National Physical Fitness Award
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The National Physical Fitness Award Scheme (NAPFA) is a test of physical fitness for Singaporeans as part of Singapore's Sports For Life programme. It was launched in 1982.
Schools within Singapore's primary and secondary education system are required to participate in NAPFA award tests each year, in April for secondary schools and in August for primary schools respectively. It is one of the three criteria for banding for the Trim and Fit (TAF) Awards, other than the fitness index and the percentage of overweight students. Singaporeans studying within Singapore's tertiary education system, or those who have graduated from the education system are not required to participate, but are strongly encouraged to do so.
Despite the requirement for mandatory participation, failing to achieve at least a passing grade (E) usually does not have any academic consequences for primary and secondary students, although it is very strongly discouraged. Exceptions include sports-based schools such as the Singapore Sports School, and might yield non-academic consequences, such as the requirement to further retake the tests or the required participation in the Trim and Fit programme. Social consequences are usually minimal.
A minimum of a silver grade allows Singaporean males who have reached the age of 18 to perform just two months of Basic Military Training(BMT) in their National Service period, instead of the usual three if the silver grade is not attained.
[edit] Testing
NAPFA involves a series of five stations and a 2.4-km Walk-Run (1.5-mile Walk-Run) for secondary school students or a 1.6-km Walk-Run for primary school students. All of the station tests are attempted on the same day, with a 2–5 minute rest period permitted between stations. The Walk-Run item may be attempted on a different day, although sometimes a 2-week window limit is set.
The test items are:
- Sit-ups: Maximum in one minute
- Standing Broad Jump: Better of two distances
- Sit and Reach: Better of two attempts with floating zero point
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- Pull-ups (for males 15 years and above only): Maximum in half-a-minute (>15)
- Inclined Pull-ups (for all females, and males up to the age of 14): Maximum in half-a-minute (15 or lower)
- Shuttle Run: Faster of two 4×10 metre attempts
- 2.4-km/1.6-km Walk-Run: Minimum time on firm and level surface
Performances are then compared to a chart and the grades from A to F for each test item. A constitutes excellent performance and E constitutes barely passing. An F grade is an alternate term that the participant has failed that section.
The awards are:
Bronze Award Requirements
- At least an E grade performance in all 6 test items AND
- A total of 6 or more points
Silver Award Requirements
- At least a D grade performance in all 6 test items AND
- A total of 15 or more points
Gold Award Requirements
- At least a C grade performance in all 6 test items AND
- A total of 21 or more points
The 'and' cannot be misinterpreted as an 'or'; no matter how high the candidate's other grades are, his/her award will be determined by his/her lowest grade. For example, if someone scores five As and one F, that person will still fail his/her NAPFA test despite the fact that he/she performed excellently in all the other stations, leading to a retest of that particular station which is usually effected three to four months after the test.
