STARSkate - Test Days
Unlike the CanSkate program, there are special days set aside for skaters to take tests. The Goulbourn Skating Club typically offers two test sessions during the winter season (December and March), and one test session for the spring season (April). There may also be opportunities to attend test days at other local area clubs. There are separate tests for each of free skate, dance, skating skills, and interpretive skating (see test levels below).
Testing is a very important part of a Skaters development, it measures their progress and allows them to see the results of their hard work. Each child will progress at his/her own pace, so this is a very individual matter. When your coach feels that your child is ready to test, they will notify you of the upcoming test days.
PLEASE LET YOUR COACH KNOW IF YOU WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THAT DATE. Coaches have to submit a tentative test list up to 4 weeks in advance, and final decisions are due 2 weeks before the test. After this point, a test that is not complete is considered an automatic "RETRY" and you will be charged the fee for the test.
The test chair organizes the test days, makes arrangements for the evaluators, and collects the test list from the coaches. Judges and evaluators do not get paid. This is all done on a volunteer basis because they enjoy the sport. We are in short supply of judges and evaluators so from time to time we may need to cancel a test day or send the skater elsewhere to test depending on the circumstances.
A final test schedule is then done and posted on the Club Bulletin Board and sent to coaches for the skaters to see what time they are testing at. Skaters must arrive at the test day 1 hour prior to testing as sometimes the tests move along fairly quickly and the skater should be prepared.
Testing is a very important part of a Skaters development, it measures their progress and allows them to see the results of their hard work. Each child will progress at his/her own pace, so this is a very individual matter. When your coach feels that your child is ready to test, they will notify you of the upcoming test days.
PLEASE LET YOUR COACH KNOW IF YOU WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THAT DATE. Coaches have to submit a tentative test list up to 4 weeks in advance, and final decisions are due 2 weeks before the test. After this point, a test that is not complete is considered an automatic "RETRY" and you will be charged the fee for the test.
The test chair organizes the test days, makes arrangements for the evaluators, and collects the test list from the coaches. Judges and evaluators do not get paid. This is all done on a volunteer basis because they enjoy the sport. We are in short supply of judges and evaluators so from time to time we may need to cancel a test day or send the skater elsewhere to test depending on the circumstances.
A final test schedule is then done and posted on the Club Bulletin Board and sent to coaches for the skaters to see what time they are testing at. Skaters must arrive at the test day 1 hour prior to testing as sometimes the tests move along fairly quickly and the skater should be prepared.
- The schedule may include a time which may require your child to miss school.
- The test day may need to be changed to another day, or include sessions due to the availability of evaluators, ice availability or quantity of tests.
- Each skater will get time to warm up their test. The order of skating will be determined by the Test Chair.
- While “on test” the skater will be asked to perform specific skills in front of an evaluator in order to assess if he / she is ready to advance to the next level.
- Tests will be observed by the evaluator and rated as “excellent”, “good”, “satisfactory” or “needs improvement”. The skater needs to obtain mostly “satisfactory” or better ratings in order to be successful on the test.
What to Wear on Test Day
- Freeskate (elements) – Skating skirt or dress, tights, and appropriate sweater, gloves
- Freeskate (solo) – Solo dress, tights
- Dance – Skating dress (please wear a sweater and gloves for warm up only)
- Skills – Skating skirt or dress, tights, appropriate sweater, and gloves
- Male skaters should wear dress pants
After the Test
Skaters may take their skates off and then wait for their results. Please keep in mind that it may take some time before the results are released, depending on when the test evaluator has time to sign the test evaluation result sheets. A volunteer or coach will bring the results as soon as they are ready. Once the paperwork has been submitted by the Club to Skate Canada with the test fees, the Skater’s profile at Skate Canada will be updated with the results of each test taken. It is important to regularly check your skater profile by logging on to www.skatecanada.ca to check to see that the results have been updated, although sometimes, test results can take a while to get posted to the Skater’s record if Skate Canada is backlogged.
It is very important to keep the test sheet when you receive it back from the evaluator for your records.
It is very important to keep the test sheet when you receive it back from the evaluator for your records.
Skate Canada Test Levels
Freeskate:
Skills:
Artistic:
Dance:
- Star 1
- Star 2
- Star 3
- Star 4
- Star 5
- Star 6
- Star 7
- Star 8
- Star 9
- Gold
Skills:
- Star 1
- Star 2
- Star 3
- Star 4
- Star 5
- Star 6
- Star 7
- Star 8
- Star 9
- Star 10
- Gold
Artistic:
- Star 5
- Star 7
- Star 9
- Gold
Dance:
- Star 1 dance elements
- Star 2A (Dutch Waltz), Star 2B (Canasta Tango)
- Star 3A (Baby Blues), Star 3B (Dance elements)
- Star 4A (Swing), Star 4B (Fiesta)
- Star 5A (Willow Waltz), Star 5B (Dance elements)
- Star 6A (Ten-Fox), Star 6B (European), Star 6C (Fourteenstep)
- Star 7A (Keats Foxtrot), Star 7B (Harris Tango), Star 7C (American Waltz)
- Star 8A (Kilian), Star 8B (Rocker Foxtrot), Star 8C (Starlight Waltz)
- Star 9A (Paso Doble), Star 9A (Blues), Star 9C (Silver Samba)
- Star 10A (Cha Cah Congelado), Star 10B Westminster Waltz, Star 10C (Quickstep)
- Gold A (Viennese Waltz), Gold B (Argentine Tango)
- Diamond dances: Ravensburger Waltz, Tango Romantica, Yankee Polka, Rhumba, Golden Waltz, Austrian Waltz