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New IPPT format now has only three stations instead of five: Ng

MP Lim Wee Kiak, Minister of State for Defence Maliki Osman, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Second Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing at the press conference unveiling the recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service on 22 May 2014. (Yahoo photo)

Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced a new format for the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) on Wednesday — it now constitutes only three stations instead of the previous five.
 
The three stations are: 2.4 km run, push-ups and sit-ups.
 
Previously, the IPPT comprised of standing broad jumps, chin ups, shuttle run as well as the 2.4 km run and sit-ups — the latter two remain in the new test format.

Changes made to the newly improved physical test, which applies to National Servicemen in Singapore, “will make it simpler for NSmen to train for IPPT, and for more to pass”, Ng said in a Facebook post on the same day.
 
The new format also comes with more age bands and a new scoring system that allows participants to combine points from all stations instead of obtaining a pass mark for each of them.
 
“This way, soldiers can make up through more sit-ups, if they are weak in push-ups and running, or vice versa,” Ng said, adding that there is a “limit” to how much you can make up.
 
Adjustments have also been made to the pass mark for NSmen. For NSFs, regulars and awards, they remain about the same.
 
At the end of his post Ng reminded those taking IPPT to continue taking effort and having regular exercise to pass, which he said is the idea of the test – “keeping healthy and fit”.
 
The announcement came after the Committee to Strengthen National Service completed their review of the test.
 
The 20-member CSNS was set up in March 2013 to examine how the NS system can be strengthened.