Last updated 14 April 2026

Your son or ward may be eligible for an 8-week reduction in his full-time National Service (NS) duration based on his medical fitness, and if he attains 61 points or more in his pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT).

  • Enlisting before Oct 2027. Your son or ward can take the pre-enlistee IPPT if he is medically graded PES A/B1.

  • Enlisting from Oct 2027 onwards. If your son is eligible for the 8-week reduction in full-time NS, he will be informed via OneNS to book his IPPT.

He will qualify for direct basic training if he attains this IPPT result at least two weeks before the Physical Training Phase (PTP) enlistment. He will then enlist later into the next available basic training intake.

He can attempt his pre-enlistee IPPT as many times as he likes up till the last Wednesday at least 14 calendar days before his enlistment date. His pre-enlistee IPPT results are valid for 1 year after the test.

Physical Employment Standard (PES) is a grading system that reflects pre-enlistees’ medical condition (PES A to PES F). Your son or ward’s PES status is one of the considerations to determine the National Service (NS) vocation for your son or ward. PES is not an indication of your son or ward’s general health. If your son or ward is enlisting before Oct 2027, he will continue to receive a PES status.

In April 2026, MINDEF/SAF announced that the Medical Classification System would be refreshed, to better align with the evolving operational needs of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team (HT).

If your son or ward is enlisting from Oct 2027 onwards, he will be graded under the refreshed Medical Classification System. Medical screening for these pre-enlistees will commence from end-June 2026.

Under the refreshed MCS, instead of a PES status, your son or ward will receive three sets of information on his medical fitness:

  • Medical fitness for Service

  • Medical exemptions, if any

  • Eligibility for an 8-week reduction in full-time NS duration

This first batch of pre-enlistees who will be graded under the refreshed MCS will receive their medical grading results approximately two months after their medical screening appointment (i.e., Aug 2026 onwards), if they do not require further medical reviews.

Thereafter, pre-enlistees can generally expect to receive their medical grading results in about a month’s time, similar to pre-enlistees graded under PES.

Visit the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website for more information about PES and the refreshed MCS.

Your son or ward may be eligible for an 8-week reduction in his full-time NS duration based on his medical fitness, and if he attains at least 61 points or more from the three pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) stations (with a minimum of 1 point from each station):

  • Enlisting before Oct 2027. Your son or ward can take the pre-enlistee IPPT if he is medically graded PES A/B1.

  • Enlisting from Oct 2027. If your son is eligible for the 8-week reduction in full-time NS, he will be informed via OneNS to book his IPPT.

Sit ups, push ups, and 2.4km run

His score will be based on his age, the number of push-ups and sit-ups he can do in 1 minute, and his 2.4km run timing. Visit the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website to calculate your son or ward’s pre-enlistee IPPT score.

Your son or ward’s medical fitness and pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) scores will play a part in the type and duration of basic training he will undergo during National Service (NS).

For pre-enlistees medically graded under PES
PES A or B1

If your son or ward gets 61 points or more from the three pre-enlistee IPPT stations (with a minimum of 1 point from each station), he will not need to undergo the 8-week Physical Training Phase (PTP) during basic training and can enlist 8 weeks later. However, he will need to attain this at least 14 calendar days before the PTP enlistment date. Otherwise, he will have to enlist as scheduled and go through the 8-week PTP to gradually build up his fitness.

PES B2, B3, B4, BP, C, or E

He will not be eligible to take the pre-enlistee IPPT. He will go for a different basic training programme.

For pre-enlistees medically graded under the refreshed Medical Classification System

If your son is eligible to take the pre-enlistee IPPT, he will be informed via OneNS to book his IPPT.

If your son or ward gets 61 points or more from the three pre-enlistee IPPT stations (with a minimum of 1 point from each station), he will not need to undergo the 8-week Physical Training Phase (PTP) during basic training and can enlist 8 weeks later. However, he will need to attain this at least 14 calendar days before the PTP enlistment date.

Otherwise, he will have to enlist as scheduled and go through the 8-week PTP to gradually build up his fitness.

If your son or ward is enrolled in a Junior College, Millennia Institute (MI), Polytechnic or Institute of Technical Education (ITE), his pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) typically happens in school. However, if he’s not enrolled in these schools or did not attain 61 points or more from the three pre-enlistee IPPT stations (with a minimum of 1 point from each station) and would like a re-test, he can book an appointment at the Central Manpower Base Fitness Conditioning Centre (FCC) to attempt his pre-enlistee IPPT. CMPB FCC is open on Wednesdays, except on public holidays, and appointment slots are subject to availability.

The final date for your son or ward to take his pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) is the last Wednesday at least 14 calendar days before his enlistment date. His pre-enlistee IPPT results are valid for 1 year after the test.

Visit the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website to find out which day it is, calculate his Body Mass Index (BMI), and learn more about pre-enlistee IPPT and Physical Employment Standard (PES).

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