How much is new on each belt test?

[skribs]

Every school I've been involved with has had a curriculum that includes rote material beyond the forms. Whether it's "Exercises" (mini-forms), or technique combinations and one-step defenses, there's always been something. I know in some other schools, testing is more of a formality to get your belt, and there's not much in the test besides forms, sparring, and breaking.

I'm curious how much is new at each belt or stripe (or whatever interval you test). Is it just a new form? Are there other things memorized for the test? Or other techniques and challenges that are expected at each new level?

As I've mentioned in other threads, I'm trying to move away from a comprehensive curriculum into more of a framework. One consequence of having a less defined curriculum is that testing material is also less defined.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Forms, sparring, and breaking always. One steps and various sorts of demonstrations depending on time constraints. We don't do tests, really. We already know you can perform the material at an acceptable level. Because you've BEEN performing it at that level. It's just a chance to show off and have some fun. If nerves get the better of them, they keep repeating whatever it was till they succeed, even if that's a different day. I've only ever seen that happen with the mandatory breaks, and not all that often for those.

 

[skribs]

Forms, sparring, and breaking always. One steps and various sorts of demonstrations depending on time constraints. We don't do tests, really. We already know you can perform the material at an acceptable level. Because you've BEEN performing it at that level. It's just a chance to show off and have some fun. If nerves get the better of them, they keep repeating whatever it was till they succeed, even if that's a different day. I've only ever seen that happen with the mandatory breaks, and not all that often for those.

How many tests and how frequent are the tests in your school?

 

[Dirty Dog]

We do tests whenever there's someone ready to advance. Generally that's every couple months. We have 10 geup ranks, Chodanbo, and 9 Dan ranks, which is pretty standard for the TKD world.

 

[Buka]

We would test every four months or so. Students had to have so many class hours attended in order to advance. But everyone was encouraged to partake, even if they weren’t eligible. It was good practice for them.

There was always a ten question written test to start. If a student answered all ten question correctly they’d get a double promotion. That never happened and it was fun busting their chops.

I wished I had saved the written tests, some of the answers from kids were priceless. There was a complete this sentence question. “It’s not how many times you get knocked down that counts, it’s how many times you————.

One boy wrote, “It’s how many times you hit the kid.”
It made me laugh so much I graded it correct.