How scoring works
The old 6.0 scale was replaced after the judging controversy at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Today's system adds up points element by element.
Two halves of a score
A program's total combines the Technical Element Score, which counts each jump, spin and sequence, and the Program Component Score, which rewards skating skills, composition and presentation.
Base value and GOE
Every element has a fixed base value — a triple Axel is worth far more than a double toe loop. Judges then award a Grade of Execution on a scale from −5 to +5, which raises or lowers that value.
A technical panel decides separately what was actually performed, including under-rotated jumps and edge calls, before the judges' grades are applied.
Why difficulty is not everything
A clean, well-executed double can outscore a fallen triple. Falls carry their own deduction, and a poor landing drags the Grade of Execution down on top of that.
- Getting startedWhat learning to skate usually looks like in Canada: group lessons, basic skills, and when figure skating becomes its own discipline.
- JumpsAxel, Lutz, flip, loop, Salchow and toe loop: which are edge jumps, which are toe jumps, and why the Axel has an extra half rotation.
- EquipmentHow figure skating boots and blades differ from recreational skates, why fit and stiffness matter, and how sharpening affects the edge.
- AboutA plain-language reference on figure skating basics.