Flexed-Arm Hang Test: Standards by Age & Sex
How long should you hold a flexed-arm hang? These are the flexed-arm hang norms (in seconds) from the Presidential Fitness Test's 1985 survey, by age and sex. It was an alternate upper-body event for the National award, so only 50th-percentile marks were published.
Flexed-Arm Hang Test norms by age
The flexed-arm hang is timed from a chin-above-bar position with an overhand grip; the clock stops when the chin drops below the bar.
| Age | Boys 50th | Girls 50th |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 sec | 5 sec |
| 7 | 8 sec | 6 sec |
| 8 | 10 sec | 8 sec |
| 9 | 10 sec | 8 sec |
| 10 | 12 sec | 8 sec |
| 11 | 11 sec | 7 sec |
| 12 | 12 sec | 7 sec |
| 13 | 14 sec | 8 sec |
| 14 | 20 sec | 9 sec |
| 15 | 30 sec | 7 sec |
| 16 | 28 sec | 7 sec |
| 17 | 30 sec | 7 sec |
Verified source: Presidential Physical Fitness Test standards — President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, 1985 National School Population Fitness Survey (85th percentile validated 1998; 50th validated 1994). Reproduced verbatim and checked cell-by-cell. Recovered from the President's Challenge archive and verified cell-by-cell against the authoritative GPO publication (p. 8). Partial Curl-Up norms: Canada Fitness Award Program; ¼/½-mile: AAU. Official source · Sources & methodology
Frequently asked questions
What is a good flexed-arm hang time for my age?
On the Presidential Fitness Test scale, the 50th percentile is the median for your age and sex. A 14-year-old boy's median was about 20 seconds.
Why is there no 85th-percentile flexed-arm hang standard?
The flexed-arm hang was offered only as an alternate upper-body event for the National (50th-percentile) award, so the Presidential (85th-percentile) award used pull-ups or push-ups instead.
Other events: Push-Up Test · Pull-Up Test · Curl-Up (Sit-Up) Test · Sit & Reach Test · One-Mile Run · Shuttle Run Test