Many adults in the United States remember a famous day in gym class: the school fitness test. Now it is coming back. On July 31, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an order to restore the Presidential Fitness Test. Then, on May 5, 2026, he also brought back the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. The test was part of American school life for many years, so this news quickly got attention. (apnews.com)
This return is also part of a bigger story. In 2012, the old test was replaced by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program. That program tried to focus less on competition and more on health, daily activity, and personal goals. Government health pages said the newer program wanted to support students as they worked toward lifelong fitness, instead of comparing children too much with each other. (odphp.health.gov)
The new test is now more clearly explained on the White House fitness page. Students choose one activity from each of three groups. For core strength, they can do curl-ups or a plank. For cardio, they can do a one-mile run or a 20-meter beep test. For upper-body strength, they can do right-angle push-ups or pull-ups. To earn the top Presidential Physical Fitness Award, a student must reach a target in all three groups. The targets are different by age and sex. (whitehouse.gov)
Still, one test day is not the whole answer. Experts told AP and Scientific American that a test by itself will not make children healthier. The CDC says children ages 6 to 17 should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. So the most important question may be this: can schools help children enjoy moving, playing, and getting stronger all year long, not only on test day? (scientificamerican.com)










