:
MIF - 6
Dance - 12
Freestyle - 5

Failed:
MIF - 2 (Pre-Juv, and Juvenile)
Freestyle - 1 (During my Intermediate free skate test I bombed!)

Edit: I'm taking Junior moves on Sunday as well...hopefully I'll pass and be done with the evil choctaws!

[Mel On Ice]

USFSA freestyle: 2
USFSA MIF: 1

ISI freestyle: 9

I've had to retake bronze MIF, ISI FS 1 and 2

[lovepairs]

As of this afternoon, I've taken 20 tests altogether:

Pairs: 4
Moves: 5
Dance: 4
Freestlye: 3
Figures: 4

FAILED BOTH THE INTERMEDIATE MOVES (FOR THE THIRD TIME) AND INTERMEDIATE PAIRS TODAY. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

[jazzpants]

FAILED BOTH THE INTERMEDIATE MOVES (FOR THE THIRD TIME) AND INTERMEDIATE PAIRS TODAY. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.Oh, lovepairs! I'm so sorry (for both you and pairsman2!!!) :cry: Did you get good comments on your test forms? Anything new that you didn't know about, or is it pretty much stuff you know you have to work on?

[pairman2]

MIF
prepreliminary p
preliminary p
prejuvenile f-p
juvenile f-f-f-f-f
skip to adult track when adult mif started
silver f-p
gold f-p
skip back to standard track
intermediate f-p

FREESKATE
prebronze p
bronze p
silver f-f-p

PAIR
preliminary p
bronze p
silver p
gold f-f-p
intermediate f

total all tests if my recollection is correct, 27

[SkatingOnClouds]

Keep in mind that many of the posters on this thread are adult (over the age of 21) skaters & many of them started skating *after* 21 or have returned to skating after a long absence involving starting families or having an illness, whatever! It can be very difficult to master some of these skating elements when your agility is not the same as a 12-yr old.Kristin

I started skating at age 21, so I know what you're saying here. I never attempted the Aussie Skate Ballet 2 test because I couldn't get my leg high enough for attitudes or turned out enough for Ina Bauers. I scraped through the spreadeagle in Ballet 1. After 20 years off, age 46, just getting my leg high enough for spirals is a major challenge.

As I said before, I wasn't trying to be snide with my question about retries, I was honestly just wondering. I would be devastated if I failed a test after putting so much work into it. I didn't get performance nerves back when I tested, but I certainly do now.

[Hannah]

I've yet to even figure out HOW to take tests (as an adult) at my rink.

[lovepairs]

Dear Jazzpants,

Thanks for the kind words. Well, if we could read the judges (expletive deleted, so this thread doesn't get shut down, clear throat, I mean censored) handwriting, then maybe we could have learned something from it. I am going to write to the Governing Council to pass an amendment that, at the very least, all judges should be required to "print" their names and write clearly. The judges should be provided with more space to write comments in, too.

I think you can see how flipped out I am right now, but thanks Jazzpants, your kind words really help!

Love,
Lovepairs :cry: :frus: :P

[Moto Guzzi]

FAILED BOTH THE INTERMEDIATE MOVES (FOR THE THIRD TIME) AND INTERMEDIATE PAIRS TODAY. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.Lovepairs, I'm sorry. I admire you for trying both tests. You've really accomplished a lot, and I'm sure you'll pass these two tests some day soon.

[Debbie S]

Oh, I'm sorry, lovepairs and pairman. But it was your first time with the pairs test, and Int is a high level. Be proud of yourselves for getting out there and going for it. Believe me, I understand your frustrations.

Don't give up! Keep working at it, and I know you'll be passing those tests before long!

P.S. Did Katy pass her test?

[jazzpants]

Thanks for the kind words. Well, if we could read the judges (expletive deleted, so this thread doesn't get shut down, clear throat, I mean censored) handwriting, then maybe we could have learned something from it. I am going to write to the Governing Council to pass an amendment that, at the very least, all judges should be required to "print" their names and write clearly. The judges should be provided with more space to write comments in, too. I got a better idea... have test chair give cheap laptops to the judges and have them type in their notes. At the end of the session, have the test chair take the laptops, hook 'em up to a printer and give a hard copy to you and send the soft copies over to USFSA, cc'ing you on your test results, so you would have a soft copy too. :twisted: (Of course, the font must be something readable for old tired eyes...) ;)

[WhisperSung]

Late as always, but here goes:

Moves:

Pre-pre: Pass
Prelim: Pass
Pre-juvenile: Pass
Juvenile: Fail, Fail, Pass
Intermediate: Fail, Fail, Pass
Novice: Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail, Fail (can't remember if it was 8 or 9. . .either way it's horrendously embarrassing)

Free:

Pre-pre: Pass
Prelim: Pass
Pre-Juvenile: Pass
Juvenile: Pass
Intermediate: Pass
Novice: Can't take since they haven't passed the moves yet! :x

Dance:

Prelim: Pass, Pass, Pass
Pre-Bronze: Pass, Pass, Pass

So what is that. . . 28 or 29, depending on how many Novice Moves tests I've taken. Yeesh!

[jenlyon60]

Trying to convey a thought of what needs iprovement or what primary focus wasn't met in 2 lines in about 20-30 seconds (max) with a test chair pushing you to keep moving on to the next skater (or the next MIF) is MUCH MUCH harder than it seems.

Or picking the 1 or 2 things and clearly conveying those issues.

FWIW, I either print my name or use a stamp.

[lovepairs]

Thanks, Moto...Thanks, Debbie S.

Again, your kind words are very very helpful. Yes, I will test Intermediate Moves, again, this coming Fall. Pairsman2 and I will put together a new program now, and take the Intermediate Pair test, again, after the Chicago AN. That's the plan.

Just a few things: Most people out there don't know this, but the Intermediate Pairs test on the Standard track has less difficulty in it then the Adult Gold Pairs test, even though passing the Intermediate Pairs makes one a Master Pair in the "Adult Pairs" world. Since we passed the Adult Gold Pair test, and we skated a clean program yesterday with several elements that were above the Intermediate test, we thought we should have passed. We were not awarded any extra credit at all for the advanced elements, and all three judges failed us.

Jazz,

Yes, Laptops would be the obvious solution, which I sure 80% of the judges out there, if not owning one themselves, should have access to one. Then all the USFSA needs to provide is a simple easy software, where you can just pull up the test you are giving and fill it in. The USFSA should also offer Dells for judges to purchase at a discount, which can be easily done.

All of this chicken scratch really has to go. Hey, does anyone out there know how to post a petition? Would some one post a new petition thread, just asking people if they would sign a petition about this issue. One that the Adult Committee could actually get on the agenda. Let's face it, the system is archaic and insulting as it is now: I work my butt off to take these test then I don't even have access to the critique, because it's illegible. Hey, I paid through the nose for this product and got nothing (I'm calling the better business bureau.) No, really when you think about it, we do pay a lot of money to take these tests, and besides it going to ice time and to feed the judges, don't you think we should get what we paid for? Pass or Fail, we have paid for the critique, not an abstract painting; see what I'm saying. Okay, guys, the skating mom's are not going to spearhead this, because they don't want to rattle the system for their kids, the kids probably think it's fun trying to untangle the Da Vinci Code (call the new thread the Da Vinci Code), the coaches are too busy coaching--so, it is only "Adult Skaters" who can fix this and blast it out of the dark ages. This should have been fixed when they started bringing in computers for the new Code of Points system.

