Figure Skating Scoring Explained: How the IJS Works in Plain English

Figure skating scores might seem like a flurry of numbers and acronyms, but they all boil down to a logical system. The International Judging System (IJS) — also known as the Code of Points — has been the scoring method for all figure skating disciplines since 2004: singles, pairs, ice dance, and synchronized skating. It replaced the old 6.0 system after the 2002 Olympics judging scandal, and it's designed to make scoring more objective and transparent.

This guide will break down every piece of the IJS in plain English — the Technical Element Score (TES), Program Component Scores (PCS), Grade of Execution (GOE), levels, base values, and deductions. Whether you're a casual fan, a newcomer watching the Olympics, or an adult skater yourself, you'll know exactly how those scores get calculated by the time you're done reading.

Figure Skating Scoring Explained: The Basics of IJS

Under the IJS, a skater's score for any program is essentially points for what they did (the technical elements) plus points for how well they did it (the components). Unlike the old days of "5.8" vs "5.7" marks, the IJS gives each performance a Total Segment Score (TSS) that can be 60, 120, or even 300+ points depending on the level of competition. The big numbers are just the sum of many small parts.

At competitions, skaters perform two programs: a short program (or rhythm dance for ice dancers) and a free skate (free dance for dancers). Each program gets scored separately, and the total score is the sum of the two segments. Highest total wins.

So who gives all these points? The IJS uses two sets of officials. A technical panel of specialists identifies each element and assigns its level or value, while up to nine judges grade the quality of each element and the program as a whole. Everything feeds into a computer that calculates scores almost instantly — which is why detailed result sheets (called protocols) appear just minutes after a skater finishes.

Technical Element Score (TES) — Points for Jumps, Spins, and More

The Technical Element Score (TES) is the sum of points for all the technical elements a skater performs. Each element — a jump, spin, step sequence, lift, twizzle, or synchronized skating formation — has a predetermined base value based on its difficulty. Think of base value as the starting bid for that element's score.

A single toe loop might be worth around 0.4 points, while a quadruple Lutz jump could be over 11 points in base value. The harder the element, the more it's inherently worth.

The technical panel — specialists watching with instant replay — calls each element and assigns its level of difficulty. They determine if a spin was Level 2 or Level 4, or if a step sequence met Level 3 criteria. For jumps, they identify the type (axel, Lutz, etc.) and check for full rotation. This panel sets the base value by confirming what the element was and how difficult it was.

Once the base value is set, the judging panel grades how well it was executed — that's the GOE. A top-level men's skater might rack up 100+ points in TES alone by landing multiple quads, complex spins, and difficult combinations. TES rewards difficulty, but always tempered by execution quality.

What Is GOE in Figure Skating? The Grade of Execution

GOE stands for Grade of Execution, and it's the quality score for each element. Judges rate every element on a scale from -5 to +5. A 0 means adequate execution. Positive GOE (+1 to +5) means it was performed well or spectacularly. Negative GOE (-1 to -5) means there were errors. GOE is the judges' way of saying how well an element was performed, independent of its difficulty.

Each judge gives their own GOE, and the scores are averaged using a trimmed mean — the highest and lowest marks are dropped, and the remaining scores are averaged. This final GOE isn't added as raw points; instead, it adjusts the base value by a percentage. Each +1 or -1 step equals roughly 10% of the base value in singles and pairs (about 16% in ice dance).

For example: a jump with a base value of 5.0 that gets +3 GOE earns 6.5 points (5.0 + 30%). The same jump with -2 GOE earns only 4.0 points. GOE ensures that attempting hard elements isn't enough — you have to do them well to get full value.

What Earns Positive vs Negative GOE?

Judges add points for things like big height and distance on jumps, good landing posture, effortless rotation, creative entries into spins, perfect centering, and clean controlled footwork. They subtract points for falls (automatic -5 GOE), step-outs, hands on the ice, underrotation, wobbly spins, and stumbles.

GOE is cumulative — judges weigh both positives and negatives. A jump might have great height (positive) but a slight hand down on landing (negative), balancing out to a small plus or zero. Think of it like an exam: choosing hard questions is the base value, and GOE is points for showing your work clearly — or lost points for careless mistakes.

