Grades by country · USA
U.S. Figure Skating: free skating
Not checked yet. The level lists on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.
U.S. Figure Skating’s singles tests are free skating programmes, judged against a minimum content for each level: so many jump elements, so many spins, and a step or choreographic sequence. The levels share their names with the skating skills tests, Pre-Preliminary to Gold, and adult tests run beside them under their own names.
Each line below is our summary of a requirement in the 2026-27 chart, linked to the jumps and spins in this guide. The chart says more than these lines carry: which jumps may repeat, how many combinations are allowed, revolution counts for every spin. Read it before a test.
Pre-Preliminary
Programme up to 1:40, or the elements skated on their own.
- Five jump elements: a waltz jump or single Axel, and four different jumps, two of them single Waltz jump, Axel, Half flip, Half Lutz Two of the four may be half jumps, a half flip or a half Lutz.
- Two spins, one of them in a single position; a two-foot spin can count as one Two-foot spin, Upright spin, Back spin A backward upright spin counts as different from a forward one here.
- A choreographic sequence of at least two movements, such as spirals or spread eagles Choreographic sequence, Spiral, Spread eagle
Preliminary
Programme up to 2:10. Double Salchow, toe loop and loop are allowed.
- Five jump elements: a waltz jump or single Axel, three different single jumps, and a combination of two singles Waltz jump, Axel, Salchow, Toe loop, Loop
- Two spins, one in a single position Upright spin, Sit spin, Camel spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
Pre-Bronze
Programme up to 2:10. Doubles other than the double Axel are allowed.
- Five jump elements: a waltz jump or single Axel, three different singles from the loop, flip, Lutz and Axel, and a combination of two singles Waltz jump, Loop, Flip, Lutz, Axel
- A combination spin of at least six revolutions, and a spin in one position Combination spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
Bronze
Programme up to 2:40. Doubles and one triple are allowed.
- Five jump elements: a single Axel, three different single jumps, and a combination of two singles Axel
- A combination spin of at least eight revolutions in two positions, and a spin in one position Combination spin
- A step sequence using the full ice Step sequence
Pre-Silver
Programme up to 3:10.
- Six jump elements: a single Axel, a double jump, a combination with at least one double, and three more single jump elements Axel
- A combination spin of at least eight revolutions, and a spin in one position; one of the two with a flying entry Combination spin, Change of foot spin, Flying spin
- A step sequence using the full ice Step sequence
Silver
Programme up to 3:40.
- Six jump elements: a single Axel, three different doubles, a combination of two doubles, and one more single Axel
- Three spins: a combination of at least ten revolutions, a flying spin, and a choreographic spin Combination spin, Flying spin, Choreographic spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
Pre-Gold
Programme up to 3:40.
- Three spins: a combination through all three basic positions, a spin in one position, and a choreographic spin Combination spin, Upright spin, Sit spin, Camel spin, Choreographic spin
- A choreographic sequence Choreographic sequence
Gold
Programme up to 4:10.
- Three spins, as at Pre-Gold Combination spin, Choreographic spin
- A step sequence using the full ice, and a choreographic sequence Step sequence, Choreographic sequence
Source: U.S. Figure Skating 2026-27 Singles Test Requirements (version 1.0, 27/02/2026)