Thanks everyone! Pairsman2 and I will come back stronger, and we will pass these tests! :P

[jenlyon60]

I assume you are aware that you are allowed to request to speak with the judges when they are finished the test session or when there is a break (like another warm-up group for the test session, or an ice cut).

Concerning use of laptops, given that most rinks have very little in the way of power sources (outlets) in the hockey boxes that most of us end up sitting or standing in while test sessions are underway, I think that the logistics of the proposal need to be carefully thought through.

It's not only the PROCUREMENT of the Laptops, and the development of software that is both user-friendly to the skater and user-friendly to the judges and test chairs (would you prefer something that's the equivalent of "color in the dots"), it's the logistical and procedural issues.

- Time to validate that all the laptops are working. Most test chairs have full-time jobs and families. Preparing for a test session already takes a lot of time, especially if the test session is a large one like my club runs (our MIF/FS test sessions average 8-9 hours duration, almost every month).

- Time during a test session for someone to reboot their laptop because it went belly up in the middle of a test (would you like to be the skater who has to reskate an element not because you skated it slightly sub-standard and the reskate may enable you to pass the test, but because a judge's computer died in the middle of your test? And don't say, well, just have another judge on the panel take over, because that could pose a new set of issues in and among itself.)

- Time to ensure that there is sufficient power and/or battery for the laptops. Most laptops I've used last perhaps 3 hours on battery in normal temperatures. That duration drops quite a bit in a cold damp environment such as rinkside.

- Time and space to erect small tables/trays to place the laptops. Otherwise there is the potential for damage. How many people have propped laptops on their laps and had the laptops slide because they slightly changed position. For example, standing or shifting position to see what the skater's element looked like at the far end of the rink, on a full-circuit MIF pattern. Simply placing the laptop on the barrier wouldn't work very well either, from what I've seen of the number of times clipboards and rulebooks and PSA books have fallen off the barrier during test sessions.

[Mel On Ice]

laptops for all the judges? Skating is already expensive enough. We are seeing the effects of the IJS system on entry fees, watch costs skyrocket on tests if laptops are required.

[lovepairs]

About talking to the judges: been there, done that.

First, it's 2006, I think rinks can update their power sources, or run a few extension cords with power strips when needed. Yes, of course, I understand the expense involved, but, everything in this lifetime requires an investment if you want to move ahead and make progress. I think it would be a worthwhile investment, and I bet in a few years we see this trickle down effect from the computers and software systems being used by the ISU for the new Code of Points.

Having said that and taking into account your concerns, at the very least, require that the judges PRINT their names, so we know who we are to address when we have questions, and ask them to write clearly as much as possible given the current system. Again, I believe we work very hard to put it out there and make a big financial investment to do so, and we should be able to walk away with a legible critique from which to learn, whether it is a pass, or retry.

[sk8er1964]

About talking to the judges: been there, done that.

First, it's 2006, I think rinks can update their power sources, or run a few extension cords with power strips when needed. Yes, of course, I understand the expense involved, but, everything in this lifetime requires an investment if you want to move ahead and make progress. I think it would be a worthwhile investment, and I bet in a few years we see this trickle down effect from the computers and software systems being used by the ISU for the new Code of Points.

First, sorry about your re-trys. Hopefully you'll get them next time!

Second, rinks aren't going to upgrade anything unless it helps their hockey clients, who really pay the bills in the rink. Hockey players don't need electricity in the boxes, so I doubt rinks would go to any additional expenses, unless the figure skating club itself decides to pay for it. Just my 2 cents....

Third, here's my list....

ISI (as a kid):
Freestyle 1 - passed
Freestyle 2 - passed
Freestyle 3 - passed
Freestyle 4 - passed
Freestyle 5 - passed
Freestyle 6 - passed

USFS (as a kid):
Preliminary figures - passed
1st figures - passed (I might have failed this one once)
2nd figures - failed umpteen times and quit skating

Preliminary freestyle - passed

Preliminary dances (Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, Swing Dance) - passed

USFS (as an adult)
Adult Pre-Bronze freestyle - passed
Adult Bronze freestyle - passed
Adult Silver freestyle - passed
Adult Gold freestyle - passed

Adult Gold MIF - passed
Intermediate MIF - passed

Pre-Bronze dances (Swing Dance, Cha-Cha, Fiesta Tango) - passed.

21 tests passed, and the only tests I ever failed -- figure tests -- failed more times than I can remember. :twisted:

[lovepairs]

Thanks, Skater8...we really appreciate your support.

You know, I really don't think electricity is the problem here. Most Hockey boxes are wired already for announcing purposes, and usually that's were the rinks sound system comes out of, too. The real barrier is if anyone thinks it is important enough for testers to be able to read their comments. I think even the judges would be happy to upgrade from handwriting, too. Here's a dirty little secret: rinks and clubs are not as impoverished as they all lead us to believe they are. Anyway, this effort would mostly come out of the USFSA, and believe me, with all of the dues that we pay in membership, if this was really thought to be an important and necessary step toward the future, they would do it, which they probably will. I bet (hope) in the next five years we don't see anymore chicken scratch.

[beachbabe]

passed:



moves-
pre-pre
pre
pre-juv
juv

freestyle-
pe-pre
pre
pre-juv
juv


failed:


juvenile MIF
intermediate MIF (will try to pass again in July I think)




so grand total: 10

[fmh]

total tests tried:29
total tests passed:23
total tests failed:6
total wasted money on the failed tests: $110


read through if you have a lot of time on your hands :P:P
tests passed:) :
freeskate:
starskate
~preliminary
~jr bronze
~sr bronze
~jr silver
competitive
~pre novice
skills
~preliminary
~jr bronze
~sr bronze
~jr silver
~sr silver
dance
~preliminary dances: dutch waltz, canasta, baby blues
~jr bronze dances:fiesta, swing, willow waltz
~sr bronze dances: ten fox, 14 step, european
~jr silver dances: keats foxtrot, rocker, american, harris tango

tests failed:x :
freeskate:
~pre novice (1)
skills:
~jr bronze (1)
dance:
~jr bronze dances: fiesta (2:P )
~sr bronze dances:european (1)
~jr silver dances: harris tango(1)
~sr silver dances: paso (1)

[pennybeagle]

I think I've been pretty lucky so far:

MITF:
Pre-Pre: P
Pre: P
Bronze: P
Silver: P
Gold: F, P with reskate
Intermediate: I'll let you know next week

FS:
Pre-Pre: P
Pre: P with reskate
Pre-Bronze: P
Bronze: P with reskate
Silver: P with reskate

Dance:
Prelim: P, P, P
Pre-Bronze: P, P, P
Bronze: P, P... I'll let you know how the Ten Fox went next week

So that's 17 for 18, with two coming up.

I hate testing. I don't know why I do it. :roll:

[mikawendy]

FAILED BOTH THE INTERMEDIATE MOVES (FOR THE THIRD TIME) AND INTERMEDIATE PAIRS TODAY. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

Remember, it's a retry, not a failure. And I don't mean that as a euphemism--I mean that I'm sure that in both of those tests, there were good things that the judges saw, and good on you for getting out there and testing!

[mikawendy]

Here's a dirty little secret: rinks and clubs are not as impoverished as they all lead us to believe they are.

