BASI Level 4 and the ISIA Speed Test: What Changed

If you are working towards BASI Level 3 or 4, the on-snow speed requirement has changed, and it has caused a fair amount of confusion. The short version: for BASI candidates, the ISIA Speed Test has taken the place of the Eurotest. This article explains what that means in practice, why it happened, and how to prepare.

The short version

The ISIA Speed Test is now the timed race component within the BASI Alpine Level 4 ISTD (International Ski Teaching Diploma). Where BASI candidates once had to pass the Eurotest, they now sit the ISIA Speed Test instead. Both are timed giant slalom tests that measure your racing ability against reference skiers, but they are not the same test, and the distinction matters.

Why it changed

The change followed Brexit. When European working rights changed for British instructors after the UK left the EU, it made sense for BASI to follow a more international structure, so that its members would have more working opportunities. BASI moved its speed requirement onto the ISIA Speed Test, which is run through the international ski instructor association rather than the European system.

The practical effect is that most British instructors chasing their full qualification now train for, and sit, the ISIA Speed Test rather than the Eurotest.

What is different in practice

On the hill the two tests look similar, but there are real differences in how they are judged.

The ISIA Speed Test is a giant slalom in which you take two runs, and your best time counts. You pass by finishing within a set percentage of two reference skiers’ times: 12.5% for men and 17.5% for women. Crucially, the result is taken directly from those reference skiers, with no calibration system applied. That makes the process more transparent than the Eurotest, where a calibration adjusts the times.

The other commonly noted difference is accessibility. Because the ISIA Speed Test does not need to be run on a fully FIS-homologated piste, it can be set on more forgiving terrain, and the standard is generally regarded as more attainable than the Eurotest’s. That is good news, but it is worth being clear-eyed about: it still demands genuine race technique, carried through gates under timed pressure. It is more accessible, not easy, and the instructors who pass it have done real work to get there.

Where the speed test sits in Level 4

The ISIA Speed Test is just one of the modules that make up the Level 4 ISTD. Alongside it, Level 4 includes the technical and teaching assessments, a freeride module, 200 logged teaching hours, a professional development portfolio, a second language test, and the international mountain safety requirement (IMS training, six logged tours, and the IMS assessment). The speed test is simply the part that catches out the most people, because it asks for a skill, racing fast against the clock, that day-to-day instructing never develops.

What it means if you trained for the Eurotest

If you have already put in Eurotest training, none of it is wasted. The technical demands overlap almost entirely: clean carving, an efficient race line, good course inspection, sound equipment and a calm race-day routine all transfer directly. If anything, instructors who prepared for the tougher Eurotest standard often find the ISIA Speed Test a more reachable target. The training approach is the same; only the specific test you are aiming at has changed.

How to prepare

Preparation for the ISIA Speed Test comes down to the same building blocks as any timed GS test: solid carving fundamentals so you can carry speed, a strong understanding of line so you ski with intent rather than survival, the right skis well prepared and race boots, a rehearsed race-day routine, and enough fitness to make the most of every training run. We cover all of this in detail in our guide on how to pass the ISIA Speed Test.

The most reliable path is a progression: a foundation block to build the fundamentals at manageable speeds, one or more training blocks to sharpen technique on full GS sets, and a race-preparation day close to your test. How much you need depends on where you are starting from.

Podium has been preparing instructors for timed GS tests for over two decades, through the Eurotest era and now with the ISIA Speed Test as our core focus. If you are working towards Level 3 or 4, we will give you an honest assessment of where you are and build the plan that gets you to the standard.

See our upcoming ISIA Speed Test camps and find the block that fits your test date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does BASI still use the Eurotest?

For BASI candidates, no. The ISIA Speed Test has taken the place of the Eurotest as the timed race requirement within the Level 4 ISTD.

Is the ISIA Speed Test easier than the Eurotest?

The standard is generally considered more attainable, and the result is judged directly against reference skiers with no calibration, which many find more transparent. It still requires real race technique, so it is best thought of as more accessible rather than easy.

Do I need the Eurotest to teach in France?

The Eurotest is tied to working as a fully qualified instructor in France. The ISIA Speed Test and the Eurotest serve different purposes, so if teaching in France is your goal it is worth checking the current requirement for your situation.

What is the pass standard for the ISIA Speed Test?

You take two giant slalom runs, your best time counts, and you pass by finishing within 12.5% (men) or 17.5% (women) of two reference skiers’ times.

Can I train for the ISIA Speed Test and the Eurotest together?

Yes. The technical demands overlap almost completely, so the same training prepares you for both, and many of our campers target both.