National Skills Tests Update Coming October 2026
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
We are pleased to announce that exciting improvements are coming to British Ice Skating Skills Tests soon!
A detailed review of National Skills Tests was recently carried out to identify improvements that will make them more accessible and relevant to the skating skills athletes need to succeed. The review was led by experienced judges and coaches, and has identified a number of developments which will give skaters and coaches greater flexibility. Figure skating is a rapidly evolving sport, and these changes will ensure our Skills Tests stay up to date and continue to provide skaters
with a strong foundation for progress.
The changes will be implemented from 1st October 2026 and will see a number of new exercise options added to the program; no exercises are being replaced or removed.
Below you can find a summary of the incoming changes, as well as links to video demonstrations and the new guidance documents for each level:
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What’s Changing?
A number of new exercises are being added, while a few existing exercises will have extra completion options introduced. Specifically:
SKILLS 1
CHANGE Â Exercise 4: Slalom Side 1 - Option added to perform this with two foot OR one foot power change.
 NEW  Exercise 5: Forward Outside & Forward Inside 3-Turns. View here.
SKILLS 2
NEW Exercise 6: Backward Outside 3-Turns. View here.
SKILLS 3
 CHANGE   Exercise 5: Forward Spirals - Option added to hop in either direction or mohawk prior to spiral.
 NEW  Exercise 6: Forward Inside 1½ Twizzle. View here.
SKILLS 4
 NEW  Exercise 6: Mohawk & 3-Turn Exercise. View here.
 NEW  Exercise 7: Skating Exercise. View here.
SKILLS 5
 NEW  Exercise 6: Bracket Exercise. View Video Demo Here.
 NEW  Exercise 7: Backward Counter Exercise. View here.
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SKILLS 6
 NEW  Exercise 6: Bracket-Counter. View here.
 NEW  Exercise 7: Skating Exercise 2. View here.
SKILLS 7
 NEW  Exercise 6: Bracket - Counter - Twizzle. View here.
 NEW  Exercise 7: Choctaw - 3-Turn - Rocker. View here.
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SKILLS 8
 CHANGE  Section 2A: View here.
 CHANGE  Section 2B: View here. A new Skills 8 Full Program demonstration video, including the Section 2A and 2B changes, is also available: View here.
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These changes will be introduced from 1st October 2026. All BIS coaches have been invited to attend update sessions where the changes are explained in detail, so your coach should be able to support you if you have any questions.