PET — events, qualifying standards and who is scored

Why it matters

You can top the written test and still lose the job in eight minutes on the track. Every candidate who passes the Physical Measurements Test (PMT) must then pass the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). For most posts it is pass-or-fail; for one post it carries 100 marks in the final merit list.

Plain definition: the PET is a ground test of running speed, stamina and jumping power. It has three events: a 1600 m run, a 100 m run and a long jump. Your time or distance is checked against an official standard.

Where it sits in the selection: Preliminary Written Test → PMT → PET → Final Written Examination → final selection. Only PET-qualified candidates may write the Final Written Examination. Know the rules exactly so you train for the right targets.

All numbers below are from the official notification (Rc.No.91/2026, as of 2026).

Core concept

Level 1: the three events and the qualifying standards

Event	General (men)	Ex-servicemen	Women
1600 m run	8 min	9 min 30 s	10 min 30 s
100 m run	15 s	16.5 s	18 s
Long jump	3.80 m	3.65 m	2.75 m

For the runs the time is the maximum allowed; for the long jump the distance is the minimum. The notification also calls the 1600 m run the "1 Mile Run".

Why both runs? The 1600 m (four laps of a 400 m track) tests stamina; the 100 m and long jump test explosive power. Police work needs both.

Level 2: who must pass what (post codes)

Post code	Post	Rule	PET marks in merit?
21	SCT Police Constable (Civil), men and women	1600 m and any one of 100 m or long jump	No (qualifying only)
42	Firemen	1600 m and any one of 100 m or long jump	No (qualifying only)
53 / 54	Warders (Men) / Warders (Women)	1600 m and any one of 100 m or long jump	No (qualifying only)
22	SCT Police Constable (AR), men and women	all three events	Yes, out of 100

The 1600 m run is compulsory for everyone. Merit for the qualifying-only posts is the Final Written Examination score out of 200.

Level 3: the scored PET for PC (AR), post code 22

PC (AR) candidates must qualify in all three events, and then each performance earns marks from the official gradation tables (Annexure I(A) for men, I(B) for women).

Event	Maximum marks
1600 m run	40
100 m run	30
Long jump	30
Total	100

Men (Annexure I(A))

100 m (s)	Marks	Long jump (m)	Marks	1600 m	Marks
10.50 and less	30	5.61 and above	30	4:00 and less	40
10.51–11.00	27	5.41–5.60	27	4:01–4:30	36
11.01–11.50	24	5.21–5.40	24	4:31–5:00	32
11.51–12.00	21	5.01–5.20	21	5:01–5:30	28
12.01–12.50	19	4.81–5.00	19	5:31–6:00	25
12.51–13.00	17	4.61–4.80	17	6:01–6:30	22
13.01–13.50	15	4.41–4.60	15	6:31–7:00	19
13.51–14.00	13	4.21–4.40	13	7:01–7:30	17
14.01–14.50	11	4.01–4.20	11	7:31–8:00	15
14.51–15.00	10	3.80–4.00	10	8:01–8:30*	13
15.01–15.50*	9	3.65–3.79*	9	8:31–9:00*	11
15.51–16.00*	8			9:01–9:30*	10
16.01–16.50*	7

* Ex-servicemen only. A general male candidate in a starred row has failed that event.

Women (Annexure I(B))

100 m (s)	Marks	Long jump (m)	Marks	1600 m	Marks
13.00 and less	30	4.31 and above	30	6:30 and less	40
13.01–13.50	27	4.11–4.30	27	6:31–7:00	36
13.51–14.00	24	3.91–4.10	24	7:01–7:30	32
14.01–14.50	21	3.71–3.90	21	7:31–8:00	28
14.51–15.00	19	3.51–3.70	19	8:01–8:30	25
15.01–15.50	17	3.31–3.50	17	8:31–9:00	22
15.51–16.00	15	3.11–3.30	15	9:01–9:30	19
16.01–16.50	13	2.91–3.10	13	9:31–10:00	17
16.51–17.00	11	2.75–2.90	11	10:01–10:30	15
17.01–17.50	10
17.51–18.00	9

Final merit for PC (AR): Final Written Examination (200 questions graded for a maximum of 100) + PET (100) = 200. Each correct answer is worth half a mark, so 1 PET mark = 2 correct written answers.

Minimum scores (worked out from the tables): a general man who only just qualifies scores 15 + 10 + 10 = 35/100. A woman who only just qualifies also scores 15 + 9 + 11 = 35/100. An ex-serviceman at his limits scores 10 + 7 + 9 = 26/100.

Conduct rules (all posts)

• Events use electronic devices; fractions beyond the prescribed measurement are not counted.
• Spike shoes are not permitted.
• The result of each event is final. There is no second chance, re-test or re-conduct under any circumstances.
• Every candidate must take part in all prescribed events, including special-category candidates.

Worked examples

Example 1: PC (Civil) candidate, qualify or not?

Ravi (post 21, general man) runs 1600 m in 7:48, 100 m in 15.40 s and jumps 3.95 m.

• 1600 m: 7:48 is within 8:00. Pass.
• 100 m: 15.40 s is slower than 15 s. Fail.
• Long jump: 3.95 m is at least 3.80 m. Pass.

1600 m plus one other event = qualified. No PET marks; merit is his written score out of 200.

Example 2: PC (AR) woman, computing the score

Lakshmi (post 22) runs 1600 m in 8:12, 100 m in 16.20 s and jumps 3.40 m.