Well, because of ice costs some clubs do lose money on test sessions sometimes, sometimes in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

[lovepairs]

You would be surprised how savvy (sp?) management all around could fix the leak. It's a business just like any other with bottom lines and overheads. Several rinks and clubs are beginning to realize this and bring in management consultants to fix the problem.

I just overheard a conversation by a board member at a rink telling how a consultant devised a way for a rink to save $40,000 annually just by the way they re-thought their lighting system. This is just one example among many. Do you know how much money could be saved annually just by keeping the those small doors to the ice closed after you step on the ice? Thousands of dollars. Were there is a will there is a way, and, perhaps, some of this money can be invested in laptops for judges, so that we can actually read the critiques for which we are paying. Okay, I'll shut up now. :giveup:

[pennybeagle]

Here's a dirty little secret: rinks and clubs are not as impoverished as they all lead us to believe they are. Anyway, this effort would mostly come out of the USFSA, and believe me, with all of the dues that we pay in membership, if this was really thought to be an important and necessary step toward the future, they would do it, which they probably will. I bet (hope) in the next five years we don't see anymore chicken scratch.

...and some clubs and rinks are actually MORE impoverished than most members think. One of the greatest challenges with implementing things like IJS or the laptop program, as you suggest, is that it is an expensive, logistical nightmare for many smaller local clubs--to the point where some clubs would have to fold altogether and some skaters would simply have to quit because there would no longer be any more freestyle. That would certainly be the reality of the situation for me. :cry:

In the past, I have asked (with my coach) a judge to clarify their comments when I received test papers with illegible marks. It's a perfectly reasonable thing to do to ask the judge what s/he wrote on your paper. Judges are generally friendly people, and are glad to clarify, especially if it's simply a matter of not being able to read the comments (they aren't so friendly if you are contesting their comments, though). I've also asked the test chair or test assistant to show me the original copy of my test paper when the reason why I couldn't read the copy in the first place was that the copy machine did not print the text dark enough. Most judges use pencil, which doesn't show up that well on copy machines. (Why pencil? Well, so they can erase those nasty comments during your reskate and write other ones, of course.:twisted: ) Usually the original copy is more legible, and I could re-copy those marks on the back of my own copy. Either of these options seems to be a much more sensible, low-tech, and personal solution to the chicken scratch problem. And it wouldn't endanger other clubs financially who have nothing to do with your test.

I would like to say, though, that I am sorry about your frustrations about your test, and I agree that you should expect to receive meaningful comments. Since I am testing this weekend, I feel your pain pretty acutely (especially since I know that there's a pretty good chance that I might not pass my Intermediate moves). Testing is never fun, and I understand that we all feel entitled to good comments since it's such an expensive and excruciating process. But increased technology does not necessarily mean you will get better comments.

I'm also not sure about how much you are paying in USFS dues, but I thought that they only took 35 dollars a year, anyway. From what I've heard, a big chunk of USFS's revenue right now comes from a fat contract that they have with ABC Sports, which they will likely lose after 2007 given the declining popularity of figure skating. Anyway, I foresee and increase in dues without any major change in what services are offered.

Sorry I got on a soapbox.:halo: Having worked with tight finances and the rising costs of ice, it is hard to hear other skaters accuse clubs and rinks of just sitting pretty in piles of cash. I wish we had piles of cash. It would certainly make things easier.

[Isk8NYC]

Here's a dirty little secret: rinks and clubs are not as impoverished as they all lead us to believe they are. ... I just overheard a conversation by a board member at a rink telling how a consultant devised a way for a rink to save $40,000 annually just by the way they re-thought their lighting system. While I don't think EVERY Club is truly poor, I have been an officer of a few clubs that really were paying ice bills month-to-month with collected fees. My first exposure to Finance in the real world was learning that the skating club had to front the first 3 months ice rental monies before the season began and the dues/fees were paid! Having a bank balance can mean having good cash flow and having the Club run with less effort on the part of the volunteers. As for the $40k/year savings, usually those savings come AFTER the rink invests $125k in the new lighting/electrical system, up front. That way, the investment pays for itself after several years. (Most salespeople have it work out to 5 or less, so it fits in with the "Five Year Plan" of the rink.)

That said, I was a member of a different Club that had so much money left over at the end of one year, they had custom skate bags made and surprised the members! The adults were up in arms, feeling they overpaid for the entire season, would have preferred a credit for next season. Plus, they really didn't like the fancy-pants bags! :roll:

I am sorry about your tests. Hang tough -- I'm sure you'll nail it on the retry!

[doubletoe]

I think I've been pretty lucky so far:

MITF:
Pre-Pre: P
Pre: P
Bronze: P
Silver: P
Gold: F, P with reskate
Intermediate: I'll let you know next week



Give us all the details on your Intermediate MIF test next week! (fingers crossed). I am going to take it in the next few months myself, so I'd be interested in hearing if the judges really hold you to higher standards than the Adult Gold test. Good luck!! :)

[jenlyon60]

Give us all the details on your Intermediate MIF test next week! (fingers crossed). I am going to take it in the next few months myself, so I'd be interested in hearing if the judges really hold you to higher standards than the Adult Gold test. Good luck!! :)

Please be sure that you are meeting the primary foci for the Intermediate MIF test compared to the Current foci for the Adult Gold Test (if you took the Adult Gold test before this changed, as I recall, it wouldn't have differed other than if your judges were judging your Adult Gold MIF to more of an Adult standard vice a standard-track MIF standard)

For example, under the [u]current[/b] Adult Gold MIF test, the primary focus for the power circles (F&B) and the Inside Slide Chasse sequence is "Continuous Flow and Strength," whereas for the Intermediate MIF test, the primary focus for the power circles (F&B) is Power, and the primary focus for the Inside Slide Chasse sequence is Edge quality, with a secondary focus of "Extension".

[Debbie S]

For example, under the [u]current[/b] Adult Gold MIF test, the primary focus for the power circles (F&B) and the Inside Slide Chasse sequence is "Continuous Flow and Strength," whereas for the Intermediate MIF test, the primary focus for the power circles (F&B) is Power, and the primary focus for the Inside Slide Chasse sequence is Edge quality, with a secondary focus of "Extension".Not to get this thread totally off-topic, but I thought that was an error in the rulebook/test sheet that stemmed from substituting the power 3's for the slide chasses on the Silver test - when the forms were first changed with the move names, the primary and secondary foci for the slide chasses remained on the test sheet as the foci for power pulls - edge quality and extension. That was eventually changed to continuous flow and strength (for power pulls) but for some reason, that focus was also transferred to the Gold test sheet for the slide chasses.

If anyone has an older Silver MIF test sheet, perhaps they could confirm this, but I'm pretty sure the foci for the slide chasses were edge quality and extension, like they are on the standard test. To me, it doesn't make sense that a move would have a completely different focus (other than the substitution of continuous flow for power) on the adult track than it does on the standard track.

[NoVa Sk8r]

When slide chasses were on the silver MIF, the prmary focus was on edge quality, secondary focus was extension.

When the slide was moved to gold MIF, the primary focus became continuous flow and strength (there is no secondary focus).
http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/RulebookCorrections.pdf
http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/adultMIF-corrections.pdf

My understanding for this focus change was that "continuous flow and strength" was a harder skill than "edge quality and extension." (The latter does not inherently imply speed.)