PCS in Figure Skating: Program Component Scores

While TES handles the technical elements, Program Component Scores (PCS) assess the artistic and presentation side of a skating performance. This is often called the "artistry score," though it's more nuanced than that. Judges evaluate several components, each on a scale from 0.25 to 10.0 (in quarter-point increments), using the same trimmed-mean averaging as GOE.

As of the 2022–23 season, the ISU consolidated the components into three categories:

Before 2022, there were actually five PCS categories (the above three plus separate scores for Transitions and Interpretation of the Music). Those were folded into the three current categories to simplify things — Interpretation rolled into Presentation, Transitions into Composition and Skating Skills.

The averaged scores for SK, PR, and CO are added up and then multiplied by a factor depending on the program length and discipline. This ensures PCS count proportionally to TES. For example, a men's free skate uses a higher PCS factor than a short program, giving the component scores more weight in the longer program.

Understanding Levels and Base Values for Elements

Many elements in figure skating have levels of difficulty that determine their base values. Spins, step sequences, lifts, twizzles, and synchronized skating formations can be executed at varying levels — from Level Base (B) or Level 1 up to Level 4. The technical panel assigns the level based on how many difficulty features the skater includes, and each level bump increases the base value.

For a spin, difficulty features include: difficult position variations, a change of foot, a flying entry, an unusual position, or a clear change of edge. For step sequences: covering the full ice surface, using the whole body, executing turns in both directions, and varying the rhythm. A Level 4 spin is worth more points than a Level 1 spin of the same type. A Level 4 step sequence earns more than a Level 2.

Jump Base Values — Rotation and Type

Jumps don't receive levels — their difficulty is defined by the number of rotations and the type of jump. Among jumps with the same rotation count, base values rank highest to lowest: Axel > Lutz > Flip > Loop > Salchow > Toe Loop. The axel is the hardest because it takes off forward, adding an extra half rotation.

Jump Level	Range	Example
Singles	0.4 – 1.1 pts	Single axel ≈ 1.1
Doubles	1.3 – 3.3 pts	Double axel ≈ 3.3
Triples	4.2 – 8.0 pts	Triple axel ≈ 8.0
Quads	9.5 – 12.5 pts	Quad Lutz ≈ 11.5

In pairs and ice dance, lifts also have levels. A pair lift with one-arm holds, changes of position, and difficult entrances can earn Level 4 (worth 5–8 base points), while a simpler overhead lift might be Level 1 (2–4 points). Dance lifts, twizzles, death spirals, and synchronized skating formations all follow the same level logic.

Some elements have fixed base values with no levels. These are typically choreographic elements — choreographic sequences in singles/pairs, choreographic lifts in ice dance. They have a modest base value (1–3 points) and can receive GOE, but they're designed to encourage creativity without technical criteria.

How Are Figure Skating Jumps Scored?

Jumps carry the highest base values and get the most attention in singles and pairs. Here's how they're scored under the IJS, broken down into the key factors.

1. Base Value

Each jump has a base value depending on rotation count and type. More rotations = higher value. A triple Lutz (base ~5.9) combined with a triple toe loop (base ~4.2) gives a combo base of about 10.1 points before GOE. Jump combinations sum the base values of each jump in the sequence.

2. GOE for Jumps

After base value, the judges' GOE adjusts the score. A jump with excellent height, distance, and a clean landing earns positive GOE — judges love "wow" jumps. Errors drag GOE down. Even short of falling, there's a full spectrum of quality: a minor hand touch on landing might be slightly negative, while stepping out of the landing or two hands down is more severely penalized.

Judges also reward creativity: a difficult entry into the jump, unexpected choreographic setup, or strategic placement in the second half of the program all count as positives.

3. Underrotations and Downgrades

This is one of the biggest score killers in IJS. The technical panel checks if every jump was fully rotated.

• Under-rotated (<) — ¼ to ½ turn short. Jump receives only 70% of base value plus low GOE.
• Downgraded (<<) — more than ½ turn short. Treated as if it had one fewer rotation (a downgraded triple gets a double's base value).
• Quarter call (q) — exactly ¼ turn short. No base value reduction, but judges reduce GOE. Added by the ISU in 2020 for even finer-grained judging.

