Sarah Chen, MS, CSCS
Exercise Science Reviewer
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Sarah Chen, MS, CSCS
Exercise Science Reviewer
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Published: January 22, 2026 • 19 min read
When the ACFT replaced the APFT, scoring went from simple to complex overnight. The old test had two events with push-ups and sit-ups and a two-mile run. Three events. One scoring table. Simple. The ACFT has six events, gender-normed scoring tables, age group adjustments, and a tiered category system. I have spent hours studying the scoring tables, and I still reference them regularly.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about ACFT scoring: the numbers you need to hit, what the tiers mean, how age and gender affect your standards, and where the danger zones are. I am going to give you the data straight with no padding. Bookmark this page. You will come back to it.
Each of the six events is scored on a 0-100 point scale. Your total score is the sum of all six, giving you a maximum possible score of 600. The minimum passing score is 60 points per event, with a total minimum of 360.
The critical rule that soldiers miss: you must score 60 on every event. Not 60 on average. Every single one. Score 100 on five events and 55 on one, and you fail. This is not hypothetical. I have personally seen this happen to strong soldiers who neglected one event.
Below are the scoring breakpoints for each event. The ACFT uses gender-specific scoring for five of six events (the Plank is scored the same for everyone). Scores between breakpoints are interpolated, meaning if your performance falls between two listed values, your score will fall proportionally between the corresponding point values.
| Points | Male (lbs) | Female (lbs) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 340 | 210 | Gold |
| 90 | 300 | 190 | Gold |
| 80 | 260 | 170 | Silver |
| 70 | 230 | 150 | Bronze |
| 60 | 200 | 130 | Pass |
| 50 | 180 | 120 | Fail |
| 40 | 160 | 110 | Fail |
| 30 | 140 | 100 | Fail |
| 20 | 120 | 80 | Fail |
| 0 | <80 | <60 | Fail |
| Points | Male (meters) | Female (meters) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 12.5 | 8.5 | Gold |
| 90 | 11.0 | 7.5 | Gold |
| 80 | 10.0 | 6.5 | Silver |
| 70 | 9.0 | 5.8 | Bronze |
| 60 | 8.0 | 5.0 | Pass |
| 50 | 7.0 | 4.5 | Fail |
| 40 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Fail |
| 30 | 5.0 | 3.5 | Fail |
| Points | Male (reps) | Female (reps) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 60 | 60 | Gold |
| 90 | 50 | 45 | Gold |
| 80 | 40 | 35 | Silver |
| 70 | 35 | 28 | Bronze |
| 60 | 30 | 20 | Pass |
| 50 | 25 | 15 | Fail |
| 40 | 20 | 12 | Fail |
| 30 | 15 | 10 | Fail |
| Points | Male (min:sec) | Female (min:sec) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1:33 | 1:58 | Gold |
| 90 | 1:40 | 2:10 | Gold |
| 80 | 1:50 | 2:20 | Silver |
| 70 | 2:00 | 2:30 | Bronze |
| 60 | 2:10 | 2:40 | Pass |
| 50 | 2:20 | 2:55 | Fail |
| 40 | 2:35 | 3:10 | Fail |
| 30 | 2:50 | 3:30 | Fail |
| Points | Time (min:sec) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 3:40 | Gold |
| 90 | 3:20 | Gold |
| 80 | 3:00 | Silver |
| 70 | 2:40 | Bronze |
| 60 | 2:20 | Pass |
| 50 | 2:00 | Fail |
| 40 | 1:40 | Fail |
| 30 | 1:20 | Fail |
| 20 | 1:00 | Fail |
| Points | Male (min:sec) | Female (min:sec) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 13:00 | 15:00 | Gold |
| 90 | 14:00 | 16:00 | Gold |
| 80 | 15:00 | 17:30 | Silver |
| 70 | 16:00 | 18:30 | Bronze |
| 60 | 17:00 | 20:00 | Pass |
| 50 | 18:30 | 21:30 | Fail |
| 40 | 20:00 | 23:00 | Fail |
| 30 | 21:30 | 24:00 | Fail |
The ACFT scoring tables account for age-related changes in physical performance. The Army recognizes ten age brackets: 17-21, 22-26, 27-31, 32-36, 37-41, 42-46, 47-51, 52-56, 57-61, and 62+.
In practice, the scoring differences between adjacent age groups are small. A 26-year-old and a 27-year-old face nearly identical standards. The meaningful differences show up when you compare widely separated groups. A 22-year-old male needs to run two miles in about 17:00 for 60 points. A 47-year-old male has a more generous standard.
Important caveat: the scoring tables I have listed above use the baseline breakpoints from the standard ACFT scoring tables. The exact point thresholds shift slightly by age group. For precise scoring based on your specific age bracket, use our ACFT calculator, which accounts for these variations.
The ACFT uses a color-coded category system to classify overall performance beyond just pass/fail. These categories matter for how you are perceived by your chain of command and can influence evaluations.
| Category | Total Score | Per Event Average | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 540-600 | 90-100 | Elite. Top physical fitness tier. Stands out on NCOERs and OERs. |
| Silver | 480-539 | 80-89 | Strong. Above-average fitness. Good evaluation bullet. |
| Bronze | 420-479 | 70-79 | Competent. Meets expectations without standing out. |
| Pass (Black) | 360-419 | 60-69 | Minimum standard. Technically passing but signals room for improvement. |
The "Black" designation for the minimum passing tier is worth understanding. It is not explicitly a negative mark, but in a competitive promotion environment, scoring in the Black tier while your peers are Silver and Gold puts you at a disadvantage. Senior leaders notice. If you are sitting at 380, your goal should be to get above 420 as quickly as possible.
