Figure Skating Scoring: TES, PCS, and GOE

Figure Skating Scoring System: Breaking Down the ISU Judging System

The ISU Judging System (IJS) is the most complex scoring framework in winter sports. Every jump, spin, step sequence, and lift is assigned a numerical value, modified by execution quality, and added to subjective artistic marks. Understanding this system — maintained by the International Skating Union (ISU) — is essential for following competitive figure skating.

The Two Score Components

1. Technical Element Score (TES)

Every element in a program has a base value published in the ISU Scale of Values. Examples:

Element	Base Value
Triple Axel (3A)	8.00
Quad Toe Loop (4T)	9.50
Quad Salchow (4S)	9.70
Quad Lutz (4Lz)	11.50
Level 4 Spin	3.20–4.40
Step Sequence (Level 4)	3.90

The Grade of Execution (GOE) modifies each element’s base value. A panel of judges awards GOE from -5 to +5. Each GOE step is worth a percentage of the base value (roughly 10% per step for jumps, though the exact table varies). The highest and lowest GOE marks are dropped, and the remaining are averaged.

A perfect quad Lutz: 11.50 base + ~5.75 GOE = ~17.25 points. A fallen quad Lutz: 11.50 base - ~5.75 GOE - 1.00 fall deduction = ~4.75 points.

2. Program Component Score (PCS)

Five categories are scored on a 0.25–10.00 scale:

Skating Skills: overall quality of skating, edge work, speed, flow.
Transitions: linking movements between elements.
Performance: physical, emotional, and intellectual involvement.
Composition: purposeful arrangement of movements and musical phrasing.
Interpretation of the Music: personal expression of the music’s character.

Each component mark is judged independently. The highest and lowest marks are dropped; the remaining are averaged. The five averaged scores are multiplied by a factor that varies by event:

Men’s short program: factor of 1.0.
Men’s free skate: factor of 2.0.
Ice dance free dance: factor of 2.0.

This factor makes PCS more heavily weighted in longer programs.

Deductions

The referee applies deductions for:

Falls: -1 per fall.
Time violation: -1 for each 5 seconds over/under the allowed program length.
Interruption: -5 for a program stopped for more than a specified time.
Costume/prop violation: -1 for pieces falling on the ice or illegal costume elements.
Illegal element: -2 for performing an element not permitted in the segment (e.g., a backflip).

Total Score Calculation

Segment Score = TES + PCS - Deductions

For events with two segments (short program + free skate), the total competition score is the sum of both segment scores.

When Nathan Chen won gold at Beijing 2022, his combined score of 332.60 broke down as: 113.97 (short program) + 218.63 (free skate). His free skate alone featured five quad jumps contributing the bulk of his TES.

The Technical Panel

Separate from the judges, a three-person technical panel identifies and levels each element in real-time:

Technical Specialist: identifies elements and levels.
Assistant Technical Specialist: confirms or disputes.
Technical Controller: has final authority.

This panel reviews elements via instant replay, determining under-rotations, edge calls (wrong takeoff edge), and spin/step levels. Their calls directly affect base values.