A jump that looks landed to the untrained eye might be scoring much lower due to a < or << call. Skaters train to rotate fully to avoid this penalty.

4. Edge Calls (Lutz and Flip)

The flip must take off from a back inside edge, the Lutz from a back outside edge. If the technical panel spots the wrong edge, they mark it. A severe wrong edge ("e") reduces the base value. A mild edge issue ("!") doesn't reduce base value but judges lower the GOE. The infamous flutz (Lutz on inside edge) or lip (flip on outside edge) can cost real points.

5. Repetition Penalty (Zayak Rule)

Skaters can't repeat the same triple or quad jump more than twice across a free skate, and any repeat must be in a combination. Extra attempts are marked "+REP" with only 70% base value, or may not count at all. This rule encourages jump variety.

6. Second-Half Bonus

Jumps done in the second half of a singles or pairs program earn a 10% base value bonus (marked with an "x" on the protocol). A triple Lutz base 5.9 becomes ~6.49 in the second half. This is why skaters strategically backload jumps later in their program — more reward, but a serious stamina challenge.

Spins, Step Sequences, and Other Element Scoring

Jumps get the most attention, but spins, step sequences, lifts, and other elements all contribute meaningfully to the TES — and every point matters.

Spins

Each spin has a base value determined by its level (1–4). A Level 4 combination spin might be worth 3–4 base points. Judges give positive GOE for well-centered spins that maintain speed, demonstrate flexibility, and feature interesting positions. They penalize spins that travel across the ice, wobble, or lose speed. If a spin lacks enough rotations, it gets a "V" notation and its base value is cut by roughly 30%.

Step Sequences (Footwork)

The choreographed steps, turns, and edge work a skater performs — usually one of the most musical moments in a program. Step sequences get levels (1–4) based on complexity: both directions, one-foot turns, body movement, ice coverage. A Level 4 step sequence has a base value around 3–4 points. GOE rewards fluidity, speed, musical connection, and clarity of edges. In ice dance, step sequences are especially crucial and can include required pattern dance sections.

Lifts (Pairs and Ice Dance)

Pairs lifts — dramatic overhead maneuvers — have base values that increase with level, ranging from roughly 2–4 points at Level 1 to 5–8 points at Level 4. Features that boost levels include one-arm holds, position changes, and creative entries or exits. Dance lifts are shorter and more rhythmic, also leveled 1–4, with GOE influenced by how seamless, musical, and character-appropriate the lift feels.

Other Discipline-Specific Elements

• Death spirals (pairs): Leveled element where the man pivots and the woman spirals low to the ice. Quality is judged by depth, speed, and stability.
• Twizzles (ice dance): Synchronized one-foot spins done in unison. Leveled 1–4 based on rotations and difficulty. Judges reward unison, speed, and precision.
• Throw jumps (pairs): The man throws the woman into a jump. Scored like regular jumps but with throw-specific base values.
• Synchronized skating formations: Blocks, wheels, intersections, and group lifts all receive levels. Falls by multiple skaters can compound deductions (-1.0 for one fall, -2.0+ for group falls).

In every case, the pattern is the same: the technical panel calls the element and its level (setting the base value), the judges give GOE to reward or penalize quality, and everything adds up to the TES.

IJS vs the Old 6.0 Scoring System

Before 2004, figure skating used the famous 6.0 system — two marks per program (technical merit and presentation), each from 0 to 6.0, with "6.0" meaning perfection. Judges ranked skaters by ordinals rather than cumulative points. It was simple and intuitive, but it had problems: small mistakes weren't precisely quantified, it was hard to explain why one 5.8 beat another 5.7, and it was vulnerable to block judging — as exposed in the 2002 Olympic pairs scandal.

The IJS brought major changes. Scores are cumulative points rather than ordinal rankings. Every element has a fixed base value regardless of who performs it. There's no ceiling — as skaters push technical boundaries, world records keep climbing. The trimmed-mean system and (at one point) anonymous judging were designed to reduce bias.

The tradeoff? The 6.0 system was easy for casual fans to understand. Under IJS, a score of 150.37 doesn't mean much without context. Over time, though, fans have learned the benchmarks — roughly 300+ is elite for men's total scores, 220+ for women's — and the detailed protocols are there for anyone who wants to dig into the numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions