Low / High Test Days
Skaters may do their dance, skills, and freeskate tests throughout the skating year. Dates for low and high tests are posted on the VSC's calendar and on the club bulletin boards at the rinks.
Test papers and fees must be submitted to the Test chair by the posted deadlines. When all the test papers have been submitted, a schedule will be sent to the skaters. Proper skating attire, skating dress or competition outfit is mandatory for all tests.
Test Levels
Skaters advance through the Skate Canada Test program in several areas:
- Freeskate
- Skills
- Dance
- Interpretive
- Competitive
It takes many years of hard work to complete all the test levels.
Low and High Tests
Tests are divided into Low Tests (Preliminary, Junior Bronze, and Senior Bronze level tests) and High Tests (Junior Silver, Senior Silver, Gold, Diamond, Interpretive and Competitive tests).
Low Tests are done on home club ice and require ice cancellations throughout the skating year. Test days are usually scheduled every few months.
High Tests are centralized, which means that skaters from throughout the BC Coast Region are expected to travel to designated club rinks in the Lower Mainland to do their tests. Each club is responsible for giving up some ice each year to hold High Tests.
Over two hundred tests can be submitted for designated High Test weekends, and the Chairperson for the Test Bureau is responsible for deciding how these tests will be scheduled on the ice provided. Skaters and their parents must be prepared to be available on whichever day their particular tests are scheduled. Over 1000 high tests are conducted each year in the BC Coast Region!
Volunteers are used to coordinate and run the test days. Did you know that the judges are volunteers too?
Test Applications
Test application papers are given to skaters by their coaches when they feel that the skater is ready for a test. Forms should be completed in full, including the Skate Canada number. It is not helpful to have the test chair chasing people for basic information about a skater. Please keep your Skate Canada membership card in a safe place since you will need to refer to it often.
The test application needs to be returned to the VSC Test Chairperson by the designated deadline, which is usually three weeks before the test day(s). The form must be accompanied by a cheque made out to the Vancouver Skating Club for the test fees. Part of the fee goes to Skate Canada and the remaining fee goes to the host club or the BC Coast Test Bureau to pay for running the tests.
According to Skate Canada rules, once an application goes in on the due date, money cannot be refunded unless the cancellation of a test (a “pull”) is due to medical reasons. Only the Skate Canada test fee portion is refunded for medical pulls.
Only members of good standing with the VSC are allowed to take tests. Your coach or Test Chair will let you know where and when you will be testing.
Tests done at Competitions
Some tests may be taken at competitions. Most invitational competitions throughout the year allow particular tests to be done. No tests are done at Championship events (Sections or BC Coast).
There are two different panels of judges watching the skater at a competition – the competition and the test judge or judges (many tests are completed by a single judge). One will be judging the skater for the competition, and the other will evaluate the skater using test criteria. To test at a competition means the skater must skate in the level above what she/he has already passed. This is called “skating up”.
The test application paper for competitions is different from the regular test day application forms, and the cheque is made out to the BC Coast Test Bureau. These papers also need to be returned to the club Test Chair before the deadline.
Test Results
Skaters will know if they passed or need to retry their test(s) by the end of the test day or competition. Coaches will receive the test sheets with the evaluator’s marks and comments shortly after the test day, and will review the sheets with their skaters.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Vancouver Skating Club Test Chair.
