SINGAPORE — Following a trial of the new Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) that showed servicemen were capable of better showings, the bar for clinching gold and silver, which come with financial rewards, has been raised.

The targets for gold and silver are now 85 and 75 points, respectively, four points more than when the new format was unveiled last year. Elite commando and guards personnel will need to score 90 points for gold, up from 85. Their standard for silver awards remains at 75 points.

The new standards mean that a 25-year-old gunning for four additional points at one station will need to do 34 sit-ups in a minute, rather than 29, or finish the 2.4km run in 12 minutes and 20 seconds, instead of 13 minutes, for example.

The difference in the new IPPT format, which will be adopted by the Home Team and which will kick in in April, is that there is no minimum standard for each of the three stations, unlike under the current five-station format. Push-ups was the new addition to sit-ups and the 2.4km run, while standing broad jump, shuttle run and pull-ups were dropped.

This means servicemen can push themselves to the limit for stations they are good at, then meet the minimum for their weaker stations in order to hit their target of passing, or the respective awards. The new format led to perceptions that it will be an easier test, which was borne out, going by the higher passing rates in the pilot involving 5,000 servicemen from September to December last year.

Announcing the new standards yesterday at Maju Camp, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said more than 70 per cent and almost 90 per cent of servicemen in the pilot — including full-time National Servicemen, operationally-ready National Servicemen (NSmen) and regulars — maintained their standards or did better for their run and the sit-ups, respectively, relative to their last result under the old IPPT format.

Asked if the bar for the gold and silver awards were raised because the initial standards were too easy, Assistant Chief of General Staff (Training) Ng Ying Thong said the 2.4km run and sit-up scoring table was referenced from empirical results in the past. For the push-up score table, international norms were taken into account.

Instead, he attributed the better performance in the trial to the new point-based scoring system, which gives servicemen more motivation to try harder.

The pilot, however, showed more than one-quarter (27 per cent) clocking slower timings for their run — the bulk were those who got gold and silver awards eventually.

Commenting on this, Colonel Ng said: “We think it is important to challenge this particular group to make sure they continue to excel, but it is also equally, if not more important, to make sure we don’t demotivate the rest to continue to do well. So, we have been very careful about making the refinement.”

Besides the new gold and silver standards, the scoring table has also been revised, featuring more regular point increments.

Meanwhile, three in four servicemen achieved what the ministry described as “average and above average” performance for the new push-up station, when referenced against international standards.

The National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) test will adopt the new IPPT format from next month, said MINDEF. Pre-enlistees who attain at least a NAPFA silver standard — similar to an IPPT pass with incentive — can be considered for Preparatory Training Phase (PTP) exemption.

All servicemen will be able to choose between the old and new IPPT from April 1, in a one-year transition period between the two formats.

The new IPPT will be reflected in the National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) test next month, said MINDEF. Pre-enlistees who attain at least a NAPFA silver standard — similar to an IPPT pass with incentive — can be considered for Preparatory Training Phase (PTP) exemption.

All servicemen will be able to choose between the old and new IPPT from April 1, in a one-year transition period between the two formats.