[pennybeagle]

Honestly, my coach has always looked for POWER and acceleration in the power circles. The first time I took (and failed) the Gold test, I was told that I needed more power in my CW forward circles, so I figure that regardless of what wording the rulebook was using, the judges were looking for power. Hopefully, the 6 extra months of work I've put into this has helped develop more power anyway (although honestly, I think that working on my 14-step has helped more concretely in the posture and power department).

My problem is that I tend to chicken out in front of judges and do things differently than what I do in practice. :frus:

Tests. Evil. I'll let you all know how things go.

[lovepairs]

Testing is never fun, and I understand that we all feel entitled to good comments since it's such an expensive and excruciating process. But increased technology does not necessarily mean you will get better comments.

Pennybeagle,

Really, good luck with your upcoming test! I'm okay, and have totally recovered and will test the Intermediate Moves, again (for the 4th time) this coming fall.

With better technology, or a requirement for clearer handwriting, by no means was I asking, or hoping for "better comments," but rather just legible ones--that's all. Still think the problem can be solved and still think funds could be made available to solve it one way, or another. Below, is an example of exactly what I talking about in terms of "poor management/bad decision making." Take a hundred of these poorly managed decisions add them up and walla you have some funds to do important things with:

That said, I was a member of a different Club that had so much money left over at the end of one year, they had custom skate bags made and surprised the members! The adults were up in arms, feeling they overpaid for the entire season, would have preferred a credit for next season. Plus, they really didn't like the fancy-pants bags!

I am sorry about your tests. Hang tough -- I'm sure you'll nail it on the retry!

Thanks Ics8NYC, I'm fine now. Thank you for pointing out the above. I understand that many rinks are in big financial trouble, but I still believe that with really good management things can always be turned around--what can I say, I tend to be optomistic that when there are things that are obviously "wrong" like not being able to read the comments that you've paid for that things like this can be fixed.

[saras]

33 tests total (not counting ISI - I think I did alpha through delta and FS1 and FS2)

Tests passed:
Figures: 6 (prelim, 1, 2, 3, adult bronze, adult silver)
prelim, 1, 2 passed before 1981
FS: 5 (prelim, juv, adult bronze, silver, gold)
prelim, juv passed before 1981 - before pre-pre and pre-juv existed
MIF: 5 (pre-b, bronze, silver, gold, int)
all passed since 2001
Dance: 12 (prelim, pre-b, b, pre-silver)
all passed since 2001

Tests marked retry - 5 total:
Figures: 2 (first try at 2nd, 3rd)
FS: 0
MIF: 2 (two tries at Gold MIF)
Dance: 1 (foxtrot)

Sara

[mdvask8r]

-- edited after testing on 5/21:
My grand total to date: 21 tests -- 23 tests
tomorrow AM I'll add 2 figures tests.

17 -- 19 Passes:
MIF - preprelim, prelim, silver
FS - prebronze, bronze, silver
DANCE - 3 prelim, 3 prebronze, 3 bronze, 2 presilver
FIGURES -- prelim, adult bronze

4 Retries:
1 silver MIF
1 silver FS
2 TenFox

I'm pretty good at deciphering the scribbled comments. Btwn my coach and me, we've always been able to figure it out . . . eventually. Now reading the signatures is a much lower success rate.

[jenlyon60]

I was quoting directly from the posted test forms, not the rulebook.

In any case, the expectation for any primary or secondary focus is going to be tougher on a higher level test (standard or adult) than on the lower level test. For example, the expectations for Power on a Preliminary MIF test is much different than the expectations for Power on a Junior MIF test.

Not to get this thread totally off-topic, but I thought that was an error in the rulebook/test sheet that stemmed from substituting the power 3's for the slide chasses on the Silver test - when the forms were first changed with the move names, the primary and secondary foci for the slide chasses remained on the test sheet as the foci for power pulls - edge quality and extension. That was eventually changed to continuous flow and strength (for power pulls) but for some reason, that focus was also transferred to the Gold test sheet for the slide chasses.

If anyone has an older Silver MIF test sheet, perhaps they could confirm this, but I'm pretty sure the foci for the slide chasses were edge quality and extension, like they are on the standard test. To me, it doesn't make sense that a move would have a completely different focus (other than the substitution of continuous flow for power) on the adult track than it does on the standard track.

[Debbie S]

In any case, the expectation for any primary or secondary focus is going to be tougher on a higher level test (standard or adult) than on the lower level test. For example, the expectations for Power on a Preliminary MIF test is much different than the expectations for Power on a Junior MIF test.Right, that I understand. What was confusing me was that the foci for the slide chasses on the Int test are edge quality and extension, but on the Gold test, the focus is continuous flow. But when the slide chasses were on the Silver test, they had the same foci as the move did on the Int test, so why the change? I guess NoVa could be right in that power/continuous flow is harder to achieve and the focus reflects that the Gold test should be harder than the Silver test, but the Int test has an even higher passing standard than Gold, and it's still edge quality and extension. Every other move on the adult test has the same focus/foci as the move does on whatever standard track test it's on (except for where continuous flow was substituted for power), so I thought that the change in foci for the slide chasses was a mistake.

Oh well, it's going to be a looooong time, if ever, before I work on Gold moves. I need to get those 3-turns in the field first!

[icedancer2]

Right, that I understand. What was confusing me was that the foci for the slide chasses on the Int test are edge quality and extension, but on the Gold test, the focus is continuous flow. But when the slide chasses were on the Silver test, they had the same foci as the move did on the Int test, so why the change? I guess NoVa could be right in that power/continuous flow is harder to achieve and the focus reflects that the Gold test should be harder than the Silver test, but the Int test has an even higher passing standard than Gold, and it's still edge quality and extension. Every other move on the adult test has the same focus/foci as the move does on whatever standard track test it's on (except for where continuous flow was substituted for power), so I thought that the change in foci for the slide chasses was a mistake.



I think there is a mistake on the test form -- everywhere that the old form said "Power" became continuous flow and strength. Anyway, hopefully this will be cleared up. We haven't seen a lot of Adult tests since this was changed -- seems clear as mud right now!!:)

[lovepairs]

The Adult Gold Moves and the Intermediate Moves both have the same passing average, which is 3.2 They are virtually the same test, although the Intermediate has Pattern #3, which used to be the equivelant of the "evil doer" pattern #5 that they took out of Adult Gold Moves. All things being equally they are almost identical tests.

Here in lies the difference: the judges will give you the benefit of the doubt on the Adult Gold Moves. On the standard track Intermediate Moves, they want you to book it, MOVE, Speed, Power, Confidence, Placement...they want you to look like you have total control over these things. Pairsman2 passed it the second time around with a few form breaks, but they passed him, because he went out there and attacked the thing and skated it "almost" with an air of arrogence (not really, but you know what I mean...) Same passing average between the two tests and mostly all of the moves are the same, but they are holding you to a higher standard. Believe me, I know...no matter how much I practice and improve, it seems never to be good enough.

Foot note: then you also have to hope that you don't have a judge on your panel who has a prejudice against adult testing standard.

[Terri C]

FWIW:
Pre Pre Moves- Pass
Pre- Bronze Freestyle- retried twice (those two were very negative experiences with judges!), passed the third time.
Bronze Freestyle (before the Adult Moves kicked in) retried FOUR TIMES!!!
Pre Bronze Moves ( grandfathering was not a option per my coach) passed
Bronze Moves- retried in March, hope to pass this summer!

