⚠️ The APFT was replaced by the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), which became the Army's test of record on October 1, 2020 and was later replaced by the Army Fitness Test (AFT) in June 2025. This page is a historical archive. See the current army fitness test standards and use the free army fitness test calculator.
Last verified: August 2026
Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT): History & Transition to AFT
The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was the Army's record fitness test from 1980 until the ACFT became the test of record on October 1, 2020. This page covers its three events, 300-point scoring, age and gender standards, and why the ACFT and AFT replaced it. Key facts on this page are based on official U.S. Army publications, including FM 21-20, Army Directive 2022-05, and official Army history.
APFT at a Glance
Quick facts about the Army Physical Fitness Test:
Events: 3 (Push-Up, Sit-Up, 2-Mile Run)
Scoring: 100 points per event, 300 max, 60 minimum per event, 180 total to pass
Record test: 1980 to October 1, 2020
Replaced: the old PT test (1980); replaced by the ACFT (October 1, 2020)
Key change: age and gender-dependent scoring tables introduced in 2002
What Was the APFT?
The Army Physical Fitness Test was designed to measure the muscular strength, endurance, and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of soldiers in the United States Army. It consisted of three events: push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run with a soldier scoring from 0 to 100 points in each event based on performance. A minimum score of 60 in each event was required to pass the test.
The APFT served as the Army's fitness test of record from 1980 until October 1, 2020, when the ACFT replaced it. The AFT later replaced the ACFT on June 1, 2025.
The Development History
The APFT's push-up, sit-up, and two-mile run format was introduced in 1980, based on FM 21-20. In 2002, the APFT scoring standards were revised to use age- and sex-based performance tables.
By the 2010s, concerns emerged about the APFT's ability to measure combat readiness, particularly the sit-up event's link to lower back injuries. The Army began developing a new test in 2013, which eventually became the ACFT and replaced the APFT as the test of record on October 1, 2020.
1980
APFT introduced with push-ups, sit-ups, and two-mile run (FM 21-20)
Source: FM 21-20 / U.S. Army history
2002
APFT scoring standards revised with age- and sex-based performance tables
Source: U.S. Army history
2018-2020
ACFT developed and field-tested
Source: U.S. Army history
2020-10-01
ACFT becomes the Army's test of record, replacing the APFT
Source: U.S. Army
2022
ACFT implementation expands across personnel actions (AD 2022-05)
Source: Army Directive 2022-05
2025-06-01
AFT replaces ACFT (AD 2025-06)
Source: Army Directive 2025-06
The 3 APFT Events
The APFT consisted of three events, each scored from 0 to 100 points:
- Push-Up — maximum reps in two minutes, body in a straight line, chest to the ground.
- Sit-Up — maximum reps in two minutes, hands crossed on the chest, elbows to knees.
- Two-Mile Run — timed two-mile run; Soldiers may walk but cannot be pushed or pulled.
Scoring and Passing Standard
Each APFT event was scored from 0 to 100 points, for a maximum of 300. To pass, Soldiers needed at least 60 points on every event and an overall score of at least 180. The APFT was performance-normed by age and gender, with scoring tables covering ages 17-21 through 62 and older. Soldiers who scored 270 or above with a minimum of 90 in each event were awarded the Physical Fitness Badge. The current scoring system is the five-event current AFT scoring.
Why the ACFT Replaced the APFT
The ACFT replaced the APFT to better assess the physical demands associated with combat readiness. It expanded the assessment from three events to six. The AFT later replaced the ACFT on June 1, 2025. The APFT is no longer the Army's current fitness-test standard. The current test that replaced it is the current Army Fitness Test.
APFT vs AFT: What Changed
The APFT had three events scored out of 300; the AFT has five events scored out of 500. The APFT required 60 points per event and 180 total; the AFT requires 60 per event with 300 (general) or 350 (combat) total. The APFT included push-ups and sit-ups; the AFT replaced them with hand-release push-ups and a plank. The AFT added a separate combat standard for designated combat specialties. For the current five-event scoring tables, see the current AFT standards.
| Aspect | APFT | AFT |
|---|---|---|
| Events | 3 (Push-Up, Sit-Up, 2-Mile Run) | 5 (MDL, HRP, SDC, PLK, 2MR) |
| Max Score | 300 | 500 |
| Pass Requirement | 60/event + 180 total | 60/event + 300 (general) or 350 (combat) |
| Push-Up/Sit-Up | Included | Replaced by HRP and Plank |
| Combat Standard | Not applicable | 350 points for combat specialties |
| Record Period | 1980 — October 1, 2020 | June 1, 2025 — present |
| Standards | Age- and sex-normed, 180 total | General: age/sex-normed, 300 · Combat: sex-neutral, age-normed, 350 |
✓Official Source
“The APFT consists of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run—done in that order—on the same day. Soldiers are allowed a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 20 minutes rest between events. All three events must be completed within two hours.”
Source: U.S. Army AR 350-1 Appendix A (APFT Fitness Standards), §A-2
Sources & Verification
This page is based on official Army publications and materials:
FM 21-20 — the APFT event standards and scoring tables.
— U.S. Army
Army Directive 2022-05 — the ACFT implementation directive.
— U.S. Army
Army Directive 2025-06 — established the transition to the Army Fitness Test.
— U.S. Army
Official Army historical materials — APFT history and the October 1, 2020 transition to the ACFT.
— U.S. Army
Related Army Fitness Test Pages
Army Physical Fitness Test: FAQ
Direct answers to questions about the historical APFT.
What was the Army Physical Fitness Test?
The Army's fitness test of record from 1980 until the ACFT became the test of record on October 1, 2020, with three events scored out of 300.
What events were in the APFT?
Three events: a two-minute push-up test, a two-minute sit-up test, and a timed two-mile run.
How was the APFT scored?
0-100 points per event, 300 max, with age- and gender-normed scoring tables.
What was a passing APFT score?
At least 60 points per event and 180 total, out of a maximum of 300.
When was the APFT replaced?
The ACFT became the Army's test of record on October 1, 2020, and the AFT replaced the ACFT on June 1, 2025.
Is the APFT still used by the Army?
No. The APFT is a historical test and is no longer the Army's current test of record. The AFT is the current Army fitness test of record.
What replaced the APFT?
The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) became the test of record in October 2020, and the Army Fitness Test (AFT) replaced the ACFT in June 2025.
Train for the Test That Counts Now
The APFT is history — train for the test that counts now. Check your score with the free army fitness test calculator, review the army fitness test standards, and build your plan with the army fitness test training plan. Every fact on this page is sourced from FM 21-20, Army Directive 2022-05, and the official Army history — last verified August 2026.