The Aero test is variation of the popular bleep/beep/multistage fitness test for measuring aerobic fitness.

Equipment Required: Flat, non-slip surface, marking cones, 20m measuring tape, pre-recorded audio cd, cd player, recording sheets.

Procedure: Use cones to mark out two lines 20 meters apart. The subject starts on or behind one of the lines, and begins running when instructed by the cd. This subject continues running between the two lines, turning when signaled by the recorded beeps. Each bleep is 0.05 km/hr quicker than the last one, and each 20 meters that is run counts as a score of one. If the line is not reached in time the subject must run to the line turn and try to catch up with the pace within 2 more ‘beeps’. The test is stopped if the subject fails to catch up with the pace within the two ends.

Scoring: The athletes score is the total number of shuttles reached before they were unable to keep up with the recording.This score can be converted to a VO2max equivalent score using the following formula.

VO2max (ml/kg/min) = 5.73 x peak speed (km/hr) - 28.15

Target Population: Suitable for sports teams and school groups, but not for populations in which a maximal exercise test would be contraindicated.

Reliability: Reliability would depend on how strictly the test is run, and the practice allowed for the subjects.

Advantage: Large groups can perform this test all at once for minimal costs. Also, the test continues to maximum effort unlike many other tests of endurance capacity.

Disadvantage: Practice and motivation levels can influence the score attained, and the scoring can be subjective. As the test is usually conducted outside, the environmental conditions can be often affect the results. Norm values may be difficult to find, as it is more common to conduct the similar beep test.

Other Considerations: This test is a maximal test, which requires a reasonable level of fitness. It is not recommended for recreational athletes or people with health problems, injuries or low fitness levels.

Reference: Physiology Matters, David M Wilkinson (1999).