So for *some people* that think I'm not trying hard enough, too bad!

[LoopLoop]

Pre-bronze FS: pass
Bronze FS: pass
Silver FS: pass
Pre-pre FS: pass
Prelim FS: pass

Pre-pre MIF: pass
Prelim MIF: retry-pass
Pre-juv MIF: pass
Juv MIF: retry-retry-pass
Gold MIF: retry-retry-pass

[jenlyon60]

Actually the Passing average for Adult Gold MIF is 3.0, which is the equivalent of Juvenile MIF. Passing total for Adult Gold is 18.0 (compared to Juv MIF 12.0 passing total), though, because there's more on the Adult Gold MIF than the 4 moves on the Juvenile MIF test.

The Adult Gold Moves and the Intermediate Moves both have the same passing average, which is 3.2 They are virtually the same test, although the Intermediate has Pattern #3, which used to be the equivelant of the "evil doer" pattern #5 that they took out of Adult Gold Moves. All things being equally they are almost identical tests.

[techskater]

[QUOTE=lovepairs]The Adult Gold Moves and the Intermediate Moves both have the same passing average, which is 3.2 They are virtually the same test, although the Intermediate has Pattern #3, which used to be the equivelant of the "evil doer" pattern #5 that they took out of Adult Gold Moves. All things being equally they are almost identical tests.

Actually, the Adult Gold test has a passing standard of 3.0, that is why the Intermediate test in the cross over point instead of Novice.

Should have seen Jenlyon's post before I posted the exact same thing.

FWIW, I passed my Intermediate moves in December with a very picky panel of judges (2 Gold level judges who have failed MANY Intermediate tests and a Silver judge who is a Gold level dance judge and is looking for that soft dancer action). The difference between a retry and a pass (in my opinion) on a marginal test is the first move. If you set a really good tone on that first move, show a lot of confidence, speed, flow, and body alignment, the judges have a different attitude looking at the rest of the test. My coach worked that first move TO DEATH (it was one of my two weaker moves) after a critique from a very detail oriented judge, and even with one set of crappy brackets (the other three were pretty good, but I was 2 inches from a reskate on that set as I almost put my foot down), they had seen four very strong moves up to that point and were more inclined to give me the benefit of the doubt by that point.

[lovepairs]

Jenlyon and Tech,

Thanks for pointing out my mistake about the passsing averages. Nevertheless the two tests, Adult Gold Moves and the Intermediate Moves are the same with the exception of Pattern #3. Otherwise, it is the exact same set of moves: the Adult Gold Moves doesn't have Pattern #3, and Intermediate doesn't have the double forward threes. The difference is really in the standard that the judges are holding you to, which is a higher standard of perfection, speed, power, and control on the Intermediate.

Tech, a big congrats for passing Intermediate...I admire you, grately :bow: it is not an easy test.

[Thin-Ice]

"Retry" means that you have to retake the whole test (must wait a min. of 30 days before doing so). Kristin

Unless this was changed at GC, you may not retest for 27 days.. but may on the 28th day (this is so you can retest a month later if you belong to a club that holds tests once a month on the same day of the week -- i.e. the 3rd Friday of the month).

[Thin-Ice]

About talking to the judges: been there, done that.

Having said that and taking into account your concerns, at the very least, require that the judges PRINT their names, so we know who we are to address when we have questions, and ask them to write clearly as much as possible given the current system. Again, I believe we work very hard to put it out there and make a big financial investment to do so, and we should be able to walk away with a legible critique from which to learn, whether it is a pass, or retry.

I print and sign my name on judging forms. And I print all my comments in pen so they are easier to read. But it would be much easier for me to write all my comments legibly if the skaters would ALWAYS stop at the conclusion of each test element (or each direction of each test element) rather than pushing through the entire test as if it were a race and there are bonus points if you finish in under the time alloted for the test which does not give the judges time to write legibile comments in small spaces.

And yes, I'm also a skater who happens to judge... so I can see both sides of this topic.

[Kristin]

Unless this was changed at GC, you may not retest for 27 days.. but may on the 28th day (this is so you can retest a month later if you belong to a club that holds tests once a month on the same day of the week -- i.e. the 3rd Friday of the month).

Yup! You are right, it's 28.....sorry, I was really tired when I was typing this.:oops:
-Kristin

[Kristin]

In the past, I have asked (with my coach) a judge to clarify their comments when I received test papers with illegible marks. It's a perfectly reasonable thing to do to ask the judge what s/he wrote on your paper. Judges are generally friendly people, and are glad to clarify, especially if it's simply a matter of not being able to read the comments

We judges really DO try to write clearly, but if you ever have a question, just ask us. I like to write *while* I am watching a test (a skill no one ever learns in school, LOL!), but I just want to make sure not to miss anything. everything happens soooo fast on the ice when you are on the other side of the wall.... 8-)

Kristin

[Kristin]

I bet (hope) in the next five years we don't see anymore chicken scratch.

A heater in the judges' box during a test would help out greatly. There has been more than once that I have sat in the box judging for more than an hour straight and I swear my fingers are going to freeze/fall off! I go home very chilled by the end of a test session (it really creeps up on you when you are just sitting there).

Not knocking anything you said (above) since I skate too & have gotten some illegible test papers in the past. But if you have a question about comments, just ask the judges! We don't bite. 8-)

Kristin

[Kristin]

The judges should be provided with more space to write comments in, too.



THAT would get a 2-thumbs-up from this judge!!! :lol:

Kristin

[jenlyon60]

Me 3... I've had several situations where to use the choice of words I want, or to write extra-legibly takes more space than I have ... (Sometimes I draw a minor sketch to illustrate what I mean with a comment...)

And yes, after about an hour or so straight of sitting or standing at the barrier, even with gloves or hot pockets, the hands get stiff, making writing very difficult.

I quickly acquired a real respect for writing cleanly and quickly when I started trial judging. Especially the first time the JIC asked me what my writing said...

[mdvask8r]

I . . . it would be much easier for me to write all my comments legibly if the skaters would ALWAYS stop at the conclusion of each test element (or each direction of each test element) rather than pushing through the entire test as if it were a race and there are bonus points if you finish in under the time alloted for the test which does not give the judges time to write legibile comments in small spaces.
.
Geesh, that would be a problem. At every test session I've experienced the skater is required to wait for a signal from the head judge or test chair before beginning a move.

[lovepairs]

To all of the judges out there who print their names, kudos to you, because you are one in a million. I've taken over twenty tests and have never been able to make out anyone's name.

Shame on the clubs and, or rinks, who can't hook up a space heater for you, or at the very least provide you with blankets for your laps.

Our coaches tell us not to make you wait and to do one move after the other, rarely stopping for a sip of water. That's how I have been instructed. This is good to know, because now I will take a break between each move to allow you to PRINT your comments clearly.

[jazzpants]

Our coaches tell us not to make you wait and to do one move after the other, rarely stopping for a sip of water. That's how I have been instructed. This is good to know, because now I will take a break between each move to allow you to PRINT your comments clearly.
That's strange, b/c my coaches instructed me to WAIT between each move and to watch for their signal to start the next test...b/c they need time to write down their comments. *shrug* (Of course, whether or not it's legible is another thing... :P ) And I DO tell them that I would do that when I first go up to them to confirm which test I'm doing, etc. before I start the test.

