The revised Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) format has proven two things.

One: the test is relatively easy. Two: MINDEF is trying to save taxpayers' money.

After a three-month trial of the revised Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), which generally saw 5,000 regulars and NS men perform better, MINDEF has decided to cut their losses and made it tougher for NSmen to earn money off the army.

Previously, an NSman (not from the commandos, divers and guards unit) previously must attain an overall score of 81 points or more to get Gold.

With the new standards released today, the same person must get at least 85 points to get the Gold cash reward of $500. And if you are a commando, diver or guards, you will need to hit at least 90 points.

Likewise, for the silver award, the NSman must score at least 75 points, an increment from the 71 points of old.

But it's okay, the same standards still apply for pass with incentive and pass. The $200 cash reward for pass with incentive is still achievable. The new standards will be implemented on April 1, 2015.

Why make it tougher?

According to Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen, who wrote on Facebook:

Interesting details from the trial results of 5,000 servicemen and women who took the new IPPT test. For sit-ups, 88% did the same number or more sit-ups than before. 73% ran the same timing or faster for 2.4km.

Looks like the Mindef has made the test much easier to score. Although Minister Ng said that the increase in Gold awards was only in the single digit, it probably made monetary sense to make it tougher to score Gold and Silver since both award the biggest payout of $500 and $300 respectively.

Otherwise, the fitness conditioning centres at Khatib, Maju, Kranji and Bedok Camp will look like this:

Last year's announcement of the new IPPT format (three stations instead of the older five) has already made it easier for NSmen to pass. And now, with this new set of standards, MINDEF has achieved the best of both worlds: made NSmen happier and save some money.

Well played, Mindef. Well played.

 

Find Mothership.SG on Facebook and Twitter.