The four components
The assessment is a composite out of 100. 75 points passes. The components are not weighted equally, and the gap matters more than most people training for it assume.
| Component | Max points | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Cardio | 50 | 1.5-mile run or the 20-metre HAMR shuttle |
| Waist-to-height ratio | 20 | Waist at the navel, divided by height |
| Push-ups | 15 | 1-minute push-ups or 2-minute hand-release push-ups |
| Core | 15 | 1-minute sit-ups, 2-minute cross-leg reverse crunches, or the forearm plank |
Choosing your events
Three of the four components offer alternatives, and they are scored on their own tables rather than converted into one another. The choice is genuine — the same airman can score differently depending on which option they elect, so it is worth testing both in training before test day rather than discovering it under scoring conditions.
- Cardio — the 1.5-mile run, or the HAMR (High Aerobic Multi-shuffle Run), a 20-metre shuttle paced to a recording.
- Push-ups — one minute of standard push-ups, or two minutes of hand-release push-ups.
- Core — one minute of sit-ups, two minutes of cross-leg reverse crunches, or a forearm plank held for time.
The calculator scores every one of these options, so you can compare what a given performance is actually worth before committing to it.
Waist-to-height ratio
Body composition is measured as waist-to-height ratio — waist circumference at the navel divided by height, both in inches. It replaced the abdominal circumference measurement and is worth 20 of the 100 composite points.
0.55 is the figure to know. A ratio at or below 0.55 places an airman in the low or moderate risk band the standard is built around; above it, risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and musculoskeletal injury rises sharply, which is the reasoning the Air Force gives for the measure.
The calculator applies a graduated points scale across this component rather than a single pass/fail line at 0.55, awarding full marks only at the low end of the range. We are re-checking that curve against the current published scoring chart, because the sourcing we can verify establishes 0.55 as the standard clearly but is less clear on how points are apportioned either side of it. If it turns out to be a threshold rather than a scale, this page and the calculator will both be corrected and the change recorded. Flagging it rather than quietly leaving it is the deal this site makes.
Exemptions and how often you test
Components may be exempted on medical grounds, in which case the composite is calculated on the remaining components. An exemption is not a pass — it changes what is scored, not the standard being applied.
Assessment frequency is set by current policy and by an airman's most recent score; some high scorers test annually rather than twice a year. Confirm your own testing interval through your unit rather than assuming it from a previous cycle.
Common questions
What score do you need to pass the Air Force PT test?
A composite of 75 out of 100. The composite is built from cardio worth up to 50 points, waist-to-height ratio worth 20, push-ups worth 15 and core worth 15.
Source: AFMAN 36-2905 (eff 1 Mar 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026
What are the events on the Air Force fitness assessment?
Cardio — either the 1.5-mile run or the HAMR shuttle; push-ups — either one minute standard or two minutes hand-release; core — sit-ups, cross-leg reverse crunches or the forearm plank; and the waist-to-height ratio measurement.
Source: AFMAN 36-2905 (eff 1 Mar 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026
What is a good waist-to-height ratio for the Air Force?
0.55 or below. The ratio is waist circumference measured at the navel divided by height, both in inches, and it is worth 20 of the 100 composite points.
Source: AFMAN 36-2905 (eff 1 Mar 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026
Which component should I train first?
Cardio, in almost every case. At 50 of 100 points it is worth more than push-ups and core combined and more than twice the body composition component, so it is where a failing composite closes fastest.
Source: AFMAN 36-2905 (eff 1 Mar 2026) · Verified 30 JUL 2026