Want to get into the American army at a good rank? ACFT (Army Combat Fitness Test) is a challenge you must overcome. It’s the latest fitness test the US Army uses to check your overall fitness by making you do six exercises: Deadlift, Standing Power Throw, Hand-Release Push-Ups, Sprint-Drag-Carry, Plank, and Two-Mile Run. Each exercise has 0 to 100 points and a total of 600. But what is a good ACFT score you should aim for?
Many factors determine your good ACFT score, but in short, 450+ out of 600, a 70+ score in each exercise, is good to get a decent rank. To understand the good ACFT score, you’ll need to know about its scoring system and how the scoring is done.
How Does The ACFT Score System Work?
ACFT, which you may also know as the Army Combat Fitness Test, is a challenge that you go through to qualify as a soldier for the US Army. The test has 6 challenges, each of which is an exercise that tests your endurance and readiness to ensure you’re ready for the job.
You get 0 to 100 points for each exercise, depending on how you perform. The higher your ACFT score, the better rank you can get assigned to.
While meeting the minimum keeps you in the game, excelling in every event matters. Focus on maximizing your scores across all six exercises to stand out and advance.
What Is A Good ACFT Score?
Your age, gender, and the category you’re applying for determine the good ACFT score that you need to get. But, the sound score that works in almost all the categories is the 70+ in each exercise that makes your total 450+.
That’s a pretty good score that can help you get a decent rank in the Army. However, the score can vary depending on the exercise and its timing.
Three Repetition Maximum Deadlift
- 80+ points: A strong score
- 2.5x bodyweight: Scores around 85+
- Focuses on leg and grip strength
Standing Power Throw
- 9-10 meters: A solid target
- 10+ meters: Near 90+ points
- Tests explosive throwing power
Hand-Release Push-Up
- 70-80 reps: Good performance
- 80+ reps: Scores 90+
- Measures upper body endurance
Sprint-Drag-Carry
- Under 3:00: A competitive time
- Below 2:30: Reaches 90+ points
- Evaluates speed and total body power
Leg Plank
- 3:00-3:30 minutes: A strong result
- 3:30+ minutes: Earns 80+ points
- Tests core and grip strength
Two-Mile Run
- 13:30–15:30: A good benchmark
- Under 13:00: Hits 90+ points
- Focuses on stamina and endurance
Try to secure these scores depending on your goals. Train harder and keep tracking your progress using our free ACFT score checker.
What’s The Minimum Passing ACFT Test Score?
The ACFT passing score varies depending on the category you’re in.
| Category | Score |
| Heavy MOS (Combat Arms) | 360 |
| Significant MOS (Combat Support) | 324 |
| Moderate MOS (Combat Service Support) | 292 |
What’s The Failing ACFT Score?
The ACFT failing score is less than 60 in the six exercises. Let’s say you get 60 points in five exercises but 55 in one. You’ll still fail the entire test and will have to retake it either next year or after six months.
How To Get A Higher Score In ACFT?
Follow these tips to achieve a higher score in ACFT.
Build Strength and Power
Strength matters in all six ACFT events, so prioritize building it. Train with exercises like deadlifts, squats, and push-ups to develop both upper and lower body power. For deadlifts, practice Hex-bar deadlifts to match the test’s requirements.
To improve your grip, you can try out the farmer’s walks. Furthermore, doing Olympic lifts will also help you get more powerful and prepare for the ACFT test.
Improve Speed and Agility
Agility and speed are critical in the ACFT. Train with sprints, lateral drills, and short-distance runs to sharpen quickness. For the strength-based events, prep by pushing weighted sleds or practicing heavy carries.
They build the power and endurance needed to handle test-day loads. Stay disciplined. Push hard. Every drill should mirror the test’s demands. Train for each part of the exercise individually and as much as possible.
Build Endurance for the Two-Mile Run
The other exercise that can give you a hard time is running. So, train for it by improving your endurance for the two-mile run exercises of the ACFT test. If you’re new, start with a long, steady run, building your stamina. Then, make it a little more complicated by mixing in the sprint intervals (Short, fast runs) to improve the speed.
When you run at different speeds, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, you help maintain a strong pace. It also helps you control your breathing, which is the most important part of ACFT running exercise.
Strengthen Core and Upper Body
Training your core and the upper body to do well in the Leg and tuck and Hand-release pushups. You can train your core with hanging knee tucks, sit-ups, and ab rollouts.
You should also do pull-ups and rows so that it’s easier for you to plank. Furthermore, do the high-rep sets of regular and decline pushups to improve your pushing capabilities.
You can use the pushup bars to ensure good hand placement and prevent wrist pain during training.
Train for Carrying and Dragging Weight
The other thing you need to focus on while training for the ACFT test is improving your weight-carrying and dragging ability. To do that, you should do the exercises that help you build these two abilities.
Train with sled drags, heavy carries, and loaded walks. Get any heavy objects and lift them, and also try to move them from one place to another. Keep going upward in weight depending on how much you can handle, but also be on the safer side.
Train Smart and Recover Properly
Training for ACFT is essential, but you need to maintain its frequency. If you do too much training, your body won’t have enough time to recover. That may cause injuries and prevent you from performing at your best level on the day of the ACFT test.
For that reason, train smartly for ACFT while giving your body enough time to recover and heal. Balance your workouts with strength and endurance, and have recovery days.
Other than training, your diet will also improve your strength. So, eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep so your energy levels are high and you perform well on the test.
Mental Strength and Test-Day Focus
As stated earlier, passing the ACFT test isn’t just about being physically strong but also mentally strong, as it tests two of the soldiers’ capabilities. So, believe in yourself, be positive, and stay strong. Before the test day, visualize yourself nailing down every exercise with the highest scores.
When the test comes, and you’re on the ground, make sure that you’re focused only on one exercise at a time.
These are the best tips to get a higher score in ACFT.
Final Words
What is a Good ACFT score that you should aim for? The good ACFT score depends on your age, gender, and also the rank you want to get. If you get 70+ points in every six exercises of the ACFT test with a total of 450+, that’s a great score. It’s way better and higher than the 360 total score, which is a passing score, and if you get less than that, you fail the entire test. We recommend you strive for as high a score as possible because the rank you get depends on how high your score is.
FAQS
How often do I need to take the ACFT?
The ACFT is taken twice a year, with at least six months between tests. All soldiers follow the same scoring standards.
How is the ACFT scored?
Each of the six exercises has 0 to 100 points, and the minimum ACFT passing score is 60. The higher your score, the higher the rank you are assigned to.
How can I improve my ACFT performance?
Train hard for every exercise of the test, building overall fitness, strength, and running endurance. Use the ACFT test score checker tools to keep checking your ACFT test score. Also, join a training partner or a coaching group to get professionally trained for the test.