The 'Beep test' is also known by what other name?

The ‘Beep test’ is also known as the multi-stage fitness test. It is a progressive running assessment in which participants travel repeatedly between two lines while matching recorded beeps.

The standard course is 20 metres long. The opening pace is manageable, but each level increases the required speed, usually by 0.5 km/h. The runner’s score is recorded as the last level and shuttle completed, such as 9.5.

The test was developed by Canadian exercise scientist Luc Léger and colleagues as a practical way to estimate aerobic capacity, commonly expressed as VO₂ max. It became popular because large groups can perform it simultaneously with minimal equipment.

A common mix-up is treating every shuttle run as the Beep test. Generic shuttle runs may use fixed distances, timed sprints, or agility changes, whereas this test is specifically paced by audio signals. It is also called the bleep test, PACER test, or 20-metre shuttle run, depending on the country and organization.