Sit-Ups (30s)

Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means

The Eurofit Sit-Up test records the number of complete sit-ups performed in 30 seconds. Its hands-behind-neck position, partner-held feet, and 30-second duration define this specific protocol; curl-up and 1-minute sit-up results are not interchangeable. Data are from Tomkinson et al. (2018), a pooled analysis of 481,032 test results from children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 in 23 European countries.

How to Perform This Test (Protocol)

Equipment
  • Exercise mat or cushioned surface
  • Stopwatch
Protocol Steps
  1. The participant starts seated upright with hands clasped behind the neck, knees bent to 90 degrees, and the soles and heels flat on the mat.
  2. An assistant holds the participant's legs and keeps the feet on the mat.
  3. Before the test, complete one full familiarisation movement from sitting to the mat and back to sitting.
  4. On 'go', the participant performs as many complete sit-ups as possible in 30 seconds.
  5. For each repetition, lower the back to the mat and return to sitting until the elbows touch the knees.
  6. Count each correct repetition when the elbows touch the knees and record the total completed in 30 seconds.
Scoring

Total complete sit-ups in 30 seconds. Higher scores indicate better abdominal muscular endurance.

Notes

This is a 30-second protocol. The 1-minute sit-up test (Cooper) uses a different protocol and population; norms are not interchangeable.

Data source: Tomkinson et al. 2018 (Eurofit) (2018) · n=481K About this study

Reference population: Apparently healthy children and adolescents aged 9-17 from 30 European countries (2,779,165 test results across all included tests)

Sit-Ups (30s) Strength

Sit-Ups (30s) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (reps)

Age Sex Percentile
5th 25th 50th 75th 95th
9 Male 9 14 17 21 25
Female 9 14 17 20 25
10 Male 11 16 19 23 27
Female 10 15 18 21 26
11 Male 13 17 20 24 28
Female 11 16 19 22 26
12 Male 14 18 21 25 29
Female 12 16 19 22 26
13 Male 14 19 22 25 29
Female 12 16 19 22 26
14 Male 15 20 23 26 30
Female 12 17 19 22 26
15 Male 17 21 24 27 31
Female 13 17 20 23 26
16 Male 18 22 25 28 32
Female 13 17 20 23 27
17 Male 18 23 25 29 33
Female 13 18 20 23 27

What to expect by age group

Typical range (25th to 75th percentile) by age group (reps)
Age MalesFemales
9 14 to 2114 to 20
10 16 to 2315 to 21
11 17 to 2416 to 22
12 18 to 2516 to 22
13 19 to 2516 to 22
14 20 to 2617 to 22
15 21 to 2717 to 23
16 22 to 2817 to 23
17 23 to 2918 to 23

Detailed Breakdowns

Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.

Males
91011121314151617
Females
91011121314151617
Age trend (percentiles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the Cooper Sit-Up test?

The Eurofit test lasts 30 seconds and uses the hands-behind-neck procedure shown above. The Cooper page uses a 1-minute adult protocol and a different reference population. Results from the two pages are not interchangeable.

Why do girls' scores plateau from age 11?

Girls' median scores range from 19 to 20 repetitions between ages 11 and 17. Boys' medians increase from 17 repetitions at age 9 to 25 at age 17. The source does not explain the pattern.

Is P25 interpolated?

Yes. Tomkinson et al. report P20, P30, P70, and P80 but not P25 or P75. This page uses the decimal average of P20 and P30 for P25 and of P70 and P80 for P75, rounded half up to the nearest repetition.

What is a good score on the Eurofit sit-up test?

For age 13, P50 is 22 repetitions for boys and 19 for girls; P75 is 25 and 22. These are positions within the European reference distribution, not health or diagnostic thresholds.

Are these norms representative outside Europe?

The Tomkinson 2018 dataset pools data from 23 European countries (n=481,032), so these are European youth reference values. They are useful for broad benchmarking, but country-level norms can differ and they should not be treated as a universal standard.

Related Metrics

Eurofit Battery

This metric is part of the Eurofit, a standardised 9-test battery for children and adolescents aged 6-18.