Grades by country · UK
British Ice Skating: National free skating
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British Ice Skating’s free skating ladder is Beginner and National 1 to 8. A skater passes a National level by skating a programme that reaches the technical (TES) and programme component (PCS) scores set for that level. From National 6 there is a short programme as well as a free one.
The two ladders interlock. To enter a National level a skater needs the Skills test of the same number and the National level below it, so National 4 needs Skills 4 and National 3. Beginner needs Skate UK Platinum Star instead.
Each line below is our summary of the 2026-27 criteria, linked to the jumps, spins and turns in this guide. The criteria say more than these lines carry, from which jumps may repeat to the spin level features allowed, so read them before a test. They change by season: the 2023 test structure differs from them at National 3 and 4.
Beginner
Entry: Skate UK Platinum Star (Figure). Programme 1:30. A competition level with no test score.
- Up to two spins in a basic position, with no change of position or foot, of at least three revolutions Upright spin, Sit spin, Camel spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
National 1
Entry: Skills 1. Programme 1:30. Pass: TES 5.50, PCS 6.25.
- Two spins: a combination spin, and a spin in one basic position with no change of foot, of at least three revolutions Combination spin, Upright spin, Sit spin, Camel spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
National 2
Entry: Skills 2 and National 1. Programme 2:00. Pass: TES 7.00, PCS 7.50.
- Two spins: a combination spin, and a spin in one basic position with no change of foot, of at least four revolutions Combination spin, Upright spin, Sit spin, Camel spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
National 3
Entry: Skills 3 and National 2. Programme 2:00. Pass: TES 8.00, PCS 8.75.
- Up to four jump elements, including a single Axel; doubles are allowed Axel
- Two spins, as at National 2 Combination spin, Upright spin, Sit spin, Camel spin
- A step sequence over the full ice, with a skating movement such as a spiral or spread eagle, and difficult turns: rockers, counters, brackets, loops, twizzles and the choctaw Step sequence, Spiral, Left forward outside rocker, Left forward outside counter, Left forward outside bracket, Left forward outside loop, Left forward outside twizzle, Left forward outside choctaw, Spread eagle
National 4
Entry: Skills 4 and National 3. Programme 2:30. Pass: TES 10.30, PCS 10.00.
- Up to five jump elements, including an Axel-type jump; no triples Axel
- Two spins: a combination of at least eight revolutions with a change of foot, or six without, and a spin in one basic position (camel, sit, layback or upright) of at least six Combination spin, Camel spin, Sit spin, Upright spin, Layback spin
- A step sequence over the full ice, with a skating movement and difficult turns; a twizzle counts at two revolutions or more Step sequence, Spiral, Left forward outside double twizzle
National 5
Entry: Skills 5 and National 4. Programme 2:30. Pass: TES 11.50; PCS 11.50 girls, 13.50 boys.
- Up to five jump elements, including an Axel-type jump; no triples Axel
- Two spins: a combination with no flying entrance, and a spin in one position, which may change foot and may have a flying entrance Combination spin, Change of foot spin, Flying spin
- A step sequence, as at National 4 Step sequence, Spiral, Left forward outside double twizzle
National 6
Entry: Skills 6 and National 5. A short and a free programme. Free programme pass: TES 15.00; PCS 16.00 girls, 18.00 boys.
- Short programme: a single or double Axel, a double or triple jump, a combination whose second jump is a double or triple toe loop, two spins, and a step sequence that must include a forward outside counter and a backward outside loop (2026-27) Step sequence, Axel, Toe loop, Combination spin, Sit spin, Left forward outside counter, Left backward outside loop, Layback spin
- Free programme: up to five jump elements including an Axel-type jump, a combination spin with a change of foot of at least eight revolutions, a flying camel of at least six (2026-27), and a choreographic sequence Axel, Combination spin, Camel spin, Choreographic sequence, Flying camel spin
National 7
Entry: Skills 7 and National 6. Short programme 2:40. Free programme pass: TES 22.00; PCS 22.00 women, 27.50 men.
- Short programme: a double Axel (men: double or triple), a double or triple Lutz, a jump combination, a flying camel, a layback or sit spin (men: a sit spin with a change of foot), a spin combination with one change of foot, and a step sequence Step sequence, Axel, Lutz, Camel spin, Sit spin, Combination spin, Change of foot spin, Layback spin, Flying camel spin
- Free programme: up to six jump elements including an Axel-type jump; three spins (a combination of at least ten revolutions, a flying spin, a choreographic spin); a choreographic sequence Axel, Combination spin, Choreographic sequence, Flying spin, Choreographic spin
National 8
Entry: Skills 8 and National 7. Free programme 4:00. Free programme pass: TES 26.00; PCS 24.00 women, 30.00 men.
- Short programme: a double or triple Axel, a triple jump (men: triple or quadruple), a jump combination with at least one triple, a flying spin, a spin with no change of foot (men: a camel or sit spin with a change of foot), a spin combination, and a step sequence Step sequence, Axel, Combination spin, Camel spin, Sit spin, Layback spin, Flying spin
- Free programme: up to six jump elements including an Axel-type jump; three spins as at National 7; a step sequence and a choreographic sequence Step sequence, Axel, Combination spin, Choreographic sequence, Flying spin, Choreographic spin
Source: British Ice Skating, Singles Generic Criteria 2026-2027 (updated 09/06/2026)