Cooper Test

The Cooper test is a test of physical fitness. It was designed by Kenneth H. Cooper in 1968 for US military use. In the original form, the point of the test is to run as far as possible within 12 minutes. The test is meant to measures the condition of the person taking it and therefore it is supposed to be run at a steady pace instead of sprints.

The results of the test give a rough estimate of a persons condition. The possible outcomes are Very Good, Good, Average, Bad and Very Bad. The outcome is based on how much the tested person ran, their age and their gender. (The results can also be correlated with VO2max - see end).

It is, in general, a very easy and cheap test to run, especially for larger groups. On the other hand, the results are based on the motivation of the person taking it and practice is required.

Several tables exist, the following three are for 13-20 (the first), for 20-50 (the second) and for experienced seniors (the third):

Cooper Test (13-20)
		Very Good	Good	Average	Bad	Very Bad
13-14	M	2700+ m	2400 - 2700 m	2200 - 2399 m	2100 - 2199 m	2100- m
13-14	F	2000+ m	1900 - 2000 m	1600 - 1899 m	1500 - 1599 m	1500- m
15-16	M	2800+ m	2500 - 2800 m	2300 - 2499 m	2200 - 2299 m	2200- m
15-16	F	2100+ m	2000 - 2100 m	1900 - 1999 m	1600 - 1699 m	1600- m
17-20	M	3000+ m	2700 - 3000 m	2500 - 2699 m	2300 - 2499 m	2300- m
17-20	F	2300+ m	2100 - 2300 m	1800 - 2099 m	1700 - 1799 m	1700- m

Cooper Test (20-50+)
		Very Good	Good	Average	Bad	Very Bad
20-29	M	2800+ m	2400 - 2800 m	2200 - 2399 m	1600 - 2199 m	1600- m
20-29	F	2700+ m	2200 - 2700 m	1800 - 2199 m	1500 - 1799 m	1500- m
30-39	M	2700+ m	2300 - 2700 m	1900 - 2299 m	1500 - 1899 m	1500- m
30-39	F	2500+ m	2000 - 2500 m	1700 - 1999 m	1400 - 1699 m	1400- m
40-49	M	2500+ m	2100 - 2500 m	1700 - 2099 m	1400 - 1699 m	1400- m
40-49	F	2300+ m	1900 - 2300 m	1500 - 1899 m	1200 - 1499 m	1200- m
50+	M	2400+ m	2000 - 2400 m	1600 - 1999 m	1300 - 1599 m	1300- m
50+	F	2200+ m	1700 - 2200 m	1400 - 1699 m	1100 - 1399 m	1100- m

Cooper Test (Experienced Seniors)
	Very Good	Good	Average	Bad	Very Bad
Male	3700+ m	3400 - 3700 m	3100 - 2399 m	2800 - 3099 m	2800- m
Female	3000+ m	2700 - 3000 m	2400 - 2999 m	2100 - 2399 m	2100- m

The test results can be correlated quite well with VO2max data. An approximate correlation is: VO2max = (distance in meters - 505)/45.

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This article has informational purpose and isn't a substitute for professional advice.

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