Sit-Ups (1-Min, Cooper)
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
The 1-minute sit-up test records the number of correctly completed bent-knee sit-ups in 60 seconds. The procedure fixes the hand position, foot restraint, upper and lower endpoints, and permitted rest position; scores from other sit-up or curl-up procedures are not interchangeable. Data are from Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms for Adults and Law Enforcement (Cooper Institute, Dallas TX, 2013). The source labels these as Cooper Clinic patient data. The displayed age groups contain 4,425 men and 845 women (n=5,270); an additional under-20 column is not shown here. This clinical, self-selected cohort is not a probability sample of US adults. The monograph is an institutional publication rather than a peer-reviewed article.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Exercise mat
- Stopwatch
- Protocol Steps
-
- Lie on your back with knees bent at approximately 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor.
- Interlock your fingers behind your head while keeping the head neutral; keep the buttocks on the floor.
- A partner holds your feet down firmly.
- On the signal, curl your upper body up until your elbows touch your knees.
- Lower back until your shoulder blades touch the mat.
- Repeat as many times as possible within 60 seconds.
- Scoring
Count correct sit-ups completed in 60 seconds. A repetition requires elbows to contact the knees and shoulder blades to contact the mat.
- Notes
Keep the fingers interlocked, breathe normally, and rest only in the up position. Changing the hand position, removing foot restraint, or using a curl-up cadence creates a different test.
Data source: Cooper Institute (2013 Monograph) About this study
Reference population: Mixed by table: Cooper Clinic patients (including sit-ups, bench press, and 1.5-mile run), employee wellness-program members (male push-ups), female US Army soldiers tested in the 1990s (female full-body push-ups), and unspecified Law Enforcement Studies data (vertical jump and 300m run)
Sit-Ups (1-Min, Cooper) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (reps)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-29 | Male | 27 | 35 | 40 | 46 | 55 |
| Female | 18 | 28 | 35 | 42 | 51 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 23 | 31 | 36 | 42 | 51 |
| Female | 11 | 21 | 27 | 33 | 42 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 17 | 26 | 31 | 37 | 47 |
| Female | 7 | 16 | 22 | 28 | 38 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 12 | 20 | 26 | 33 | 43 |
| Female | 5 | 11 | 17 | 22 | 30 | |
| 60+ | Male | 7 | 16 | 20 | 28 | 39 |
| Female | 0 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 28 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 35 to 46 | 28 to 42 |
| 30-39 | 31 to 42 | 21 to 33 |
| 40-49 | 26 to 37 | 16 to 28 |
| 50-59 | 20 to 33 | 11 to 22 |
| 60+ | 16 to 28 | 4 to 15 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are these norms higher than other sit-up tables I've seen?
The table contains Cooper Clinic patients rather than a probability sample of US adults. Selection into a preventive-health clinic and strict differences in sit-up technique can shift scores, so comparisons require the same procedure and a similar population.
How reliable is the source data?
The source is an institutional monograph rather than a peer-reviewed journal article. It reports age-cell counts: the displayed ages total 4,425 men and 845 women. Recruitment details and the dates when these clinic tests were collected are not reported in the table.
What is the difference between sit-ups and crunches?
This protocol requires the elbows to touch the knees and the shoulder blades to return to the floor, with the feet held and fingers interlocked behind the head. Curl-up and crunch tests often use different endpoints, hand positions, cadence, or foot restraint, so their norms are not directly comparable.
Is there an age group above 60+?
The Cooper Institute tables combine all adults aged 60 and above into a single 60+ bracket. Separate norms for ages 70+ are not available from this source.
Related Metrics
Cooper Institute Fitness Norms
This test is one of about ten norm charts in the Cooper Institute's 2013 monograph. Law enforcement academies pick five to six of these tests to build their own field batteries.