Our gym competes level 5 and 6 or 7 since compulsories are in the fall and optionals are in the spring. All of our 5s spend the 8 month offseason trying to get as many big skills as they can: BHS on beam, toe circle, clear hip, giant, cast to handstand, layout flyaway, FT, BT, and layout on floor. The coaches tell them they have to have them all but if they don't it's no biggy.
Only girls capable of scoring at the top in level 7 (37/38+) get to skip 6, even if they have all of their level 7 skills. Last year, that was two of about seven girls who were absolutely shredding the competition. DD has all her skills for 7 but they need to be spit-polished and connected to earn high 9s. She will compete 5 in the fall and probably L6 in the spring. It's the right move.
She's FINALLY learning to stay straight and tight, point her toes, stretch out her jumps/leaps. If she competed 7 she'd only get high 8s, low 9s. That's not enough to be top 3 in an in-house meet, let alone state-wide.