Not all MOSs have the same relationship with the ACFT. Combat arms soldiers (Infantry, Armor, Engineers, Field Artillery, and related specialties) face additional scrutiny on their fitness scores. An Infantry NCO scoring in the Black tier is going to have a harder time than a Finance NCO with the same score, in terms of career perception.
Regardless of your MOS, one thing is true across the board: a failing ACFT score triggers mandatory retraining, flags, and potential administrative action. Two consecutive failures can lead to separation processing. The Army is serious about this test.
If you served under the APFT, the transition to the ACFT was jarring. Here is how the two tests compare.
| Feature | APFT | ACFT |
|---|---|---|
| Events | 3 (push-ups, sit-ups, 2-mile run) | 6 (MDL, SPT, HRP, SDC, PLK, 2MR) |
| Max score | 300 | 600 |
| Min passing per event | 60 | 60 |
| Min total passing | 180 | 360 |
| Strength tested | Minimal | Significant (MDL, SPT, SDC carries) |
| Power tested | None | Standing Power Throw |
| Anaerobic capacity | Not directly | Sprint-Drag-Carry |
| Equipment needed | None | Hex bar, weights, sled, kettlebells, med ball |
| Time to administer | ~45 min per group | ~90-120 min per group |
| Gender-normed | Yes | Yes (5 of 6 events) |
The biggest shift is that the ACFT tests physical domains the APFT completely ignored. Under the APFT, you could be a fantastic runner and push-up machine while having zero lower body strength and still max the test. The ACFT does not allow that. You have to be strong (deadlift), powerful (power throw), endurant in both muscular and aerobic senses (push-ups, plank, two-mile run), and functionally fast under load (SDC).
Based on Army-wide data collected since the ACFT became the test of record, the failure patterns are clear.
Two-Mile Run: Highest failure rate
About 5% of male soldiers and 22% of female soldiers fail the two-mile run. This is the single biggest ACFT killer. The run comes last, after five physically draining events. Soldiers who would pass the run fresh cannot pass it with fatigued legs. If you are borderline on the run, you are in danger.
Plank (formerly Leg Tuck): Second highest failure rate
When the test used the Leg Tuck, the failure rate for women was over 70%. After switching to the Plank as the primary option, that dropped to about 22%. For men, the plank failure rate is relatively low (under 5%). But soldiers who neglect core training still fail this event regularly. A 2:20 plank is not automatic if you have not trained for it.
Hand-Release Push-Ups: Moderate failure rate
The hand-release version is harder than standard push-ups because you cannot rest in the up position without being in a full plank. The release-and-press motion takes longer per rep, which reduces the total number most soldiers can complete in two minutes.
Deadlift, Power Throw, SDC: Lower failure rates
These events have relatively low failure rates. The deadlift minimum (200 lbs for men, 130 lbs for women) is achievable for most soldiers who have spent any time in a gym. The power throw and SDC favor raw athleticism, which most young soldiers possess.
Print these out or screenshot them for quick reference before your test.
| Event | 60 pts (Pass) | 70 pts | 80 pts | 90 pts | 100 pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDL | 200 lbs | 230 lbs | 260 lbs | 300 lbs | 340 lbs |
| SPT | 8.0 m | 9.0 m | 10.0 m | 11.0 m | 12.5 m |
| HRP | 30 reps | 35 reps | 40 reps | 50 reps | 60 reps |
| SDC | 2:10 | 2:00 | 1:50 | 1:40 | 1:33 |
| PLK | 2:20 | 2:40 | 3:00 | 3:20 | 3:40 |
| 2MR | 17:00 | 16:00 | 15:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 |
| Event | 60 pts (Pass) | 70 pts | 80 pts | 90 pts | 100 pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDL | 130 lbs | 150 lbs | 170 lbs | 190 lbs | 210 lbs |
| SPT | 5.0 m | 5.8 m | 6.5 m | 7.5 m | 8.5 m |
| HRP | 20 reps | 28 reps | 35 reps | 45 reps | 60 reps |
| SDC | 2:40 | 2:30 | 2:20 | 2:10 | 1:58 |
| PLK | 2:20 | 2:40 | 3:00 | 3:20 | 3:40 |
| 2MR | 20:00 | 18:30 | 17:30 | 16:00 | 15:00 |
ACFT scores feed directly into the promotion point system for enlisted soldiers. The specifics of how ACFT points convert to promotion points have evolved as the Army integrates the test into the broader evaluation framework, but the principle is straightforward: higher ACFT scores earn more promotion points.
Let me put it plainly: two soldiers with identical education, experience, and job performance can have different promotion outcomes based on their ACFT scores. It is not the deciding factor, but it is a tiebreaker. And in the Army promotion system, tiebreakers matter.
Stop guessing where you stand. Plug your current performance numbers into our ACFT calculator and get an instant breakdown of your score by event, your overall category, and specific recommendations for which events to focus on. Whether you are trying to get from Fail to Pass or from Silver to Gold, the calculator shows you exactly what you need to hit.
Enter your deadlift weight, power throw distance, push-up count, SDC time, plank time, and run time. The calculator does the rest, including gender-specific scoring and category assignment.
The ACFT scoring system is more complex than the APFT, but that complexity exists for a reason. The test demands well-rounded fitness. You cannot hide behind one strong event and ignore the rest. The 60-point minimum per event is absolute, the category tiers carry real career weight, and the scoring tables are specific enough that knowing your numbers matters.
Study the tables. Know what you need to hit for your target category. Identify which events give you the most room for improvement. Then train accordingly. The soldiers who treat the ACFT as a known problem with a clear solution perform far better than the ones who show up hoping for the best.
And one more thing: test yourself regularly using the same standards you will be graded on. Practice the exact events with the exact equipment. Know your numbers cold before you step onto that test field. No surprises.