FITCO Assessment and Evaluation Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which fitness component does the FITCO shuttle run (beep test) specifically assess?
- Muscular endurance
- Cardiovascular aerobic capacity (Correct answer)
- Flexibility
- Anaerobic power
Correct answer: Cardiovascular aerobic capacity
The shuttle run (beep test) measures cardiovascular aerobic capacity, also known as VO2max.
Question 2: In the FITCO evaluation, what does a 'pass/fail' scoring system mean for an applicant?
- Scores are ranked against other applicants
- Each component has a minimum standard that must be met (Correct answer)
- Only the total composite score matters
- Scores are weighted by age group
Correct answer: Each component has a minimum standard that must be met
FITCO uses pass/fail standards where each component must meet a minimum threshold independently.
Question 3: Which assessment tool is used in FITCO to evaluate an officer's ability to drag a weighted dummy?
- The grip strength dynamometer
- The body drag simulation test (Correct answer)
- The Ontario Physical Readiness Evaluation for Policing (PREP)
- The Canadian Forces fitness test
Correct answer: The body drag simulation test
The body drag simulation assesses an officer's ability to physically move an incapacitated person, a key correctional duty.
Question 4: How does the FITCO account for the physiological differences across age groups in its assessment?
- All applicants use identical standards regardless of age
- Age-adjusted norms lower the pass threshold for older applicants (Correct answer)
- Older applicants complete fewer test items
- Age is not a factor in correctional officer fitness standards
Correct answer: Age-adjusted norms lower the pass threshold for older applicants
FITCO provides age-adjusted standards so that older applicants are evaluated against age-appropriate norms.
Question 5: During a push-up assessment in FITCO, which movement error would result in a repetition not being counted?
- Taking a breath between repetitions
- Failing to fully extend the elbows at the top (Correct answer)
- Keeping feet together on the floor
- Looking forward rather than downward
Correct answer: Failing to fully extend the elbows at the top
Full elbow extension at the top of the movement is required for each repetition to be counted as valid.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a standardized fitness evaluation protocol like FITCO?
- To rank applicants by athletic ability for hiring purposes
- To ensure consistent, fair, and legally defensible assessment across all candidates (Correct answer)
- To identify applicants with elite athletic backgrounds
- To replace medical examinations for correctional officer candidates
Correct answer: To ensure consistent, fair, and legally defensible assessment across all candidates
Standardized protocols ensure every candidate is evaluated under the same conditions, supporting fairness and legal defensibility.
Question 7: In the context of fitness testing, what does 'criterion-referenced' mean?
- Scores are compared to a national norm population
- Each score is ranked against other test-takers in the same session
- Performance is measured against a fixed job-relevant standard (Correct answer)
- The highest scorer automatically passes regardless of absolute score
Correct answer: Performance is measured against a fixed job-relevant standard
Criterion-referenced testing sets a fixed standard based on job requirements, not comparisons to other test-takers.
FITCO Assessment and Evaluation Methods 2
Which fitness component does the FITCO shuttle run (beep test) specifically assess?