Comparison of Physical Fitness Levels of Pre-University Sports Science Students in Semester 1 At Khir Johari High School Based on Gender

Abstract

This study examined health-related physical fitness levels among Semester 1 pre-university Sports Science students at Khir Johari High School and compared outcomes by gender. A quantitative survey design was used, involving 35 purposively selected students, comprising 11 male and 24 female participants. Physical fitness was assessed using selected components of the Prudential FITNESSGRAM® test battery: the PACER, Curl-Up, Trunk Lift, 90° Push-Up, and body mass index tests. These measures represented cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility-related performance, and body composition. The reported analyses indicated gender-based differences in the PACER, Curl-Up, and 90° Push-Up tests, with male students recording higher performance in these components. No significant gender-based differences were reported for the Trunk Lift test or body mass index. The findings therefore suggest that the pattern of performance differed across individual fitness components rather than reflecting a uniform difference in overall physical fitness. The results provide a descriptive profile of the health-related fitness of this specific cohort and may assist teachers and students in monitoring component-specific performance. However, the findings should be interpreted within the context of the small, purposively selected, and unequally distributed sample. Regular assessment under consistent conditions may support the planning of appropriate physical fitness activities and enable students to identify areas requiring improvement.