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Fitness Testing > Tests > Aerobic Endurance > Beep > Variations

Variations of the Beep Test

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The beep test developed from the Track Test, an incremental continuous running aerobic fitness test conducted around a 400 m running track, following audio cues that increase each minute. The beep test evolved form this by reducing the space required and making it possible to perform indoors so that environmental conditions can be controlled. The stop-start nature of the 20m beep test compared to the continuous running of the Track Test may suit it more to intermittent type team sports.

Since the original paper decribving the beep test by Léger and Lambert in 1982, there have been several variations of the test published. Most of the test versions are very similar. It is important that when you interpret the results of the test you should ensure that you have norms relevant to the test version you have used. For a comprehensive review of protocols, see the article by Tomkinson (see references). Also be aware that even though the timing of the test may be similar, some versions use 15 meters between lines (PACER test as used by FitnessGram and Brockport) as compared to the usual 20 meters, and in the USA 22 yards (20.117 meters) is sometimes used.

Variations described on this site

British National Coaching Foundation

A version has been published by the British National Coaching Foundation, which is a variant on that originally described by Léger et al. (see references). Participants start at a speed of 8.0 km/hr, with the second stage at 9.0 km/hr, and thereafter there is an increase in speed by 0.5 km/hr each stage.

Australian Coaching Council version

The Australian Coaching Council (under the banner of the Australian Sports Commission) have
produced two versions of the 20 meter shuttle run test, with one-minute stages (or levels). Each version is exactly the same. As in the British version mentioned above, the participants start at a speed of 8.0 km/hr, with the second stage at 9.0 km/hr, and thereafter there is an increase in speed by 0.5 km/hr each stage.

Sport/Group Specific

The principles of the running beep test have been used to develop a version of the test for determining the aerobic fitness of water polo players (see the Multistage Shuttle Swim Test) and wheelchair users (see multistage field test for wheelchair users).

Video of Beep Test Variations
Maximizing Your Score - to get the most out of the beep test.
References for the beep test
Test Procedure - Detailed instructions for conducting the beep test. Also video examples.
Calculating Your Score - calculator to determine your VO2max equivalent score
Purchasing the cd
calibrating you beep test tape
What's your best score? some results of athletes
Beep Shuttle Listing - a listing of the number of runs for each level