[jenlyon60]

I think it varies from club to club.

At my club, both our MIF/FS and Dance test chairs announce as appropriate. Not just the next skater(s) but which move to do (for MIF) or for dance, the dance with coach and if there's a solo, a separate "so and so for their solo <whatever dance>"

This helps all of us (judges, coaches, skaters) move things along, and ensures both that the judges are finished (at least mostly finished) the previous skater or segment and that the skater is ready to go. And with the lower level tests, it helps remind the skater what to do next.

For our MIF/FS tests, except for the Pre-Prelim/Pre-Bronze tests, which we generally single-panel, the skater doesn't normally approach the judges unless called over by the test chair or the judges.

[Debbie S]

Shame on the clubs and, or rinks, who can't hook up a space heater for you, or at the very least provide you with blankets for your laps.Our test chair brings in a kerosene heater. She even did that for the "mini" test session, when the judge was only going to be there for 40 minutes! That's always an option for you and Pairman; unfortunately, our next test session is less than 27 days away and the next one won't be until Nov - but I do understand the club is using different judges now than they did a few years ago.

[fmh]

I'm not trying to be snide here, but I am wondering why there are so many failures or retries (by retry, do you mean doing an element again at the same test, or taking the whole test again?). My coach years ago didn't put people in for tests unless she was convinced you could pass it standing on your head on a bad day.

Is this ultra-performance nerves affecting how people skate on the day, or is there something else going on here?
I dont know about everyone else, but for me our club is kind of small, and we have to bring in guys to partner for dances, usually we try to take one test, even if we're not sure we'd pass...but for other tests my coach makes sure i'm more than ready.

[fmh]

"Retry" means that you have to retake the whole test (must wait a min. of 30 days before doing so). If you miss an element on a test, the judges can ask you to reskate just that element at the conclusion of your test & then only the reskate of that element is taken into consideration.

Kristin
there might be different rules where I am, because one time i retried a test 12 days after the original try, and there was another time i retried the whole test the same day. i think the judge gets to pick if you retry the test that day or something...but the rules are most likely different.

[doubletoe]

[QUOTE=lovepairs]The Adult Gold Moves and the Intermediate Moves . . . are virtually the same test, although the Intermediate has Pattern #3, which used to be the equivelant of the "evil doer" pattern #5 that they took out of Adult Gold Moves.

I know there was a Novice move on the Gold test until September 2005, but I didn't know the back power 3's used to be on the Gold test. When was that?

[techskater]

She's saying that the Novice move used to be on the Gold test and was replaced and that the power threes on Intermediate are her evil doers...

[FrankR]

Hey all,

Sorry to lag behind on this topic.

Standard Track:
Moves
Pre-Preliminary: passed
Preliminary: retry, passed
Freestyle
Pre-Prelminary: passed
Preliminary: passed

Adult Track:
Moves
Pre-Bronze: passed
Bronze: passed
Silver: passed
Gold: passed
Freestyle:
Pre-Bronze: passed
Bronze: passed
Silver: passed
Gold: passed

So here's the total:

Total tests take: 13
Total tests passed: 12
Total tests retried: 1

Whoah!! 8O I had no idea that Gold free was the 13th test I've taken. That would have made me even more nervous than I already was. :lol:

Take care,

Frank

[doubletoe]

She's saying that the Novice move used to be on the Gold test and was replaced and that the power threes on Intermediate are her evil doers...

Yes, they both have the nasty habit of taking you for a wild ride! I'm finally getting those back power 3's under control these days, but they still have their moments. . .

[Thin-Ice]

there might be different rules where I am, because one time i retried a test 12 days after the original try, and there was another time i retried the whole test the same day. i think the judge gets to pick if you retry the test that day or something...but the rules are most likely different.

I'm guessing where you are is outside the US? Because the USFS rules specifically state you cannot retake the same test for 28 days. It's not up to the judges, the club test chair or anyone else. And both passing and "invited to retry" tests are submitted to USFS so they CAN check on test dates... but I don't know if they ever do.

[Summerkid710]

Because our tests are usually double paneled (up to Novice), we have to wait until both skaters have been nodded at to start the next pattern. At my club, we are allowed to take a sip of water, use an inhaler, blow our nose, etc at the end of each pattern. I couldn't imagine taking an Intermediate or Novice moves test without being able to stop for a moment. Even with all the training for stamina, we're only human.

[Isk8NYC]

Total tests take: 13
Total tests passed: 12
Total tests retried: 1

Whoah!! 8O I had no idea that Gold free was the 13th test I've taken. That would have made me even more nervous than I already was. :lol: My DD believes the number 13 is her "lucky number." Maybe it's yours, too!

[chantelly]

I have just passed my level 4 compulsories, level 1 free dance and level 1 variations (all solo dance) last month!
I have also done novice, prelim and bronze synchro
novice and prelim free and elements
and prelim field moves
I get all confused with dance moves but the next one I'm taking is level 4.
I make that 14? I think!8O

[Mrs Redboots]

I have been credited with a lot more tests than I've passed!

I took the old Novice Dance back in 1997 or so - which credited me with Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the new system.

I took Novice Dance moves, which credited me with levels 1 and 2 of the new system.

And I took Level 1 Free Dance, which didn't credit me with anything other than Level 1 Free Dance!

So I've only taken three tests, but am credited with having passed six!

[kateskate]

Sorry - jumping onto an old thread but it interested me!

Tests passed
Free Skating - Levels 1, 2 and 3 elements and free
TOTAL - 6

Field Moves - Novice, Prelim and Interbronze
TOTAL - 3

Dance Moves - Levels 1, 2 and 3
TOTAL - 3

Compulsories - Levels 1-5 (although 1 and 2 were novice 1 and novice 2 I took them in 2002 I think - pretty much on the closing date for the latest changeover - but they were the same as levels 1 and 2 now)
TOTAL - 5

Free Dance - Levels 1-4
TOTAL 4 (5 taken though as had to redo level 2)

Variation/OD - I did the old elementary variation in 2002 so I think that gives me level 4 OD.
TOTAL - 1 (but credited with 4)

Synchro - Novice and Prelim
TOTAL - 2

So I have taken 25 (1 retry), passed 24 but actually credited with 28!

Wow - thats a lot more than I thought! All in the last 4 1/2 - 5 years!

[blue111moon]

Thanks for making me think back on past acheivements.

I've passed:
USFSA:
Preliminary Figures
1st Figures (took me three tries to get past this one)
Pre-Preliminalry Free
Preliminary Free
(All of the above Back in the '80s when they were the only tests going)

Adult Bronze Figures
Adult Silver Figures
Adult Bronze Free Skating
Adult Silver Free Skating
(Again back in the First Incarnation of these tests when they were easy (except for the Silver Figures, which again took me three attempts to pass, and then it was an End of Figures Gift from some very kind judges)

Pre-Pre Moves in the Field
Preliminary Moves in the Field
(I looked at the Adult Gold Moves, which my tests grandfather me up to and KNEW there was no way on earth I'd be able to do them without the background so I started at the very beginning, figuring that it couldn't hurt to learn them in case I ended up having to teach them at some point, which I have.)

Now since there's no much hope of my ever taking any more of the USFS tests beyond maybe Pre-Juvenile Moves, I've switched to testing ISI with my coach. I've done ISI FS 1, 2 and 3 and am currently waiting for approval from my rink's ISI director to test Figures 1 and 2.

