Tougher IPPT standards to come for gold and silver awards

SINGAPORE — There will be tougher standards for gold and silver awards for the new three-station Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) when it is fully rolled out from April, said the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) today (Feb 27).

Announcing the standards in an update about the pilot implementation of the new test, the Ministry said the bulk of some 5,000 servicemen in the pilot performed just as well or better for their 2.4km run and the sit-up stations.

More than 70 per cent and almost 90 per cent of servicemen in the pilot maintained or improved their performance for the run and the sit-ups respectively, relative to their last result under the five-station old format.

For the new push-up station, about 3 in 4 servicemen at the pilot test achieved “average and above average” performance when referenced against international standards, said MINDEF.

Speaking to the press at Maju Camp, Assistant Chief of General Staff (Training) Colonel Ng Ying Thong attributed the better performance in the sit-ups and 2.4km run to stronger motivation under new point-based scoring system.

The system is based on servicemen’s performance on the total accumulated points for all three stations.

From April, gold and silver award standards will increase to at least 85 and 75 points respectively, up from at least 81 and 71 points.

Points needed to pass the test remain unchanged, although a new scoring table has been introduced to make the points interval more proportionate, said the Ministry.

(Click Images to Enlarge)

What you need to know about the three-station IPPT. Photo: MINDEF

Sit-up scoring table for servicemen. Photo: MINDEF

2.4km scoring table for servicemen. Photo: MINDEF

Push-up scoring table for servicemen. Photo: MINDEF