Mastery Demonstration

My training has been going well (PE1 for everything), most of the exercises are doing good, RC/PE1 being the toughest progression for me (especially with all the fatigue towards the end of the session). When someone is testing mastery, I am aware of a few things that should not happen:

1) Form breakdown
2) Distinct break in tempo
3) Extended rest time
4) Shaking (or any other form of grinding pain)

If someone builds up to Step 9 (mastery standard) but one or more of these things happen (even if it's slight), what should they do? Do they treat it like a failed week and stay on the same step until they pass? Or do they restart the block (after the deload) as if they were testing mastery?

Depends on how close you are.

One approach is to drop back to the beginning of the block (Step 7) and take another run at it. Remember you are building strength so don't rush to leave a level.  If you feel really under-recovered during your Step 9 then you may want to drop back two blocks to Step 4.