ok l have a couple questions...
1. do you need to be in a club to test?
2. l know waltz jump, toe loop, loop, and flip, scratch, camel, and working on sit spin, will l be able to pass pre pre and preliminary? mitf too...?
3. how much is it to test?
4. anything elese you think would be good for me to know...
THANKS!!!!

1. u do not have to be in a club, but u do have to belong to USFS. If u r an individual member, not in a club, u most likely will have to pay the local club to test with them, or find a judge willing to test outside of a test session. It usually ends up being cheaper to join a club (you get usfs membership, plus cheaper tests, & they organize the test sessions, & find judges for you.)

2. If u r strong at these jumps & spins u should be able to pass. Judges r looking for stability & strength, not just being able to barely do it. MIF. do u know them? These r footwork steps.each level has certain patterns u have to learn & do in a certain order. You have to know the moves, the patterns, the order, & how many patterns of each to do. This can be tricky if u do not know them yet. A coach should be able to help you. It is also listed in the USFS handbook, but from my experience it is easier to learn from a coach rather than reading. Also make sure if u get a handbook, u use the current 2008 one since some things change each year.

3. Testing varies on which club u test with, how many tests u take, & if u belong to that club. It can be anywhere from 20-100 dollars. l usually pay around $50 to my home club.

4. Be confident when u skate. Get good edges, look like u really know what u r doing, & enjoy it! Good luck!

Remember the judges r just people, many were skaters once too & know what it is like to test.

Agreed very much with the above answer, as well.

1. No, u do not need to be in a club, but like the above answer states, u need to be a member of USFS. An individual membership will cost $85 but it comes with a rulebook & a pin for first time members which is nice. If u r a member of the club at which u want to test, u will pay a lesser fee. If you're not a member & u want to test at another club, u will generally need what is called a permission to test form, signed by an official at ur home club (if you're an individual member, l believe this requirement is waived). You will generally pay a higher fee to test at a club that is not ur home club & u will be subject to whether or not they have enough space for you.

2. Depends on how well u can do those elements. Generally, pre-preliminary moves & freestyle tests r considered encouragement tests, so u will generally pass unless u fall all over the place. Preliminary moves depends entirely on how solid u have them down & how confidently u skate them.

3. See my answer to #1. It varies by rink, by club, & whether you're a member of the club you're testing at. My tests have run anywhere from $30-100 (of course, some clubs charge less for lower tests like pre-preliminary & more for higher level & longer timed tests like Novice & Senior).

4. Practice a bunch before u test. Ensure u know what order the elements go in. Remember to smile. It is silly, but it shows the judges that you're confident (even if you're not!) in ur ability to do well & it puts them in a position where they start believing the same thing. It is a nice little trick l picked up when l got stuck on Novice Moves. . .a smile goes a long way with the judges, trust me! Also, if u do have a bobble or fall on something, it is not the end of the world. Skate ur heart out, & if everything else is strong, u will likely get a reskate. It is not over until it is over. Good luck to you!