Is there any reason NOT to use the Masters (over 50) scoring on MITF/ FS tests?

[Backtotheice]

Is there any reason NOT to use the Masters (over 50) scoring on Adult MITF and FS tests? I'm over 50 so eligible for this, but I just wanted to ask if there was any reason why people choose to not use the lower passing score. Is it recorded differently?

Thanks for any ideas -

Sally

[icedancer]

Some people just want the satisfaction of knowing they passed Standard or Adult.

When I first got back into skating at 34 I took my first tests (Dance tests) Standard, and had to solo the dance after doing the partner dance.  I failed miserably.  The next day I went in to my coach and told him that I was going to test Adult.  He was disappointed but I felt much better about the whole thing.

If you pass a test at Masters level it will be recorded as such, but you will still be eligible to compete at whatever level you have passed regardless of whether it is Standard, Adult or Masters.

[ChristyRN]

The slightly lower passing average helps because most over-50 adults are a little slower and not quite as powerful as younger skaters. It essentially levels the playing field a little bit and acknowledges that we can't skate 562256 hours a week like kids can, nor do we have the same physical strength as younger adults.

I had to convince my coach that I *really* wanted to test master's. It took some doing because she didn't realize I was over 50 yet. Thanks, Mom, for good genetics.

I say go for it. Every little bit helps.

[AgnesNitt]

There's only 604800 seconds in a week. I guess that leaves 15 hours for rest.

[ChristyRN]

There's only 604800 seconds in a week. I guess that leaves 15 hours for rest.

[RoaringSkates]

I keep telling other skaters that I'm one of the few people I know who can't wait until they turn 50. I get to test masters! :lol:

IMO, there's no disadvantage to testing masters v. adult v. standard, when you're an adult. For me, I moved from standard to adult once I 1) failed the Willow Waltz test twice, and 2) a judge, just before my third try, asked if I wanted to test adult, or standard. I'd signed up for standard. But I paused a moment, and wisely said, "Adult!!!" And then passed. Would I have passed that third time if I'd stayed standard? Who the bleep cares? I passed and put that stupid dance behind me.

[FigureSpins]

Whoo hoo!  I can order off the Senior Menu at IHOP and test Masters!  That would require me to skate, though.  I'll stick with pancakes, lol.

For the record, a pass is a pass.  No one cares once you've passed.  There are no gold stars for passing at standard-just bragging rights.  I'd take advantage of the lower passing standard and sign up for Masters.  Consider how much money these tests cost - why gamble out of pride?  It doesn't affect competitions at all, AFAIK.

[Query]

I didn't realize you could test masters or adult track and compete standard track...

But I've watched elite coaches study carefully the remarks made by judges. They train their students to skate according to the standards the individual judges expected at a specific competition are known to follow, based in part on those remarks. So - do some judges only give the nitpick comments needed to excel by their standards in competitions only to people testing standard track, and let adult and masters track skaters get by without many critical comments?

In other words, maybe it is a lot like the skaters who ask to be graded by both national and international standards - to do really well in international competitions, they want to find out what could be improved by international standards.

[FigureSpins]

For those of you who don't know what this discussion entails, SPECIFIC US Figure Skating tests have up to three different passing standards (aka: scores) based on age: Masters (50 or older,) Adult (25-49) and Standard (any age.)

Moves in the Field tests, for example, from the 2016-17 Rulebook:

TR 19.03 Intermediate, novice, junior and senior standard moves in the field tests may be taken as a standard, adult or masters candidate. Adult bronze, silver and gold moves in the field tests may be taken as an adult or masters candidate.

TR 2.03 goes on to say:

"For the purposes of this rule, a moves in the field test taken as a masters candidate is considered the same as the same level moves in the field test taken as an adult or standard candidate."

I'm not sure which Dance or Free Skate tests have the different passing standards - does anyone know?  (I know I've seen it on blank Trial Judge test forms, but I wasn't really analyzing the passing scores.)

[Jenna]

You can test adult starting at 21, not 25.

I test adult.  I didn't skate as a kid and I only have so much time to devote to skating.  Divide that time between moves, dance and freestyle and I have even less time to devote to one individual test.  Some people want the challenge of standard (or even adult for the 50+ skaters), I just want that passing score.

[Clarice]

Moves in the Field can be tested standard, adult, or masters.

Free skate tests do not have different passing standards, although if you're at least 21 years old you can opt to test on the adult track.

Pattern dances, either partnered or solo, can be tested standard, adult, or masters. Solo free dance can be tested standard, adult, or masters. Partnered free dance can be taken on the standard track or adult track. If adult track, it can be tested adult or masters. I don't know why there is a masters option for free dance, but not free skating.

Figures tests may be taken on the standard track or the adult track. Inexplicably, you have to be at least 25 years old to test on the adult track. I believe they are looking into fixing this age discrepancy.

