The Pacer Fitness Test involves running back and forth across marked lines that are 20 meters from each other. There is a series of beeps that signal when to start and stop each lap. As the test progresses the beeps become faster and more frequent. The score that you get on a pacer test is compared to national norms to determine the student’s fitness level.
The Pacer Test is something that Galena High School does two times a year, one in the first semester and another one in the second semester. The benefits of the pacer test are that it is a good way for physical education teachers to measure cardiovascular endurance for each individual and also a guide to see how much cardio students need to do during the fitness curriculum.
Physical education teacher of GHS Mr. Freed said, “The biggest thing we are looking for is improvement in the students. We like this test because it evaluates our students on cardiovascular endurance, which is one of the fitness components we measure each year.” The pacer test is required for schools to send in their students’ results through the Fitness-gram Testing Program.
“I believe the pacer test isn’t anything except for what you make of it. You can aspire to hit high numbers, attempting to improve yourself. On the other hand, you could simply go for what’s required for a good grade. But you could also give up on the first ten…In my eyes, the test is to show your intuition, and maybe dedication to your health,” said Cael Ozee ‘25.
Students have different opinions on the pacer test, some of the students look forward to the pacer test and some other students despise the test and think it is the worst thing ever. Galena High School has record boards that are hung up in the weight room for the 75 Club and 100 Club. People that are on the 75 Club change every school year and the 100 Club is a record that never gets changed. Some incentives are that each class has challenges to see what class was the most successful and the most improved for the test. The pacer test is also done in middle school for grades 5-8.
In conclusion, the fitness pacer test is very important to test a student’s cardiovascular fitness level and see if more cardio needs to be established during the fitness curriculum.
