Pull-Up Test: Standards by Age & Sex
How many pull-ups should you be able to do? These are the pull-up norms from the Presidential Fitness Test's 1985 survey, by age and sex. The flexed-arm hang was offered as an alternate for those who couldn't do a pull-up.
Pull-Up Test norms by age
Pull-ups use an overhand or underhand grip from a full hang, raising the chin over the bar each rep. There is no time limit; the count ends when you can no longer complete a full rep.
| Age | Boys 85th | Boys 50th | Girls 85th | Girls 50th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 13 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 14 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 15 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
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
How many pull-ups is good for my age?
On the Presidential Fitness Test scale, the 85th percentile is a top score. A 14-year-old boy needed about 10 pull-ups for the 85th percentile, versus 5 at the median.
What if I can't do a pull-up?
The Presidential Fitness Test offered the flexed-arm hang as an alternate upper-body event for the National (50th-percentile) award.
Other events: Push-Up Test · Curl-Up (Sit-Up) Test · Sit & Reach Test · One-Mile Run · Shuttle Run Test · Flexed-Arm Hang Test