[Backtotheice]

I tested Masters for the Adult Bronze MITF test I did and passed in early February. My only problem with it was the scoring. I had expected that the scoring would be standardized, but just the passing average and passing total score would be lower. But the judge basically scored me at the passing average level (2.3) and if it was particularly good gave it a 2.4. Which is still failing if using the regular Adult passing level of 2.5. But (and everyone watching including coaches said this) most if not all of the moves I did would have passed at the 2.5 level. So that was a bit confusing. I'm still torn as to what I will do for the next test. A pass is a pass, but I guess part of me wants that validation that I don't actually need the "mercy" scoring. 

[Jenna]

I feel like the judges in my area do the same thing.  We don't have as big of an adult skating community as some areas, so I've always attributed it to them not having much experience with adult testing.  I rarely get bonus points.

[RoaringSkates]

I tested Masters for the Adult Bronze MITF test I did and passed in early February. My only problem with it was the scoring. I had expected that the scoring would be standardized, but just the passing average and passing total score would be lower. But the judge basically scored me at the passing average level (2.3) and if it was particularly good gave it a 2.4. Which is still failing if using the regular Adult passing level of 2.5. But (and everyone watching including coaches said this) most if not all of the moves I did would have passed at the 2.5 level. So that was a bit confusing. I'm still torn as to what I will do for the next test. A pass is a pass, but I guess part of me wants that validation that I don't actually need the "mercy" scoring. 

I think that if you want to do the next test standard, you have to go back and redo this one standard. Can anyone else tell me if I'm right on that?

[Clarice]

I tested Masters for the Adult Bronze MITF test I did and passed in early February. My only problem with it was the scoring. I had expected that the scoring would be standardized, but just the passing average and passing total score would be lower. But the judge basically scored me at the passing average level (2.3) and if it was particularly good gave it a 2.4. Which is still failing if using the regular Adult passing level of 2.5. But (and everyone watching including coaches said this) most if not all of the moves I did would have passed at the 2.5 level. So that was a bit confusing. I'm still torn as to what I will do for the next test. A pass is a pass, but I guess part of me wants that validation that I don't actually need the "mercy" scoring. 

I don't think you can ever count on the numbers as absolute feedback. For most judges, the numbers are relative to each other, but not to an absolute standard. If they think something is passing, they'll mark the passing average, maybe a little higher if they want to indicate that something was especially well done. If they think a test should pass overall, but one move clearly had some problems, they may mark something else higher so that the test will pass as a whole. In my experience, they don't use the numbers the way you wish they would. If you're taking the test adult and the move passes, they'll put down the adult passing average. If you're taking it masters, they'll put down the masters passing average. In fact, once when I was helping with a test, I noticed that a judge had given an adult a retry on a test that was being taken masters, but she had accidentally marked as adult. The numbers she had marked on the "adult" test would have passed at the masters standard. When I pointed out the discrepancy, she lowered the marks so that the skater still got a retry for the masters test. She clearly did not feel that the test was passing, and her numbers were meant to reflect that. As I understand it, the lower adult and masters standards are supposed to allow for slower skating and smaller patterns, but the quality of skating is supposed to be appropriate for the level. (For the record, the skater passed the test because the other two judges passed them.)

[Jenna]

I think that if you want to do the next test standard, you have to go back and redo this one standard. Can anyone else tell me if I'm right on that?

I believe you are correct

[davincisop]

Yes that is correct. If you test standard, you can choose to test adult at any point, but once you test and pass a test at the adult scoring, you can't do standard on the next one. So if you test adult to start, if you want to test standard, then you have to go back and retest what you passed at adult.

I passed through bronze MITF at adult and got stuck at silver MITF due to a year and a half without a coach and more time spent trying to get jumps than on my moves. Now I'm getting close to being able to test Silver MITF, but in the meantime went back and tested standard track on standard scoring. Didn't pass pre-juv when I tested it (no surprise since the move holding me back is what holds me back in Silver) but I'm also 29, and I'm stubborn and determined to pass my senior mitf at standard scoring.

If I were older, I think I would opt for adult scores and still test the standard track.

[Clarice]

The option to do standard MIF tests with the adult or masters scoring only exists on the Intermediate test and higher. Below that, adults are supposed to take the adult track tests if they want adult or masters scoring.

[davincisop]

I've been asked on my MITF tests whether I'm using the Adult scoring or testing standard. This was when I was testing pre-pre/prelim/pre-juv. It's an option as far as I have seen.

[Clarice]

I don't know why they would ask that. The option for adult or masters scoring in MIF does not appear in the rule book or on the test forms until the Intermediate level.  That said, the test forms for the Preliminary pattern dances ask you to indicate whether you're testing standard, adult, or masters, but the rule book is quite specific that there are no separate adult or masters categories at the Preliminary level. USFS is not known for its consistency, I'm afraid.