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Compulsory dances and school figures may be a thing of the past in ISU Championships, but in skating's glory days, they played a crucial role in deciding who came out on top.
Compiled from old rulebooks, magazines and judging manuals, the below data highlights how the scoring system evolved and changed over the course of over a century, under the 6.0 system.
SINGLES FIGURE SKATING
Abbreviations used: CF (Compulsory Figures), FS (Free Skating), OP (Original Program), SP (Short Program), TP (Technical Program), QR (Qualifying Round)
|
Year |
QR |
CF |
SP/TP/OP |
FS |
Number of Figures |
Notes |
|
1896 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1897 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1898 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1899 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1900 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1901 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1902 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1903 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1904 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1905 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1906 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1907 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1908 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1909 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1910 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1911 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1912 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1913 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
At 1913 ISU Congress, Norwegian Federation motioned that figures & free skating should be worth the same. Voted down 10-2. |
|
1914 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1922 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1923 |
N/A |
61.11% |
N/A |
38.89% |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
Based on a maximum rating of 432 points – 264 for school figures and 168 for free skating, by a factor of 14 |
|
1924 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1925 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1926 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1927 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1928 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1929 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1930 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1931 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1932 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1933 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1934 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1935 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1936 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1937 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1938 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1939 |
N/A |
60-67%* |
N/A |
33-40%* |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
See note below table |
|
1947 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
12 (6 figures skated on each foot) |
|
|
1948 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1949 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1950 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1951 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1952 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1953 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
Proposal to make figures & free skating both worth 50% shot down at ISU Congress |
|
1954 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1955 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1956 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1957 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1958 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1959 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1960 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1961 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1962 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1963 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1964 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1965 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
Proposal to make figures and free skating equal in value got a vote in favour at ISU Congress, but didn't meet 2/3 majority so didn't pass |
|
1966 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1967 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1968 |
|
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
6 |
|
|
1969 |
|
50.00% |
N/A |
50.00% |
6 |
First year figures and free skating were equal in value at World Championships |
|
1970 |
|
50.00% |
N/A |
50.00% |
6 |
|
|
1971 |
|
50.00% |
N/A |
50.00% |
6 |
|
|
1972 |
|
50.00% |
N/A |
50.00% |
6 |
|
|
1973 |
|
40.00% |
20.00% |
40.00% |
3 |
After first season SP was included in singles events, “various proposals to increase to four the number of compulsory figures skated in ISU Championships were defeated” at ISU Congress. |
|
1974 |
|
40.00% |
20.00% |
40.00% |
3 |
|
|
1975 |
|
40.00% |
20.00% |
40.00% |
3 |
|
|
1976 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1977 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1978 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1979 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1980 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1981 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1982 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1983 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1984 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1985 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1986 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1987 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1988 |
|
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1989 |
|
20.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
First year of original program with one set of requirements, previously short program elements had been drawn from 4 different groups |
|
1990 |
|
20.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1991 |
|
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1992 |
|
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1993 |
Did not count (qualifying purposes only) |
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1994 |
Did not count (qualifying purposes only) |
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1995 |
Did not count (qualifying purposes only) |
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1996 |
Did not count (qualifying purposes only) |
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1997 |
Did not count (qualifying purposes only) |
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1998 |
Did not count (qualifying purposes only) |
N/A |
33.30% |
66.70% |
0 |
|
|
1999 |
20.00% |
N/A |
30.00% |
50.00% |
0 |
|
|
2000 |
20.00% |
N/A |
30.00% |
50.00% |
0 |
|
|
2001 |
20.00% |
N/A |
30.00% |
50.00% |
0 |
|
|
2002 |
20.00% |
N/A |
30.00% |
50.00% |
0 |
|
|
2003 |
20.00% |
N/A |
30.00% |
50.00% |
0 |
|
|
2004 |
20.00% |
N/A |
30.00% |
50.00% |
0 |
|
*Modern histories of the sport note that compulsory figures were worth 60% and free skating was worth 40% during this period. In reality, this was not a uniform standard until after World War II. At the 1897 World Championships, figures were worth 67% and free skating 33%. The figure skating events at the 1908 Summer Olympics were based on a maximum rating of 276 points – 168 for school figures and 108 for free skating, by a factor of 9, with figures worth 60.87% and free skating 39.13%. At the 1923 World Championships, scoring was based on a maximum rating of 432 points – 264 for school figures and 168 for free skating, by a factor of 14. Figures were worth 61.11% and free skating 38.89%. These inconsistencies can be attributed to the fact that the national skating associations that hosted the ISU Championships played a major role in organizing judging and scorecards in skating's early days.
