The purpose of fitness testing has been unclear to Physical Education (PE) teachers and learners. This blurred understanding on the purpose of fitness testing may ripple the effect to problems like wasting allocated time for PE subject, misdirection of learning process, or worst physical injuries. The purpose of this study was to explore the purpose of fitness testing as evolved throughout time. The findings of this study revealed that fitness testing (purpose) served as (1) a component of natural selection – it was used for survival and mating processes, (2) an assessment of ones positionality – to understand strengths and weaknesses, and (3) a progressive assessment in physical education – an inclusive practice to assess health. Therefore, fitness testing is an inevitable component of human development, as human progress holistically, so as the fitness testing. If the demand and the usage change, so is the purpose of fitness testing. Educational agencies should prioritize training, guidelines, and all the support to the PE teachers in understanding the current purpose of fitness testing that is a progressive assessment in physical education and should ensure that teachers promote and promulgate this understanding to the learners to implement fitness testing efficiently.

Evolution

Fitness Testing

natural selection

physical education

positionality

progressive assessment