So that makes what? - 17 tests total? Not too bad, spread out over 25 years, although there have been darned few in the last five.

Unless you want to count the four USFSA accountant's exams I've taken on the road to my regional appointment, but I didn't have to put on my skates for those! :) Then it's 21.

[Skate@Delaware]

The only tests I've taken were the ISI ones up to Freestyle 1 that my coach gave me.

I haven't taken any USFSA tests yet. I'm going to go for pre-bronze this year, sometime between January and April (when my rink will have it).

My dance coach is trying to convince me to take my dance test at that time also. We'll see.

[coskater64]

Child
Alpha-Delta-passed
FS1-FS4-passed
pre figure-passed
1st figure-passed
2nd figure-passed on 4th try
Pre FS, Juv Fs-passed on 1st try, don't think there was prejuv.
16 tests as a kid
between ages of 14-18

Adult38-45
PB, B, S -FS all first try
Gold-2nd try
Int. FM-2nd try
Novice-5th try
Jr FM passed
Int. FS - 2nd try
Dances 1st 10 all on first try
Currently 7 more on the adult finished pre silver on the standard.
All adult field moves on the first try-4
Standard track free dance: juv, int, nov
So 32 in total as an adult.

Will take Sr moves before 9/2/10.:lol:

[skaternum]

I've taken and passed ...

Moves:
Preliminary, Pre-Preliminary, and Pre-Juvenile.

Freeskating:
Bronze and Silver

[emma]

I just started testing 12 months ago as an adult. Took adult pre bronze moves and free, bronze moves and free, silver moves and free, gold moves, Intermediate moves . Passed all on the first try and am taking gold free in November. Skated as a kid and tested up to Juv. level but that was a very long time ago !!!

[WannabeS8r]

I had three Freestyle tests - Freestyle 1, 2, and 3. (USFSA)

I passed two of them (1 and 2) but I failed the third(Couldn't do the bakspin properly! Grrr.) Right now I am in FreeSkate 2/3; combined because I do moves from both. I want to take the FreeSkate 4 test, though, I might pass. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[skate_star]

I just passed a test last night!!! I'm pretty low in my tests so far.....but I'm working my way up.

[Hannahclear]

As a teenager, I passed through a badge program, then tested pre-pre moves and FS.

As an adult, I've passed prebronze moves and FS and bronze moves and FS. I've never failed a test, out of the six I've taken, but I think Silver Moves may just get me that first "retry." :lol:

[skater_girl8]

Total test taken: 34 and a half

Passed: 25 and a half
Freeskate: 6 and a half (pre-preliminary, preliminary, jr bronze, sr bronze, jr silver, sr silver, half of my gold))
Dance: 14 ( 3 pre-preliminary, 3 preliminary, 3 jr bronze, 3 sr bronze, 2 jr silver)
Skills: 5 (pre-preliminary, preliminary, jr. bronze, sr bronze, jr silver)

Failed: 9
Freeskate: 2(failed sr bronze, half of jr silver and half of gold)
Dance: 4 (europeen, american [twice:cry: ], harris)
Skills: 3 (sr bronze and sr silver [ twice:cry: ])

[JulieN]

So I haven't logged in here in a very long time. Poking around my profile I found this thread that I started 4 years ago! I went ahead and updated my test stats and I really surprised myself! I've now taken 52 tests total in my 19 years of skating! YIKES!!!

Say the average test fee is $20 -- that's $20x52 = $1040 just in test fees! Add in coaching, ice time, competition costs, etc etc... and oh yeah, SYNCHRO! I'm afraid to even think how much money I've spent on this crazy sport!

[Muskoka Skater]

Passed: 32
Freeskate (5): pre-preliminary, preliminary, jr bronze, sr bronze, jr silver
Dance (17): 3 pre-preliminary, 3 preliminary, 3 jr bronze, 3 sr bronze, 3 jr silver, 2 sr silver
Skills (5): pre-preliminary, preliminary, jr. bronze, sr bronze, jr silver, sr silver, gold
Artistic (3): preliminary, bronze, silver

Failed: umm i don't quite remember but probably 10 tops

[RachelSk8er]

Preliminary figure 1991

Moves:
Prelim (1992 or 1993)
Quit moves for a few years after that until they made us do them for synchro.

pre-juv (1996)
juv (1997)
intermediate (1998)
novice (1999)

Had to w/d from junior moves test in 11/09 due to injury, hoping to test in Feb or March.

Freestyle:
Pre-prelim (1992)
prelim (took twice, once in 1993, failed, quit freestyle, passed it in 2008)
pre-juv (2009)

**skipped pre-bronze, thought my pre-pre counted, turns out it didn't, got a call from USFS after my bronze, they let me slide.
adult bronze (2007)
adult silver (2008, took twice, first time was 2 days after ANs and my body was not cooperating)

Dance:
3 preliminary dances (1997)
3 pre-bronze dances (1997)
All 6 of those were on the same test session

3 bronze dances (1998)
3 pre-silver dances (14 and Foxtrot 1998 or 99), failed the European 3 times before I passed it in 1999 or 2000

Started dance again in 2007 after college:
Rocker Foxtrot--failed once and passed in 2007
Late 2007-2008 failed Silver Tango 3 times before I passed in August or Sept 08
Feb 2008--Passed American Waltz on the first try

Not currently working on testing any dances, not enough time right now for dance and moves and freestyle, so I'll go back to dance when I finish my moves.

[Stormy]

I've passed:

Standard Track Moves:
Pre-Pre through Intermediate

Standard Track Free:
Pre-Pre through Juvenile (the Juvenile was a mercy pass from some nice judges who knew me, and knew I was taking the test just to have it, not to compete it).

Standard Track Dance:
Prelim (and that's likely all I'll ever do!)

Adult Moves:
Pre-Bronze through Gold

Adult Free:
Pre-Bronze through Silver. Retried the Gold free twice, but since I have Juv I don't need to have the Gold free, although I'm debating trying it again soon.

[flying~camel]

Passed:

Pre-Preliminary MIF (1996)
Pre-Preliminary FS (1996)
Dutch Waltz (1996)
Canasta Tango (1996)
Rhythm Blues (1996)
Preliminary MIF (1997)
Adult Pre-Bronze MIF (2004)
Adult Pre-Bronze FS (2004)
Adult Bronze MIF (2005)
Adult Bronze FS (2005)

Retry:

Adult Silver MIF (2008)

[CoachPA]

Wow! I have taken 61 tests total! 8O I seriously never took the time to think how many actual tests (passing and failing) I've taken. Kind of cool to think about....Looking back, I have passed 41 tests and failed 20 tests between when I started skating in 1996 and now. Not bad, I guess.

[liz_on_ice]

ISI not counting alpha-delta . It took me a few tries to pass FS3, so call it 5
USFSA - 3

[vesperholly]

Moves
Pre-Prelim 1995
Prelim 1997
PreJuv 1998
Juvenile 1999
Intermediate 2001
Novice 2005
Junior 2007

Freestyle
Pre-Prelim 1995
Prelim 1997
PreJuv 1998
failed Juvenile FS twice and gave up (didn't really have my axel)
Adult Silver 2007

Dance
Prelim 1999 (all together)
PreBronze 2000 (all together)
Bronze 2001 (first two, then Willow with 14step)
PreSilver 2003 (Foxtrot and European Waltz)
Silver 2008 (Rocker Foxtrot May 2007, American Waltz Dec 2007, Tango Dec 2008)

Pretty proud to say that the only dance I didn't pass on the first try was the Foxtrot. Stupid mohawk!

