FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Physcial Fitness Test (PFT)
Q1: What is the PFT?
PFT stands for Physical Fitness Test. The
State Board of Education (SBE) designated the
FITNESSGRAM as the PFT for students in
California public schools. The FITNESSGRAM
is a comprehensive, health-related physical
fitness battery developed by The Cooper
Institute. The primary goal of the
FITNESSGRAM is to assist students in
establishing lifetime habits of regular physical
activity.
By law (California Education Code [EC] Section
60800), all public LEAs in California are
required to administer the Physical Fitness Test
(PFT) annually to all students in grades five,
seven, and nine. The PFT provides information
that can be used by (1) students to assess
levels of health-related fitness and to plan
personal fitness programs; (2) teachers to
design the curriculum for physical education
programs; (3) parents and guardians to
understand their child’s fitness levels; and (4) by
teachers, parents, and guardians to monitor
changes in the student's fitness levels.
Q2:
SUMMARY
 Assists students in
establishing lifetime habits
of regular physical activity
 Six Fitness Areas:
1. Aerobic Capacity
2. Body Composition
3. Abdominal Strength
4. Trunk Strength
5. Upper Body Strength
6. Flexibility
 Three Performance Areas:
1. Healthy Fitness Zone
(HFZ)
2. Needs Improvement
3. Needs ImprovementHealth Risk
 Tests grades 5, 7, and 9
 Eligible test administrators
are district employees
What fitness areas are tested? What test options are
available for each fitness area?
In the Oakland Unified School District, the FITNESSGRAM is composed of the
following six fitness areas, with test options provided for most areas:
Aerobic Capacity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
• 20-Meter PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run)
• One-Mile Run
• Walk Test (only for ages 13 or older)
Body Composition
• Body Mass Index
Abdominal Strength and Endurance
• Curl-Up
Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
• Trunk Lift
Upper Body Strength and Endurance
• Push-Up
• Modified Pull-Up
• Flexed-Arm Hang
Flexibility
• Back-Saver Sit and Reach
• Shoulder Stretch
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q3: What are the criteria for each fitness area?
The FITNESSGRAM uses objective criteria to evaluate performance for each fitness
area (e.g., aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength and endurance,
etc.). The Cooper Institute established these criteria using current research and expert
opinions. These criteria represent a level of fitness that offers some protection against
the diseases associated with physical inactivity.
The criteria for boys and girls are different for tests where there is a valid rationale from
a health-related perspective. For example, differences in cardiac function and body
composition between adolescent boys and girls result in boys having a higher aerobic
capacity than girls.
You can find additional information about the criteria and how they were established in
the FITNESSGRAM Reference Guide available on The Cooper Institute Web page
(Outside Source). The Healthy Fitness Zone standards are available on
FITNESSGRAM: Healthy Fitness Zone Charts Web page.
Q4: What are FITNESSGRAM standards in the PFT?
Performance on aerobic capacity and body composition fitness-area tests is classified
into three general areas: Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ), Needs Improvement (i.e., not in
HFZ), and Needs Improvement – High Risk. Performance on the other fitness-area tests
remained the same as previous years, which is classified into two general areas:
Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) and Needs Improvement (i.e., not in HFZ).
The Aerobic Capacity consists of the PACER, the One-Mile Run and the Walk Test. All
three-test options are calculated and reported in terms of VO2max. VO2max refers to
the maximum oxygen consumption of an individual during exercise. It reflects the body’s
ability to provide energy to the muscles. VO2max is derived from V=volume, O2=
oxygen, and max=maximum. Students can be assessed with any of the three-test
options, and the result will be based on the same estimate of aerobic capacity,
VO2max.
Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) standards for Aerobic Capacity have been adjusted for
gender and age differences, where the HFZ for boys and girls are similar for younger
students (i.e., 12-years old and younger) and as age increases, the VO2max increases
for boys and decreases for girls.
HFZ standards for Body Composition changed but the calculations did not change. The
new body composition standards take into account the natural development of boys
(gain muscle) and girls (gain fat). The standards for percent body fat have been equated
with Body Mass Index (BMI) values. The new HFZ standards for boys and girls help
identify students at risk for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is an indicator of
current and future health risk and includes the following factors:
•
•
•
•
•
High fasting glucose
Large waist circumference
High triglycerides
Low high density lipoprotein cholesterol
High blood pressure
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q5. Who takes the PFT?
All California public school students in grades five, seven, and nine are required to take
the PFT, whether or not they are enrolled in a physical education class or participate in
a block schedule. These students include those enrolled in elementary, high, and
unified school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools.
Students in alternate programs, including, but not limited to, continuation schools,
independent study, community day schools, county community schools, and nonpublic
schools must also take the PFT. Students who are physically unable to participate in the
entire PFT should complete as many of the tests as possible.
Q6. When is the PFT given?
The OUSD’s designated testing window for administering the PFT to students in grades
five, seven, and nine is February 4 through March 22 (California EC Section 60800).
The test may not be administered outside of this window. (Note: The PFT window does
not apply to students who may be given the FITNESSGRAM in grades ten or higher to
determine exemption eligibility.)
Q7: Who can administer the PFT?
The PFT shall be administered and scored by employees of the LEA (California Code of
Regulations [CCR], Title 5, Section 1043). For purposes of the PFT, students may not
administer the tests to each other, and parents or guardians may not administer or help
with the administration of the PFT to students.
Q8: How can schools best prepare students for the PFT?
Students should be instructed in basic concepts of fitness development and
maintenance in the required physical education program. (The required physical
education program consists of 200 minutes every 10 school days for grades one
through six, and 400 minutes every 10 school days for students in grades seven
through twelve [California EC sections 51210 and 51222].) Physical fitness instruction
should include explanations of each fitness area and its relationship to good health as
well as specific physical activities that improve or maintain each of the components of
health-related fitness.
Further, teachers should provide students opportunities to participate in vigorous
physical activity and exercise throughout the school day and in physical education
classes. Because conditioning prior to testing is important to the safe administration of
the PFT, adequate time should also be allowed for students to learn about how each
fitness-area test is administered and to engage in practice sessions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q9: Can students complete more than one test option for each fitness area?
Multiple test options are provided for most fitness areas so that all students, including
those with disabilities, have the maximum opportunity to participate in the tests. The
teacher or the student may select the test to be counted for each fitness area. Only one
test for each fitness area should be reported. It is not necessary for all students within a
school or all schools within an LEA to select or use the same test option for a fitness
area.
Q10: Are make-ups allowed for students who are absent on a particular day of
testing?
Yes. Schools should provide make-up opportunities for students who are absent on
testing days; however, all make-ups need to take place within the PFT administration
window (CCR, Title 5, Section 1043).