1. Check qualifying first: 8:12 ≤ 10:30, 16.20 ≤ 18, 3.40 ≥ 2.75. All three pass.
2. 1600 m: 8:12 is in 8:01–8:30, so 25.
3. 100 m: 16.20 is in 16.01–16.50, so 13.
4. Long jump: 3.40 is in 3.31–3.50, so 17.

PET score = 25 + 13 + 17 = 55/100.

Example 3: strong runner, one weak event (PC AR man)

Kiran (post 22, general man) runs 1600 m in 5:40 and 100 m in 12.30 s, but jumps only 3.70 m.

His runs would earn 25 + 19 = 44 marks, but 3.70 m is below 3.80 m. AR needs all three, so Kiran is out. In post 21 the same results would qualify.

Example 4: ex-serviceman vs general man

An ex-serviceman in post 22 runs 1600 m in 8:45, 100 m in 15.80 s and jumps 3.70 m, all within his limits. Marks: 11 + 8 + 9 = 28/100. A general man with the same results fails every event (all starred rows).

Example 5: what is a faster mile worth?

An AR man improves his 1600 m from 7:40 (15 marks) to 6:25 (22 marks): +7 PET marks = 14 extra correct written answers.

Real-world connection

Armed Reserve work such as guard duty, escort and bandobast keeps constables on their feet for long hours, which is one reason AR merit rewards fitness directly.

Pacing (PrepAtlas recommendation). A 1600 m run is four 400 m laps. An 8:00 finish needs 2:00 per lap. A 10:30 finish needs about 2:37 per lap. Train with lap splits so you never sprint the first lap.

Safety (general fitness guidance, not medical advice). Get a medical check before training if you have any heart, lung, joint or blood-pressure condition, or have been inactive. In hot weather train early morning or evening, drink water, and stop at once if you feel dizzy or have chest pain. Increase running gradually, keep one full rest day a week, and train in the flat shoes you will wear on test day (spikes are banned).

How it is asked in the exam

The PET is a ground test, not part of the written syllabus, so no written-paper questions come from it. Events are timed and measured electronically, and each result is final. PrepAtlas practice questions still use the written-test style (about 54 seconds each) so the rules become automatic before PET day.

Level	What it looks like	Target time
Easy	Recall a standard: "Qualifying time for women in the 100 m?" (18 s)	10–20 s
Medium	Qualify or not: given a post code and three results, decide pass/fail	25–40 s
Hard	Compute a PC (AR) PET score from the tables, or convert PET marks into written answers	40–60 s

తెలుగు సారాంశం (Telugu summary)

PMT లో అర్హత పొందిన అభ్యర్థులకే PET (శారీరక సామర్థ్య పరీక్ష) ఉంటుంది. ఇందులో మూడు ఈవెంట్లు ఉన్నాయి: 1600 మీటర్ల పరుగు, 100 మీటర్ల పరుగు, లాంగ్ జంప్.
అర్హత ప్రమాణాలు: జనరల్ పురుషులు 8 నిమిషాలు, 15 సెకన్లు, 3.80 మీటర్లు; మాజీ సైనికులు 9 నిమిషాల 30 సెకన్లు, 16.5 సెకన్లు, 3.65 మీటర్లు; మహిళలు 10 నిమిషాల 30 సెకన్లు, 18 సెకన్లు, 2.75 మీటర్లు.
పరుగులో సమయం తక్కువ అయితే మంచిది; లాంగ్ జంప్‌లో దూరం ఎక్కువ అయితే మంచిది.
PC (సివిల్), ఫైర్‌మెన్, వార్డర్లు (పోస్ట్ కోడ్ 21, 42, 53, 54): 1600 మీటర్ల పరుగుతో పాటు 100 మీటర్లు లేదా లాంగ్ జంప్‌లో ఏదో ఒకటి పాస్ అయితే చాలు. ఇక్కడ PET కేవలం అర్హత కోసమే; మెరిట్ రాత పరీక్ష 200 మార్కులపైనే.
PC (AR) (పోస్ట్ కోడ్ 22): మూడు ఈవెంట్లలోనూ అర్హత తప్పనిసరి. PET కి 100 మార్కులు: 1600 మీటర్లకు 40, 100 మీటర్లకు 30, లాంగ్ జంప్‌కు 30.
AR తుది మెరిట్ = రాత పరీక్ష 100 + PET 100 = 200. ఒక PET మార్కు రెండు సరైన రాత ప్రశ్నలతో సమానం.
కేవలం అర్హత స్థాయిలో చేస్తే జనరల్ పురుషులకు, మహిళలకు 35/100 మాత్రమే వస్తాయి; వేగం పెరిగితే మార్కులు పెరుగుతాయి.
సమయం, దూరం ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ పరికరాలతో నమోదు చేస్తారు. స్పైక్ బూట్లకు అనుమతి లేదు. రెండో అవకాశం లేదా రీ-టెస్ట్ ఉండదు.
ఆరోగ్య సమస్యలు ఉంటే శిక్షణకు ముందు డాక్టర్‌ను సంప్రదించండి; ఎండలో కాకుండా ఉదయం లేదా సాయంత్రం సాధన చేయండి.

Key terms

• Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — శారీరక సామర్థ్య పరీక్ష
• Physical Measurements Test (PMT) — శారీరక కొలతల పరీక్ష
• Qualifying standard — అర్హత ప్రమాణం
• Long jump — లాంగ్ జంప్ (దూరం దూకడం)
• Gradation table — మార్కుల గ్రేడేషన్ పట్టిక
• Ex-servicemen — మాజీ సైనికులు
• Merit list — మెరిట్ జాబితా
• Spike shoes — స్పైక్ బూట్లు
• Re-test — మళ్లీ పరీక్ష
• Electronic timing — ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ సమయ నమోదు