Variations of the 20m Shuttle Run Test

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Written by dr. Pieter Vansteenkiste, postdoctoral researcher in sports science (Ghent University), expert in motor control and talent development, and Jonas Desloovere, Honours student Physical Education (Ghent University)

The 20m shuttle run test and its variations

The 20m Shuttle Run test, also known as the beep test, the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT), the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER), or the Léger test, is one of the most widely used assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness in the world. Shuttle run tests are relatively easy to administer and require little space (1). Unfortunately, over time, multiple versions of this test have emerged, differing only slightly in protocol. These variations are all referred to as ‘beep test’ or ‘shuttle run test’, which can make it unclear what exact protocol was followed. In this article, we compare the most commonly used versions of what is essentially the same type of test.

The most common variations of the 20m shuttle run test all require the participants to run a 20m (65.6 feet) distance between two lines in a certain pace defined by auditory signals (the ‘beeps’ of the beep test). In the first minute, the pace required to run each 20m shuttle is rather low, but each minute (often called stages or levels), the pace increases by 0.5 km/h (0.31 mph). The variations in the different shuttle run tests are in the initial pace and how fast the pace increases (2).

Broadly speaking, there are three protocols:

  • Starting at 8.5 km/h (5.28 mph) and with the pace increasing by 0.5 km/h every minute. This version is referred to as the Léger test (3), and is the one used in the Youth Fitness International Test battery (YFIT (4)).
  • Starting at 8.0 km/h (4.97 mph) and increasing to 9.0 km/h in the second minute, followed by a 0.5 km/h increase every minute thereafter. This protocol is used in Eurofit (5) and the PACER (6) version of the shuttle run test, and is the most commonly used version (7).
  • Starting at 8.0 km/h and with the pace increasing by 0.5 km/h every minute. This is also called the Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB (8)) protocol and is used by SportKompas (9) and in the Yo-Yo endurance test (10).

Unfortunately, even within these protocols there might still be some variation in the exact moment the pace increases. For example, in the SportKompas audio file, the pace increases just before each minute, while in the Yoyo endurance, the pace increases just after each minute. To be 100% sure of the exact protocol, you should therefore test your audio file: what is the interval between each beep and/or how many laps are run in each stage? In the table below you can find the number of laps at each stage, and the total distance and time at the end of each stage for 4 of the variations we examined. For a full table with the timestamps of each 'beep' of the 4 protocols, click here.

Finally, next to variations in the shuttle run protocol, the results also have been reported in many different ways (11)(12). Studies have reported the results as: total distance, number of laps/shuttles (most commonly reported), time (exact, in half minutes or in full minutes), speed at the last completed stage, the stage and lap number, or the predicted VO2max. This hinders the comparison between different studies even more.

Overview of the different 20m Shuttle Run Test protocols

Overview of the different 20m Shuttle Run Test protocols

Are they essentially the same test?

At time of writing (2026) there are no studies directly comparing the outcomes of different versions. The Léger and Eurofit protocol are believed to be practically interchangeable, as the difference is only in the pace of the first minute. As this is the lowest pace, it is often seen as a warm-up minute. The difference between these two protocols are therefore mostly just a slightly different warm-up protocol (2). In the QUB protocol, the pace builds up more slowly, resulting in athletes having to run 1 minute longer to reach the same pace as in the Léger or Eurofit protocol. Although it has not been directly tested, this might lead to slightly longer running times. Caution is therefore advised when comparing results from the QUB protocol to those of the Léger or Eurofit protocol.

So which version should you use?

As it is not clear to what extent the different protocols affect the outcome of the 20m shuttle run test, there is currently no reason to assume that one of the protocols is superior to the other. If you are already conducting the 20m shuttle run test in your organisation or region, verify the audio file to be certain what protocol is being used, and then consistently use the same protocol. In case you want to start a new monitoring program and there is no history of conducting the 20m shuttle run test in your organisation or region, the Eurofit protocol is probably the best choice as it is most widely used. However, when your participants are young children (around 6 years old), the QUB protocol might be more appropriate as it starts at a lower speed and is therefore more accessible.

Other modified versions of the shuttle run.

Next to the variations of the 'standard' 20m shuttle run protocol, there are also many versions that are modified for specific cases. For example, the Yo-yo intermittent endurance test has a 5 (or 10) second recovery break after each 40m. This test is common in football (soccer) as it tests an athlete’s ability to repeatedly perform intervals over a prolonged period. The 15m PACER test on the other hand was designed specifically for schools/organisations whose sports hall was too short for the 20m shuttle run test. Other modified versions were made for swimming, wheelchair users, children with cerebral palsy, and many more. An overview of these variations can be found on the website of topendsports.

Where to find the audio files for the different protocols:

Léger 8.5 – 9.0 – 9.5

Eurofit / PACER 8.0 – 9.0 – 9.5

QUB 8.0 – 8.5 – 9.0

References

  1. Mayorga-Vega, D., Aguilar-Soto, P., & Viciana, J. (2015). Criterion-related validity of the 20-m shuttle run test for estimating cardiorespiratory fitness: a meta-analysis. Journal of sports science & medicine, 14(3), 536.
  2. Tomkinson, G. R., Léger, L. A., Olds, T. S., & Cazorla, G. (2003). Secular trends in the performance of children and adolescents (1980–2000) an analysis of 55 studies of the 20m shuttle run test in 11 countries. Sports medicine, 33(4), 285-300.
  3. Leger LA, Lambert J, Goulet A, et al. Capacité aérobie des Québécois de 6 à 17 ans -test navette de 20 mètres avec paliers de 1 minute. Can J Appl Sport Sci 1984; 9 (2): 64-9
  4. Ortega, F. B., Zhang, K., Cadenas-Sanchez, C., Tremblay, M. S., Jurak, G., Tomkinson, G. R., ... & Naidoo, R. (2025). The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. Journal of sport and health science, 14, 101012.
  5. Council of Europe. Eurofit: handbook for the Eurofit tests of physical fitness. Rome: Council of Europe, 1988
  6. Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research. The Prudential FITNESSGRAM test administration manual. Dallas (TX): Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, 1992
  7. Lang, J. J., Dale, M., LeBlanc, A. G., Belanger, K., Ortega, F. B., Léger, L., ... & Tomkinson, G. R. (2016). Systematic Review and Analysis of 20 m Shuttle Run Results in Children and Youthv: 3786 Board# 225 June 4, 930 AM-1100 AM. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(5S), 1059-1060.
  8. Riddoch CJ. The Northern Ireland health and fitness survey -1989: the fitness, physical activity, attitudes and lifestyles of Northern Ireland post-primary schoolchildren. Belfast: The Queen’s University of Belfast, 1990
  9. SportKompas
  10. the yoyo test
  11. Lang, J. J., Tremblay, M. S., Léger, L., Olds, T., & Tomkinson, G. R. (2018). International variability in 20 m shuttle run performance in children and youth: who are the fittest from a 50-country comparison? A systematic literature review with pooling of aggregate results. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(4), 276-276.
  12. Tomkinson, G. R., Lang, J. J., Blanchard, J., Léger, L. A., & Tremblay, M. S. (2019). The 20-m shuttle run: assessment and interpretation of data in relation to youth aerobic fitness and health. Pediatric exercise science, 31(2), 152-163.

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