Beep Test
(Endurance Shuttle Run)
Eurofit for Adults

In the Beep Test, the examinee runs back and forth over a 20-meter (65-foot, 7-inch) course at a speed that increases every minute. The required speed is cued by an auditory signal that indicates when a line at either end of the course should be contacted by the foot.

NOTE: This test should only be performed on people who are accustomed to running and who are in good enough health to exert themselves maximally without risk. Our exercise risk questionnaire can help you determine if your risk level is too great to engage in strenuous testing, but it is always best to be cleared by a physician before undergoing strenuous exercise. This is particularly important for maximal-effort physical tests such as this one.

Course Layout

Tapes are affixed to a flat, non-slip surface 20 meters (65 feet, 7 inches) apart. Two additional tapes are affixed 3 meters (9 feet, 10 inches) closer to the center of the course than each of the first 2 tapes.

Testing Procedure

The examinee runs 20 meters back and forth between the 2 outer tapes, stepping on each. A beep signal is sounded when the foot should contact an outer tape. This can be provided by:

• A computer - Free Beep Test recordings can be found online. Also, commercially available programs are available that have extra features such as data storage and retrieval.
• A commercially available or homemade CD - Should maintain its accuracy over time.
• A commercially available or homemade tape - The least preferable choice as tapes stretch over time, reducing their accuracy.

The initial speed is 8 km/hr (4.97 mi/hr) but every minute the time between beeps becomes shorter, requiring an increase in 0.5 km/hr (0.31 mi/hr) in running speed. The test is stopped when either the examinee feels undue stress or fails to get past an inner tape at the beep twice in a row. The score is the stage (to the nearest half-stage) or the maximum speed (km/hr) at which the examinee quits or fails.

Precautions

• The examinee must be in good enough health to perform a strenuous, maximal-effort test.
• The running surface must be flat and non-slip.
• The examinee should wear running or cross-training shoes with good traction.
• The beep source should be checked to ensure that signals are emitted at the proper intervals.

Interpretation of Results

For both men and women:

    VO2max (ml/kg/min) = 6.59 x (max speed, km/hr) - 32.78

        The results are said to be accurate to within 4 ml/kg/min

You can use the table below to look up VO2max values calculated from the equation above.

VO2max Values Calculated from Speed at Final Test Stage
Milliliters of Oxygen per Kilogram Body Mass per Minute
Stage	km/hr	mi/hr	VO2max
1	8.0	5.0	19.9
2	8.5	5.3	23.2
3	9.0	5.6	26.5
4	9.5	5.9	29.8
5	10.0	6.2	33.1
6	10.5	6.5	36.4
7	11.0	6.8	39.7
8	11.5	7.1	43.0
9	12.0	7.5	46.3
10	12.5	7.8	49.6
11	13.0	8.1	52.9
12	13.5	8.4	56.2
13	14.0	8.7	59.5
14	14.5	9.0	62.8
15	15.0	9.3	66.1
16	15.5	9.6	69.4
17	16.0	9.9	72.7
18	16.5	10.3	76.0
19	17.0	10.6	79.3
20	17.5	10.9	82.5
21	18	11.2	85.8

        See our running test table for U.S. normative VO2max values.

Beep Test > Eurofit for Adults

Beep Test > Physical Fitness

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