Judging system illustrated in Single Skating

Technical elements consist of Jumps, Spins and Steps. The Technical Score is decided by the difficulty and quality of step sequences, jumps and spins. The difficulty in step sequences and spins is measured by the level: Base, 1, 2, 3, and 4, where 4 is the highest. It is the Technical Panel who decides the level. Each jump receives a score according to its base value and grade of execution (GOE). The quality is decided by nine judges, and it is measured on a scale from -3 (completely missed), to +3 (super).

The Program Components consist of Skating Skills, Transitions, Performance/Execution, Choreography and Interpretation.

The Program Component Score is decided by the judges. The scale is from up to 10. The Program Component Score and the Technical Score are added together and this is how we get the Total Segment Score. To get the Final Score the Total Segment Scores from the Short Program and the Free Skating are added together. Bigger the score, better the result.

Mistakes and deduction

Accidently landing a single jump or a double jump instead of a planned triple jump is often more costly than falling down. The skater will be deducted by 1 point of the fall.

Under rotated jump is also a small mistake. If there is more than a quarter but less than half of a turn left in the landing, the jump will lose about 30 per cent of its value. If there is more than half of a turn or more left, the jump is downgraded. This means when a skater executes for example a triple jump but is missing half of a turn, the jump will be downgraded to a double jump. It can be difficult to see it but the technical panel can also look at the landings in review. This is why the skater sometimes has to wait for the points for a quite long time.

There are limits to which and how many jumps, spins, step sequences and/or lifts the Men, Ladies and Pairs can do. If the skater/couple repeats a jump too many times he will gain in zero points for the last of the repetitions. Even the skater makes obvious mistakes in the jumps still a lot of points can be collected in the spins.

Skater may also have deductions such as Music Violations, Costume/Prop Violations, Time Violations, Interruption in Excess or extended lift.