Challenge Exams

For the following grades Sections A and B may be completed on two different occasions, but each section must be completed without pause and in the order listed. This group of skills test the learner’s ability:

Section A

• Jump into water of at least full reach depth.*

• Swim 10 metres, followed by a surface dive into water of at least full reach depth* and underwater swim for a distance of 5 metres.

• Tread water in a vertical position for three minutes.

• Scull head-first on the back for 15 metres with the feet at, or near, the surface throughout.

Section B

• Swim 400 metres using two strokes. (Changes of stroke can only occur at the completion of a length of the pool. A minimum of 100 metres is to be swum with each stroke.)

• Climb out at the deep end without assistance.

* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.

By completing this Award, you will have shown your ability to complete each of the following sections in the order listed without pause:

Section A

• Plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth.*

• Swim 100 metres in less than three minutes using any stroke. A change of stroke may only occur at the completion of a length of the pool.

• Tread water for two minutes with one hand behind the back.

• Swim 10 metres, followed immediately by two surface dives into water of full reach depth*, one head first and one feet first, bringing an object to the surface on each occasion.

• Scull head first on the back for 10 metres and return by sculling 10 metres feet first. A horizontal position must be maintained throughout.

Section B

• Swim 800 metres: 400 metres on the front and 400 metres on the back. A change of stroke may only occur every 50 metres.

• Climb out at the deep end without assistance.

* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.

By completing this Award, you will have shown your ability to complete each of the following sections in the order listed without pause:

Section A

• Plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth* and swim 100 metres in two minutes 30 seconds or less, using two different strokes, 50 metres of each.

• Tread water for three minutes with one hand remaining above the head throughout. The arm raised may be changed no more than five times.

• Scull head first on the back for 10 metres, move into a tucked position and turn through 360 degrees keeping the head above water. Return to the starting point by sculling feet first with the feet at or near the surface throughout and the hands close to the hips.

• Swim 10 metres, perform a forward somersault without touching the pool bottom and continue to swim in the same direction for a further 10 metres.

Section B

• Swim 800 metres using three of the following strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, English backstroke or sidestroke for a minimum distance of 200 metres per stroke. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres. This swim to be completed in 25 minutes.

• Climb out at the deep end without assistance.

* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.