PAIRS SKATING
Abbreviations used: CCP (Compulsory Connected Program), FS (Free Skating), OP (Original Program), SP (Short Program), TP (Technical Program)
|
Year |
CCP/SP/OP/ TP |
FS |
Notes |
|
1901 |
N |
100.00% |
First year pairs competitions were included at World Championships, though it was not considered an official competition for a World title. There were 2 pairs events – 1 for a man and a woman and 1 for 2 men |
|
1902 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1903 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1904 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1905 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1906 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1907 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1908 |
N |
100.00% |
First officially recognized World Championships for pairs, though pairs competitions were held at Worlds every year from 1901-1907 |
|
1909 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1910 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1911 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1912 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1913 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1914 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1922 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1923 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1924 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1925 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1926 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1927 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1928 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1929 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1930 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1931 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1932 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1933 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1934 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1935 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1936 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1937 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1938 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1939 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1947 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1948 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1949 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1950 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1951 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1952 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1953 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1954 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1955 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1956 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1957 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1958 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1959 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1960 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1961 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1962 |
N |
100.00% |
|
|
1963 |
N/A |
100.00% |
|
|
1964 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
Trial of compulsory connected program |
|
1965 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
Trial of compulsory connected program |
|
1966 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1967 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1968 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1969 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
25% was a reduction |
|
1970 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1971 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1972 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1973 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1974 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1975 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1976 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1977 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1978 |
25.00% |
75.00% |
|
|
1979 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1980 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1981 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1982 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1983 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1984 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1985 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1986 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1987 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1988 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1989 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1990 |
28.57% |
71.43% |
|
|
1991 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1992 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1993 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1994 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1995 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1996 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1997 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1998 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
1999 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
2000 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
2001 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
2002 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
2003 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
|
2004 |
33.30% |
66.70% |
|
ICE DANCING
Abbreviations used: CD (Compulsory Dances), FD (Free Dance), OD (Original Dance), OSP (Original Set Pattern Dance),
|
Year |
CD |
OSP/OD |
FD |
Number of CDs Skated |
Notes |
|
1950 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
International Ice Dancing Competition held in conjunction with Worlds, consisting of 4 compulsory dances and a 3 min free dance |
|
1951 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1952 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1953 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1954 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1955 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1956 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1957 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1958 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1959 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1960 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1961 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1962 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1963 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1964 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1965 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1966 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1967 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1968 |
60.00% |
N/A |
40.00% |
4 |
|
|
1969 |
45.00% |
15.00% |
40.00% |
3 |
First year OSP skated at Worlds |
|
1970 |
45.00% |
15.00% |
40.00% |
3 |
|
|
1971 |
45.00% |
15.00% |
40.00% |
3 |
|
|
1972 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
OSP was marked as part of compulsories |
|
1973 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1974 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1975 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1976 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1977 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1978 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1979 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1980 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1981 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1982 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1983 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1984 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
OSP marked as a separate entity from compulsories |
|
1985 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1986 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1987 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1988 |
30.00% |
20.00% |
50.00% |
3 |
|
|
1989 |
20.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
Reduced compulsory dances from 3 to 2, at international competitions (non-ISU Championships) 1 was permitted |
|
1990 |
20.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1991 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
Original dance introduced, compulsory dances each judged separately |
|
1992 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1993 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1994 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1995 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1996 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1997 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1998 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
1999 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
2000 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
2001 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
2002 |
10.00% + 10.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
2 |
|
|
2003 |
20.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
1 (per team), 2 groups |
Teams divided into 2 groups for compulsory dances |
|
2004 |
20.00% |
30.00% |
50.00% |
1 (per team), 2 groups |
|
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