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IPPT Incentive for NS Members in Singapore
Taking your IPPT test is something almost every single Singaporean male will do in their lives. The IPPT is a physical tests divided up into Pass, silver, and gold levels of achievement. Fail the IPPT and you will have to take remedial lessons in order to make up for it. Pass and you could line your wallet with a little extra cash. Taking the IPPT is mandatory, so making the most of the IPPT incentive in Singapore is the logical thing to do.
About the Incentive Program
Singapore has an incentive program in place to make doing your best on the IPPT worthwhile. If not having to sweat it out on your weekends with remedial classes isn’t incentive enough, the government offers a cash reward of $200 for passing the IPPT, $300 for getting a silver award, and $500 for meeting the gold standard.
This is a significant amount of cash for a test you are required to pass anyway, and best of all, you can always improve your score. If you take the IPPT and pass it, then retest yourself and get a silver or gold standard, you will receive an additional $300 on top of the $200 you would have received.
Restrictions on Eligibility
Not everyone can receive the incentives provided for the IPPT. In order to be eligible, you must be eligible to take the IPPT. If you are not, for some reason, eligible to take the IPPT, you will not be qualified to get the awards.
In order to qualify for the awards, you also need to have them done at a Fitness Conditioning Centre. If you take the IPPT test at a gym center instead, it is pass / fail only. This is because the gym uses a treadmill for the running portion which mimics the terrain.
About the Test
The IPPT consists of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2.4k run. In order to pass, you must score at least one point in each station. Even if your total exceeds the amount needed, if you fail a station you will still fail the IPPT.
How many points you need to pass, as well as what the gold and silver standards are, is adjusted based on your age. Each age category is adjusted in 3-year bands, so you are being compared to other people of a similar age.
The test is mandatory for all Singaporean men over the age of 18 and under the age of 45 years old. While there are exceptions to this rule, these are uncommon. The test must be taken annually and within your IPPT window.
In order to achieve the gold or silver standard, you need to be in the top brackets for your age group. The number of push-ups, sit-ups and running you need to do will vary based on your age. The total number of points you need to achieve, however, is static. A pass is anything over 60 points. Silver is 70 points. To earn a gold standard, you need 85 points or above, unless you are in a special category such as a diver, in which case you’ll need 90 points.
The test is designed so it can check overall body strength and endurance without any equipment, making it easier for national service members to practice for the test. All you need to do in order to succeed at the test is to put in the time, no gym membership required.
Imagine the Possibilities
The IPPT incentive is there to help motivate qualifying NS members to stay fit and healthy. A healthy lifestyle isn’t just important from a military perspective, it’s also vital to leading an enjoyable life free of disease.
You have the opportunity to earn this incentive every year. Investing this money over a lifetime, if invested well, can lead to thousands of dollars in your pocket that you can use to achieve your dreams.
The incentive program is a wonderful opportunity for everyone, whether your goal is to be in the best possible shape for your country, to enjoy the health benefits of being in top condition, or to cash in on a few hundred dollars. Whatever you choose, this program is there to help make your sweat equity all worth it.
