The International Skating Union (ISU) has created a new judging system for figure skating and ice dancing. Skate Canada has adopted these changes and will be using this new system to calculate the results at competitions.

For singles and pairs short program and free program and the original and free dance, the system is based on points being awarded for a technical score and for five additional components, as outlined below.

Each existing element (e.g. jump, lift, footwork, etc.) has a point value. Once a skater performs an element, it will be identified and confirmed by the Technical Panel. The value points representing this element will be automatically added to the skater's own point account. The judges will then decide upon the quality of that performed element using a scale of seven grades ranging from "-3" to "+3". Based on the grade, a set value will be added to or subtracted from the original value of the element. For each element, the highest and lowest points are discarded. The element score is the average determined from the points of the remaining judges. The Total Element Score will be the sum of each element score.

In addition to the technical elements, points will also be awarded for the five different program components. Judging on a scale of 1-10 (with increments of 0.25), the judges express the overall presentation of the whole program. The program components include:

• Skating Skills - the competitor's ability to skate
• Transition, Linking Footwork and Movement - the variation of linking movements between elements
• Performance/Execution - expresses the style, carriage and unison
• Choreography/Composition - expresses the quality of composition of the program
• Interpretation - indicates the skater's expression of the music's style, character and rhythm throughout the entire program.

The Program Component scores are also calculated by discarding the highest and lowest score, then averaging the remaining scores. Each is then multiplied by a factor that is set out in the rules for each event.

Additional points may be awarded for innovative elements; deductions are made for rule violations and falls.

The total score for any segment will be the Technical Score added to the total score for the five Program Components, plus any bonuses minus any deductions. For the compulsory dance, the system is based on points awarded for a technical score and for four additional components, as outlined below:

Each segment of the compulsory dance has a point value. Once a couple performs a segment, the judges will decide upon the quality of that performed segment using a scale of seven grades ranging from "-3" to "+3". Based on the grade, a set value will be added to or subtracted from the original value of the segment.

For each segment, the highest and lowest points are discarded. The total segment score is the average determined from the points of the remaining judges. The total segment score will be the sum of each segment score.

In addition to the technical elements, points will also be awarded for the four different components. Judging on a scale of 1-10 (with increments of 0.25), the judges express the overall presentation of the whole program. The program components are:

• Skating Skills - indicates the ability of the couple to perform dance steps and movements over the ice surface
• Performance/Execution - expresses the demonstration of unison, body alignment, carriage and style
• Interpretation - indicates the couple's expression of the music's style, character and rhythm throughout the compulsory dance
• Timing - the ability of the couple to skate strictly to the time of the music.

The Program Component scores are also calculated by discarding the highest and lowest score, then averaging the remaining scores. Each is then multiplied by a factor that is set out in the rules.

The total from the Technical Score will be added to the total score for the four components minus any deductions. The result is the Compulsory Dance Score.

In Singles and Pairs figure skating, scores from the two segments, the short program and the free skate, are added together to give the total Competition Score. In the event that a qualifying round is skated, 25% of the score awarded to the qualifying freeskate is added to the total score for the athlete. In Ice Dance, scores from the three segments, the compulsory dances, the original dance and the free dance, are added together to give the total Competition Score. At the end of the event the skater or team with the highest Competition Score wins the event.