How do judges mark the program components?

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Three components: Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills (Pattern Dances use Timing in place of Composition). Each is marked from 0.25 to 10.0 in 0.25 steps. Mark bands (ISU Communication 2788): 10 Outstanding, 9.75 Excellent, 9.00-9.50 and 8.00-8.75 Very good, 7.00-7.75 Good, 6.00-6.75 Above average, 5.00-5.75 Average, 4.00-4.75 Below average, 3.00-3.75 Weak, 2.00-2.75 Poor, 1.00-1.75 Very poor, 0.25-0.75 Extremely poor. Serious errors: falls and mistakes that break the delivery of the program. With one serious error, the maximum for each component is 9.50. With two or more, the maximum is 8.75. A mistake by both partners (for example a fall by two skaters) counts as two errors, inside or outside an element. Each mark must still meet the criteria for its range even when there are serious errors. Pairs: the criteria must be demonstrated equally by both skaters. If there are notable differences between them, the mark should reflect the unit as a whole, for example the middle mark between the two skaters. Unison is a Skating Skills criterion. Interruptions not caused by the skater (for example music problems, lights or a fire alarm) should not affect the Program Components score. Referee checks: the ISU handbook suggests reviewing a judge's marks across the whole competition. Questions include whether differences between skaters are shown (for example a 7 for good composition and a 4 for fair), whether one component is always highest, and whether starting order or the previous segment result has affected the marks. Sources: ISU Communication 2788 (Season 2026/27), https://isa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2788-SP-Levels-and-GOE-2026-Updated-MAY-19-1779351385-9626.pdf (national federation copy of the ISU communication); ISU Handbook for Referees and Judges 2026-27, https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Corporate-Site/Sports-Rules/Figure-Skating-Rules/Handbooks-Single-&-Pair-Skating/Handbook-for-Referees-and-Judges-2026-27-1779278300-9402.pdf; Skate Canada, https://info.skatecanada.ca/index.php/en-ca/rules-of-sport/52-marking-of-skate-canada-competitions.html