USMC PFT Score Classes Explained (and What Happens If You Fail)
On the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, your total score does more than tell you whether you passed. It sorts you into a class, and that class follows you onto your fitness report. Here is what each class means and what happens if you come up short.
How the PFT is scored
The PFT has three events: an upper body event (pull-ups or push-ups), a core event (the plank), and a timed three-mile run. Each event is worth up to 100 points, for a maximum of 300. You must hit the minimum in every event. Fall short on even one and you fail the entire test, no matter how strong the other two scores are.
PFT score classes
Your total points place you in one of three classes:
- First Class: 235 points and above
- Second Class: 200 to 234 points
- Third Class: the event minimums up to 199 points
The class corresponds to a letter that enters your fitness report, so the gap between second and first class is about more than bragging rights.
What is a first class PFT?
A first class score, 235 or higher, means you are well above the minimum across all three events. It is the threshold most Marines train toward, and it is the level that keeps your record clean and competitive for promotion.
When is PFT season?
The PFT is generally conducted in the first half of the year and the CFT in the second half, but the exact windows are set by the Marine Corps and your command. Check current orders for the dates that apply to you.
What happens if you fail the PFT?
Failing the PFT triggers an adverse fitness report and places you in a promotion restriction status until you pass. It is a serious mark on your record. If a Marine fails consecutive PFTs or CFTs across reporting periods, they can be considered for administrative separation. A single failure is recoverable, but it is not something to shrug off.
How to move up a class
Most Marines leave points on the table in one event. Find your weak link, whether it is pull-ups, the plank, or the run, and attack it. See exactly where your points stand with our USMC PFT and CFT calculator, then follow our guide to maxing the PFT to close the gap.
3-Pack Battle Bands
Climb a class. The Battle Bands build the pull-ups and pressing strength that move your PFT score, and assist you to your first strict dead-hang reps.
Shop now →Scoring tables and policy are set by the Marine Corps and updated periodically. Confirm current standards with official Marine Corps sources.
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