Tests left to pass sometime before I die: Senior Moves, Adult Gold FS, Gold Dance.

ETA: counting retries, I've taken 34 tests. Wow!

[saras]

Figures:
Prelim 1/79
First 11/79
Second 6/81
Adult Bronze 2/04
Adult Silver 11/04
Third (retry 3/05) 8/05

Freestyle:
Prelim 1/79
Juv 6/81
Adult Pre-Bronze 11/03
Adult Bronze 2/04
Adult Silver 4/04
Adult Gold 4/06

Moves:
Adult Pre-Bronze 11/03
Adult Bronze 11/03
Adult Silver 4/04
Adult Gold (retry: 8/04, 3/05) 7/05
Intermediate - 8/05
Novice - 2/07

Dance (all Standard Track):
Dutch Waltz, Canasta, Rhythm Blues, - Prelim 11/04
Fiesta, Swing Dance - 11/04, Cha Cha 3/05 - Pre Bronze - 3/05
Hickory, Willow, Ten Fox - Bronze 3/05
Fourteenstep 8/05 , European 2/06, Foxtrot (retry 2/06) 4/06- Pre-Silver 4/06
American 2/07, Rocker Foxtrot (retry 7/07) 5/08, Tango 5/08 - Silver 5/08

On the not-too-distant horizon are the Kilian and Junior Moves.

I'm proud of passing Int and Nov Moves on the first try

Before I die plans are to finish off Moves track, Gold Dances, and maybe eventually Int Freestyle - once I get a consistent 2sal and officially can surpass my kid-level skills in all areas :)

[BatikatII]

14 I think .

UK tests which are all same as kids tests as there is no adult track here.

Old style novice free test (meant I did not have to skate level 1 free when tests changed)

level 1 and 2 compulsory dance (solo) (novice foxtrot, rhythm blues, Canasta Tango Dutch Waltz)

level 1 and 2 variation dance (solo)(variation on RB and CT)

level 1, 2 and 3 free dance (solo)(skated on one test session but had to skate 3 times. I think now you only have to skate once at highest level entered but if you don't pass you don't pass any).

level 1 and 2 dance moves

Inter-bronze Field moves (equivalent to current level 4)

level 1 elements

level 2 elements and level 2 free

Would like to take level 3 & 4 compulsories and level 3 OD next

[ibreakhearts66]

I've taken 12 tests with 3 retries.

Moves
Pre-pre March 2004
Preliminary retry June 2008 (on my birthday, *sniff sniff*)
Preliminary pass July 2008
Pre-juvenile pass October 2008
Juvenile pass January 2009
Intermediate retry 1 April 2009
Intermediate retry 2 June 2009
Intermediate PASS July 2009 :)

Free
Pre-pre March 2004
Preliminary July 2008
Pre-juvenile October 2008
Juvenile January 2009

I had a busy year from June 2008-Jully 2009!

Adding two more to the list in March--hopefully two PASSES

[Kim to the Max]

Moves:

Pre-Preliminary: 1994
Preliminary: 1995
Pre-Juvenile: 1996
Juvenile: 1998
Intermediate 1: 2008
Intermediate 2: 2008
Novice: 2009
Junior 1: 2009
Junior 2: 2010

Upcoming:
Junior 3: 2010 (Date TBD)
Senior: Before September 2010 hopefully!!

Freestyle:

Pre-Preliminary: 1994
Preliminary: 1995
Pre-Juvenile: 2008
Juvenile: 2009

Upcoming:
Intermediate: 2010 (Date TBD)

Dance:

I will start dance after I finish my moves tests.

[herniated]

I've taken 16 tests.
Adult Pre-bronze mif
Pre-bronze free
Adult Bronze mif
Bronze free
Adult Silver mif (5x)!!
Silver free
Standard Preliminary Dances (btw - I applied to be judged Adult on the dances but was judged standard - yay me, lol)
Dutch waltz
Canasta Tango
Rhythm Blues
Standard Pre-Bronze dances
Swing dance
Fiesta Tango
Cha Cha

[stepherroo444]

WOW some of you guys' test records are so amazing! :bow:

I've been skating 3 years and started testing last December...so far I have passed:

Dutch Waltz
Canasta
Baby Blues
Swing

Took me two tries on my swing, my coach was completely peeved that they made me do it again, she was 100% sure I was going to pass, but what can you do! I don't know how you guys coped with having a lot of retries, I was completely DEVESTATED when I failed my swing. My dad took me out to get ice cream to make me feel better :oops:

[Bill_S]

Hmmm, some of you have a tremendous number of tests under your belt.

I feel so...inadequate.

I've passed only 3 adult moves tests - Pre-Bronze (@ age 54), bronze (@ age 55), and silver (@ age 56).

Never tested any freestyle though.

My reduced level of skating this year makes me wonder if I'll ever get to test gold moves or any freestyle.

Oh well.

[PinkLaces]

Lots of accomplishments here...congrats to all! I've only taken 4 tests, but I think it's not bad for a year and half of skating.

Pre-Bronze MIF
Pre-Bronze FS
Bronze MIF
Bronze FS - it was borderline.

[vesperholly]

Took me two tries on my swing, my coach was completely peeved that they made me do it again, she was 100% sure I was going to pass, but what can you do! I don't know how you guys coped with having a lot of retries, I was completely DEVESTATED when I failed my swing. My dad took me out to get ice cream to make me feel better :oops:
Don't beat yourself up! I know a lovely adult skater who failed her Dutch Waltz and went on to pass her Gold dances. She's now a judge. :) Retries are difficult to deal with, but EVERYONE gets a retry. Doesn't matter how many times you have to take a test, it just matters that you pass once! :)

My reduced level of skating this year makes me wonder if I'll ever get to test gold moves or any freestyle.
Sure you will! You've come a long way in three years. I used to dream of the day that I could legitimately open my rulebook to "Senior Moves", it took a very long time for me, but I made it. 8-)

[londonicechamp]

Hi

Well, I have not taken that many tests. I have taken ISI pre-alpha to Belta level 8 years ago when I first started skating. I also tested up to ISI freestyle level 1.

After that, I have not tested. I am learning level 3 stuff, though coach trying to teach me level 4 (ISI) stuff as well.

londonicechamp

[sk8lady]

Pre-pre MIF
Pre-pre Free
Pre-bronze MIF
Pre-bronze Free
Bronze MIF
Bronze Free

Dutch Waltz
Canasta Tango
Rhythm Blues
Cha-Cha
Swing
Fiesta Tango

All dances standard level...next test up is the Hickory Hoedown at the Adult level.

Along with coaching privates and Basic Skills, USA hockey coaching level 4, referee level 1, and don't forget my day job representing abused and neglected children involved in court actions...

[sk8tegirl06]

Pre-Preliminary MIF Pass-October 2007
Pre-Preliminary Freestyle Pass-December 2007
Preliminary MIF Retry-February 2009
Preliminary MIF Pass-September 2009

Goals
Pre Juvenile MIF May 2010
Preliminary Freestyle May 2010 (Coach just sprung that one on me. She wants me to consider at least putting it out there.) :??