Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Overview

What is the Physical Fitness Test (PFT)?

The California Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is a comprehensive, health-related physical fitness battery of tests for students in grades 5, 7, and 9.

This test is in accordance with California Education Code Section 60800 and the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 1041.

How is the PFT assessed?

The State Board of Education (SBE) designated the FITNESSGRAM as the assessment for the PFT.

What is the FITNESSGRAM?

The FITNESSGRAM was developed by the Cooper Institute to measure student fitness level.

It is designed to assess three main categories of fitness: Aerobic Capacity, Body Composition, and Muscular Skeletal Fitness.

These categories are further broken down in six fitness zones:

1. Aerobic Capacity
2. Body Composition
3. Abdominal Strength and Endurance
4. Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
5. Upper Body Strength and Endurance
6. Flexibility

To find out more, visit the Cooper Institute FITNESSGRAM website at https://www.cooperinstitute.org/youth/fitnessgram.

What data is required to be recorded?

Once the fitness tests are administered, the test administrator gives the raw scores to the student. The participation data is entered into Illuminate. The final participation rate (students who completed all tests / total eligible students) for each test is entered into the School Accountability Report Card (SARC). 

PFT History

• 1976: Physical Fitness Testing first authorized in California
• 1996: FITNESSGRAM designated as the required physical fitness test
• 2020: Physical Fitness Test canceled statewide (distance learning)
• 2021: SB820 canceled PFT for the school year and established criteria for reviewing the test
• 2022: Physical Fitness Test resumes, but only requires participation data
• 2023: Physical Fitness Test maintains participation only

State Resources

• CDE PFT Website
• A Parent's Guide To Understanding the PFT