Purpose
BOT-2 measures fine and gross motor proficiency, with subtests that focus on stability, mobility, strength, coordination, and object manipulation. The test is tailored to school-aged children and young adults among the ages of 4-21 years, who have varying motor control abilities ranging from normal to mild or moderate.1
BOT-2 SF was created to be a quick screening of the patient's total motor abilities in a shortened amount of time compared to the complete form.
Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT‑2)
Robert H. Bruininks & Brett D. Bruininks
2005 (Second Edition); Pearson
Standardized, norm-referenced performance-based assessment measuring fine and gross motor skills in children and young adults aged 4–21 years
Assessment kits (complete forms, record forms, stimulus books, manuals) vary; item pricing starts from approximately $1.60, with full kits costing several hundred dollars. Available through Pearson Clinical.
Includes Complete Form, Short Form (SF), composite and subtest structures across fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, and strength/agility pearsonclinical.co.uk+2pearsonassessments.com+2pearsonclinical.co.uk+2TheraPlatform+6Shirley Ryan AbilityLab+6Biomedres+6.
Designed for children and adolescents aged 4 to 21 years, including those with normal development as well as mild to moderate motor-control difficulties .
Used in pediatric physical and occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, school-based programs, and clinical/research settings .
BOT‑2 provides a comprehensive overview of motor proficiency:
Fine Manual Control (precision, integration)
Manual Coordination (dexterity, upper-limb coordination)
Body Coordination (bilateral coordination, balance)
Strength & Agility (running, strength)
It identifies motor delays, supports eligibility decisions, and monitors progress
Complete Form: ~40–60 minutes
Short Form: ~20–30 minutes
Individually administered using manipulatives and timed tasks
Requires qualified professionals (Level B), including OTs, PTs, psychologists, and adaptive PE specialists trained in motor assessment.
Examiner’s Manual & Administration Easel
Stimulus books and manipulatives (e.g., blocks, balls, coins)
Record forms and scoring guides
Optional timer, balance beam, and recording space
Raw item scores converted to scale scores (mean = 15, SD = 5 for subtests; mean = 50, SD = 10 for composites)
Provides total motor composite, subtest composites, percentiles, age equivalents, and confidence intervals
Normative sample covers U.S. population aged 4–21, including individuals with disabilities (≈11%)
Reliability: test–retest and inter-rater ICCs typically ≥ .80; internal consistency α > .85 .
Validity: strong concurrent correlation with MABC (.61–.84); good diagnostic sensitivity and specificity; structural validity mostly supported
Strengths
Extensive age range and subtest structure
High-quality psychometric properties
Engaging, game-like administration
Choice of complete or short form increases flexibility
Useful for planning interventions and tracking progress
Weaknesses
Requires varied materials and administration space
Full form can be time-consuming
Norms limited to U.S. populations; cross-cultural validity varies
Short form less reliable for some age groups; not a replacement for full form in diagnosis
References
Bruininks, R. H., & Bruininks, B. D. (2005). Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT‑2). Pearson.
Deitz, J. C., Kartin, D., & Kopp, K. (2007). Review of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT‑2). Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 27(4), 87–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/J006v27n04_06
Lam, H. M. Y. (2011). Assessment of preschoolers’ gross motor proficiency: Revisiting Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Early Child Development and Care, 181(8), 1101–1113.