Physical Fitness Testing

FOR GRADES 5, 7, and 9

WHAT IS THE PFT?

By law (California Education Code Section 60800), all public local educational agencies in California are required to administer the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) annually to all students in grades five, seven, and nine. The main goal of the test is to help students start life-long habits of regular physical activity.

Our Physical Fitness Testing window is in February and March. Parents will bring their students to a test location and stay at the location during testing. Most students are finished in about an hour
(test time may vary depending on the size of the location)

WHAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WILL MY CHILD BE TESTED ON?

CURL-UPS

Students will be asked to lie on their backs with their knees bent and to place their arms at their sides facing palm down. A teacher will call the number of curl-ups out while making sure each student’s arms and hands are sliding at their sides halfway to their knees. When students are no longer able to curl up, the teacher will record the student’s completed number of curl-ups. The teacher will continue counting at the rate of one number every 3 seconds until all the students being tested have finished or the maximum of 75 has been reached.

PUSH-UPS

Students will be asked to lie face down, back straight, with hands placed under their shoulders, legs straight and toes tucked under. Back should be kept straight and elbows should form a 90-degree angle as the student completes a series of push-ups. Push-ups will be called by the teacher at a rate of 1 every 3 seconds for as many as the student can complete up to a maximum of 75.

TRUNK LIFT

Students will be asked to lie on their stomachs with their arms placed palms up at their sides. The students will then be asked to lift their head/chest off the floor as high as they can, up to twelve inches, and to hold it in that position as a teacher measures from the ground to the student’s chin.

SIT AND REACH

Students will be asked to remove their shoes. Students then be asked to sit facing the sit and reach the box with both feet against the box. After the student has adjusted their body square against the box they will bend their right knee and place their right foot flat on the ground next to their left knee. The student will then put one hand over the other and reach forward four times; they should hold at the fourth reach so the teacher can take the measurement. Then they will be asked to repeat the process for the opposite side.

ONE MILE RUN

(AEROBIC CAPACITY)

Students will be timed on their completion of a mile. Students may choose for themselves if they prefer to run, jog, or walk the mile. Time will be recorded on the student data sheet. To read more about the PFT Aerobic Capacity portion please see the CDE’s website info page here.

SHOULDER STRETCH

(May be done as an alternative to sit and reach)

Students will be asked to touch the fingertips together behind the back with one hand reaching over the shoulder and the other under the elbow. Both shoulders are tested and each is recorded separately.