How to Calculate Physical Education Level
Throughout primary and secondary schooling, there is commonly a component of physical education. Just as spelling tests and math quizzes are given in school to evaluate skill levels, measuring the physical education level of a child is also important. While it is not as easy to evaluate physical education with a pencil and paper exam, there are various activities that can be used to calculate fitness level.
- Run the mile. The one mile run is a universal test that assesses cardiovascular fitness and endurance levels. The test is easy to perform; as all that is needed is a stopwatch and a track or treadmill that can be used to accurately gauge distance.
- Count the number of push-ups one can complete in a session. This exercise examines upper body strength and endurance. Females can perform a modified push-up if desired, in which they support their lower body on their knees rather than on their toes. The chest should be lowered to the floor until it is approximately two inches away and then the arms are once again straightened out fully to begin another push-up.
- Complete as many half sit-ups as possible in a one minute time period to determine abdominal muscle strength and endurance. This exercise is executed by lying on the ground with the knees bent at a 90 degree angle and the hands lying close to the sides, palms down. The hands are then slid forward approximately 3.5 inches which creates the half sit-up.
- Determine flexibility with the sit-and-reach test. This is completed by taping a yardstick to the ground and sitting so that the feet are approximately 12 inches apart and at the 14 inch mark on the yardstick. Making a “V” with the hands, they are stretched forward on the yardstick as far as they can reach. The distance on the yardstick is recorded as the score.
All of the results from the tests are calculated with age and sex. Scores are given based on national averages, giving the participant a percentile score to determine their physical education level.