what should I expect? This test is taken w/o music, right? If I remember right, preliminary and above have music and a program. I've been looking at pre-prelim tests on you tube and I don't THINK I have seen any with music, but I have seen it with prelim and above.

For the prelim moves test(dd passed pre-pre moves already), is it taken on half ice like he pre-pre moves test? Dd's coach will prepare us for this...but I am curious and thought you guys could help answer this question. Dd won't take the tests for about 2 months.

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

pre-pre FS is taken without music. The elements can be done individually, or put together into a simple "program" where they just run through them. In my area, they tend to just do the individual elements, going back to the judge each time in between. All FS tests above pre-pre are done with a program w/ music.

The Prelim MIF test takes the whole rink; a couple of the patterns do a full lap of the ice. You should be able to find some youtube videos of some tests to give you an overview. They still sometimes double panel this level test--they just have the skaters start at the opposite ends.

Some of the pre-preliminary moves require the full ice surface as well. I'm not sure how the perimeter stroking could be done on half ice, and the pattern for the spirals would have to be changed to fit on half ice.

Pre-preliminary freestyle can be done on half ice.

Before testing, you and your daughter should go and WATCH a test session, even if it's at a different rink. It's great if you can sit with a coach or an experienced parent so you can ask questions and get a narrative of what's going on.

Your daughter MUST pass the Pre-Preliminary Moves (PPM) test before being allowed to take the Pre-Preliminary Freeskate (PPF) test. She can take both on the same test session. It's called "Contingency Testing." If by some incredible disaster she were to get a retest on the Moves, the Club wouldn't allow her to take the Freeskate test. The skater usually forfeits the testing fee, although some Clubs issue a credit for another test session.

If a skater is going to compete in Freestyle events, most coaches have their skaters test 1-2 Moves levels ahead of Freeskate levels. This allows the skater to build foundation skills and still be competitive. An added benefit is that you avoid contingency testing.

Since PP Moves only requires one judge, most clubs save ice time/money by having two or three judges evaluate two or three skaters at the same time. All the skaters will be taking the same test, but each will be evaluated by a single judge. The silence of a Moves test is deafening, because there is no music at all.

They start by doing the Perimeter Stroking pattern. Some judging panels start the skaters at opposite ends, others ask the skaters to line up at one end, allow the skater in front to get a half-lap lead, then begin their own pattern. When they finish, the skater steps to the side to wait until everyone else has finished.

For the Edges on the Line, each skater is assigned to one hockey line and they perform all four patterns at their own pace. Their assigned judge sometimes moves to get a better view. When finished, the skaters waits while the judge makes notes and the other skaters complete their patterns.

The Spiral Patterns are different; the skaters usually line up at the same end of the ice. I've never seen a club have skaters perform this pattern side-by-side; usually they go in a follow-the-leader fashion down the center of the ice.

For the Waltz Eight pattern, the skaters again return to their same assigned hockey lines or they may use the circle area in front of the goal crease. Skaters should practice these patterns in all five places on the ice before the test. If they are assigned to a spot that they've never practiced, most judges allow some flexibility.


If there's only one skater taking the Freeskate test, they usually use the center ice area between the outer hockey lines. For two skaters, the judging panel usually assigns each skater one-half of the ice, using the center line as a divider. I've never seen more than two skaters testing PPF at the same time.

The judge reviews the required elements list. The skater should know which elements are to be done and in what order before they take the test. Some coaches have their skaters perform each element (in order) in a music-less mini-program format. Others have the skater perform each element, stop, and wait for the go-ahead from the judge before proceeding to the next element. The judge might give instructions about this - that varies from club to club.

Just to clarify: the Freeskate test is performed without music. For Preliminary and higher freeskate tests, a program and music is required.

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Just to clarify for new parents, I believe that above only applies to skaters in the USA. At least in Canada, there is currently no pre pre moves (or skills) and I believe there is talk or it may be decided to bring in a pre pre free skate test it will not necessarily be the same as the one described here.

Perhaps the title of the thread could be changed to USFSA Pre-pre freeskate test.

Also Canadian: there is no requirement to do any other test prior to undertaking a freeskate test; the three (4 if you include interpretive) test track disciplines of dance, skills and freeskate are not contingent on each other. You can have a Gold FS without a single skills (moves) test. Similarly, the competitive tests are just freeskate, and there is no requirement to do any skills (moves) tests, or, even, to do the Preliminary and upwards freeskate tests from the test track.

Thanks! She's taken the pre-pre moves test already and passed, so she's good to go to take her pre-pre freeskate test. She'll take the prelim moves and the pre-pre freeskate in August. Then, depending on a few things, she will aim to take the pre-juv moves test in November. There is a test session at her home rink the end of July... I could take her to the session to watch. She's never seen a freeskate test, only moves tests.

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

Thanks!! I appreciate the reply. :0)

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

You are right, it has been awhile since dd tested her pre-pre moves. I guess it would have been better to ask if they still double up.

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

It depends on the test session. All the tests except senior have at least some perimeter moves that can be done by two skaters at the same time starting from opposite ends. So if there's more than one skater taking the same test, they can test at the same time IF there are two separate panels of judges available.

For the moves that don't go around the perimeter but do take more than half the ice surface, the skaters would usually alternate if they're testing at the same time.

For prejuvenile and above there needs to be a panel of three judges for each test, and for the higher level tests the judges need to have higher level appointments.

For a large test session with many tests, it might be cheaper for the club to bring in more judges than to pay for twice as much ice time. For a smaller session or one in an area with few or no local judges, it might be better to use more ice time and fewer judges.

Absolutely true, in fact, some clubs don't do any skills tests. I do believe there was talk at the Skate Canada AGM of instituting a pre pre free skate test that would be elements only. I'm not sure if it was a motion that was passed or just something that was discussed.