Which test is used to measure cardiorespiratory endurance?

• A. One-mile run
• B. Sit-and-reach test
• C. Push-up test
• D. 3-minute step test

Answer: (D)

Cardiorespiratory endurance measures how efficiently the heart and lungs supply oxygen to working muscles during sustained activity. The 3-minute step test provides a quick, standardized way to estimate this by having you perform a steady aerobic task and then see how fast your heart rate returns to normal afterward. After three minutes of stepping at a set pace, your heart rate is recorded during a recovery period. A faster recovery (lower heart rate after the exercise) indicates better cardiorespiratory endurance because the body can efficiently deliver oxygen and remove wastes. This test is specifically designed to gauge that recovery response, making it the best choice among the options. The other tests assess different things: the sit-and-reach test checks flexibility; the push-up test gauges muscular endurance of the upper body; while a one-mile run also measures cardiovascular endurance, it doesn’t isolate the recovery response in the same standardized way as the step test.