Fitness Testing

Fitness Testing > Tests > Aerobic Endurance > Beep > Variations

Variations of the Beep Test

Beep Test Image For a comprehensive listing of information about the Beep Test, see the Beep Test Home.

History

The beep test originally developed from the Track Test, an incremental continuous running aerobic fitness test conducted around a 400m running track, which followed audio cues that increase each minute. The 20m beep test evolved from 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.

Current Variations

Since the original paper describing 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, though the names used to describe it may sound like they are very different tests. The test has been described as the beep or bleep test, multi-stage fitness test or MSFT/MST, 20 meter shuttle run test, yo-yo endurance test, PACER and Aero. In French it is the 'Test de Luc-Léger'.

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). The Beep Shuttles page lists the number of shuttles for two different versions of the test.

Differences in Distance

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) or 40 meters (Birtwell Test) compared to the usual 20 meters, and in the USA the imperial measurement equivalent 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. The test is called the 'Bleep Test' in the UK.

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 athletes in other sports and for other modalities.

Multistage Shuttle Swim Test - for water polo players
Swimming Beep Test - for swimmers
multistage field test for wheelchair users

Other Variations

John Miller has developed a variation, combining the beep test with a set time distance run. The test is compact, being run in a 20 m area, and can be completed in just 5 minutes. See more.

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