Australian Defence Force beep test standard
The ADF sets its beep test level by service and role, in the Pre-entry Fitness Assessment run on a 20 m track. Army combat and officer entry roles need 7.5 and other Army roles 6.1, for men and women alike. The Air Force asks 6.1 for men and 5.1 for women, more for Security Forces Officers and PTIs. In the Navy only Divers and PTIs take the assessment, at 10.1 (8.5 for female PTIs).
Standard checked against the official text on 19 October 2026.
The levels, by service and role
The ADF calls its entry test the Pre-entry Fitness Assessment, or PFA. It combines sit-ups, push-ups and a shuttle run, and the level depends on the service and the role. ADF Careers lists these shuttle run scores:
| Service and role | Level | Speed at that level | Shuttles of 20 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army, General Entry Combat and Officer Entry | 7.5 | 11.5 km/h | 56 |
| Army, Combat Support and Specialist Service Officer | 6.1 | 11 km/h | 42 |
| Army, Graduate, Postgraduate and Undergraduate Officer Entry | 6.1 | 11 km/h | 42 |
| Army, Special Forces | 10.1 | 13 km/h | 84 |
| Air Force, men | 6.1 | 11 km/h | 42 |
| Air Force, women | 5.1 | 10.5 km/h | 33 |
| Air Force, Security Forces Officer | 6.5 | 11 km/h | 46 |
| Air Force, Physical Training Instructor | 9.5 | 12.5 km/h | 77 |
| Navy, Diver | 10.1 | 13 km/h | 84 |
| Navy, PTI, men | 10.1 | 13 km/h | 84 |
| Navy, PTI, women | 8.5 | 12 km/h | 66 |
The levels come from ADF Careers. The speed and the shuttle count come from the 20 m table the site uses.
The Army levels are the same for men and women. The push-up counts differ: 15 for men and 8 for women in combat and officer entry roles. In the Air Force, the general level differs by sex.
The Navy is the exception
ADF Careers says the PFA is no longer a requirement for Navy roles, except for Divers and Physical Training Instructors. Other Navy recruits do not take a beep test before joining. During initial military training they complete a 2.4 km run or a shuttle run, alongside a core strength test.
How to read a level
The first number is the level and the second is the shuttle inside that level. 7.5 is level 7, shuttle 5. It is not a decimal: 7.10 comes after 7.9.
The brochure sets the test on a 20 metre track, with one foot on or over the line before each turn. Train on the same course with the standard recording, then check your result in the beep test calculator.
Before you test
ADF Careers says the PFA is taken twelve weeks before you join, and that fitness standards differ for some roles. Check the page for your role before you rely on a level. The military beep test requirements page compares the ADF with New Zealand and the UK.
Go further
Frequently asked questions
Is the ADF beep test the same as the standard 20 m beep test?
Yes on the course: the ADF's Training for the PFA brochure tells candidates to set up a 20 metre track and run in time with the beeps. The level to reach depends on the service and the role.
Does the Navy require a beep test before joining?
Only for Divers and Physical Training Instructors. ADF Careers says a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment is no longer required for other Navy roles. Navy recruits do a 2.4 km run or a shuttle run later, during initial military training.
When do I take the Pre-entry Fitness Assessment?
ADF Careers says it is taken twelve weeks before you join, if your role requires it.
What does 7.5 mean?
Level 7, shuttle 5. The number after the point counts shuttles inside the level. It is not a decimal, so 7.5 comes before 7.10.
Sources
- ADF Careers, Fitness requirements — Pre-entry Fitness Assessment shuttle run scores by service, role and sex; PFA no longer required for Navy roles except Divers and PTIs; PFA twelve weeks before joining; read 2026-10-19
- ADF Careers, Training for the PFA brochure (PDF) — PFA table (Army 7.5 and 6.1, Air Force 5.1 and 6.1, Navy Divers 10.1) and the 20 metre track; read 2026-10-19
- Beep test table — speed and cumulative shuttles computed from the 20 m table behind the Cadlo beep test page