What Is A 1st Class PFT Score? USMC Class Breakdown

A 1st Class PFT score is 235 to 300 points under the standard Marine Corps classification system. Your total score comes from three events: your strength event, plank, and cardio event.

But 1st Class is only one part of the scoring system. Your individual event scores also matter, because falling below the required minimum on one event can affect your qualification.

This guide explains what each PFT class means, how the score ranges work, and how to check where your current performance stands.

Last updated September 2026 — based on current Marine Corps PFT guidance.

What Is a 1st Class PFT Score?

A 1st Class PFT score falls between 235 and 300 points.

The PFT has three events, and each event can contribute up to 100 points. That means the highest possible total score is 300 points.

To earn 1st Class, your combined event scores must reach at least 235 points while also meeting the applicable individual event requirements.

A high score in one event does not remove the minimum requirement for another event.

USMC PFT Class Scores

The standard PFT classification ranges are:

PFT Score	Class
235–300	1st Class
200–234	2nd Class
150–199	3rd Class
Below 150	Unqualified

There is another important rule to remember.

A Marine can have a total score above 150 and still fail to qualify if an individual event falls below the applicable minimum.

That is why you should always check your total score and individual event scores.

What Does 1st Class Mean?

A 1st Class score means your total PFT performance falls within the 235–300 point range.

It does not mean that you must achieve a perfect score in every event.

For example, you can have different event scores and still reach 235 total points if each event meets the applicable requirements.

The maximum score is 300, so there is a significant range within the 1st Class category.

A score of 235 and a score of 300 are both 1st Class, but they represent different levels of total performance.

Why Is 235 the 1st Class Cutoff?

The PFT uses a point-based scoring system.

Each of the three events contributes points toward your final score. The points are added together after you complete all three events.

For example:

Event 1: 80 points
Event 2: 75 points
Event 3: 80 points

Total: 235 points

That total reaches the 1st Class range.

This is why you should not focus only on one event. Improving a weaker event can sometimes move your total score more than trying to improve an event that is already near its maximum.

What Is a 2nd Class PFT Score?

A 2nd Class PFT score is 200 to 234 points.

This means the total score is below the 235-point 1st Class threshold but still falls within the 2nd Class range.

If your score is close to 235, small improvements in one or more events may move your total into the next class.

Use your individual event scores to identify where those extra points can come from.

What Is a 3rd Class PFT Score?

A 3rd Class PFT score is 150 to 199 points.

This is above the general 150-point classification floor, but it provides less room between the total score and the minimum.

If your score is near 150, it is especially important to pay attention to your individual event performance.

A small change in one event can affect your total score significantly.

What Does Unqualified Mean?

A PFT score below 150 points falls below the general classification threshold.

However, total score is not the only requirement.

If you fail to reach the applicable minimum point requirement on an individual event, you can also be considered unqualified even when your total score is higher.

For example, imagine a Marine has:

Strength event: 35 points
Plank: 95 points
Run: 95 points

The total is 225 points.

That total is within the 2nd Class range, but the 35-point event is below the required individual-event minimum.

This shows why your total score alone does not tell the complete story.

How the Three PFT Events Affect Your Class

Your final class comes from your combined event scores.

Strength Event

You can choose between pull-ups and push-ups.

Your repetitions are converted into points using the scoring standard that applies to you.

Your age and applicable scoring category can affect the number of points awarded.

Plank

The plank is the current core event.

The current standard uses 1:10 as the minimum-score time and 3:45 as the maximum-score time.

The plank uses a single scoring standard rather than separate age- and gender-based standards.

3-Mile Run

The 3-mile run is the standard cardio event.

Your finishing time is converted into points using the applicable scoring table.

A faster time generally produces a higher event score within the scoring system.

How Many Points Do You Need for 1st Class?

You need at least 235 total points for 1st Class.

But reaching 235 is only part of the calculation.

You also need to meet the applicable individual event requirements.

A useful way to think about it is:

235+ total points + required event minimums = 1st Class qualification

Always check the current scoring table for the standards that apply to your age and scoring category.

1st Class Does Not Mean a Perfect PFT

A common mistake is thinking that a 1st Class score means you must score 300.

That is not correct.

The 1st Class range starts at 235 and ends at 300.

A Marine with 235 points and a Marine with 295 points are both classified as 1st Class based on the total-score bands, even though their performances are very different.

The 300-point score is the maximum, not the minimum for 1st Class.

What Is the Maximum PFT Score?

The maximum PFT score is 300 points.

The test has three events, with each event contributing up to 100 points.

So:

100 + 100 + 100 = 300

You do not receive more than 100 points for an event simply by exceeding the performance associated with the maximum score.

2026 Combat-Arms PFT Requirement

There is an important 2026 change that some Marines need to understand.

Beginning January 1, 2026, Marines with qualifying combat-arms PMOSs use the male, age-normed scoring standard for the PFT.

These Marines must also achieve a minimum total PFT score of 210 points to qualify.

This means the general 150-point floor should not automatically be used when checking the requirement for a qualifying combat-arms Marine.

Non-combat-arms Marines continue to use the existing sex- and age-normed standards.

If you are unsure whether the combat-arms requirement applies to you, confirm your PMOS and the applicable standard with your unit.

How to Move From 2nd Class to 1st Class

If your score is between 200 and 234, you are only looking at the points needed to reach 235.

The first step is to look at all three event scores.

Ask yourself:

Which event is giving me the fewest points?
Which event can I improve most?
How many additional points do I need?
Am I already close to the maximum in another event?

For example, if your run is already strong but your pull-up score is much lower, additional run training may not give you the biggest improvement in your total score.

Focus your training where you have the most room to gain points.

Use Your PFT Score to Find Your Weakest Event

Your total score tells you where you currently stand.

Your individual event scores tell you where you need to improve.

Suppose your results look like this:

Event	Score
Strength	65
Plank	85
Run	75
Total	225

Your total puts you in the 2nd Class range.

But the table also shows that the strength event is your lowest-scoring event.

That gives you a starting point for your training.

Instead of trying to improve everything at once, focus first on the event with the biggest opportunity for improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What score is 1st Class on the USMC PFT?

A score of 235 to 300 points falls in the 1st Class range.

Is 235 a 1st Class PFT score?

Yes. 235 points is the minimum total score for 1st Class under the standard classification bands.

Is 300 the highest PFT score?

Yes. The maximum possible PFT score is 300 points.

Is 2nd Class still passing?

The standard classification bands place 200–234 points in 2nd Class and 150–199 in 3rd Class. However, individual event minimums also apply, so always check both your total and event scores.

Can I get 1st Class without scoring 100 points in every event?

Yes. You do not need 300 points to receive a 1st Class classification.

You need at least 235 total points while meeting the applicable event requirements.

Can a high run score make up for a weak strength event?

Your event scores are added together, so a higher score in one event can contribute more points to your total.

However, the applicable minimum for each event still matters. A strong total does not automatically eliminate an individual event requirement.

Does my age affect my PFT class?

Your class is based on your total points, but the number of repetitions or performance time needed to earn those points can depend on the applicable age-normed standard.

Do female Marines use the same PFT scoring standards?

Under the regular sex- and age-normed system, applicable standards differ between male and female Marines.

Qualifying combat-arms Marines are an important 2026 exception because they use the male, age-normed scoring standard.

What is the 2026 minimum for combat-arms Marines?

Qualifying combat-arms Marines must achieve at least 210 total PFT points under the 2026 standard.

Does 1st Class automatically mean a body-composition exemption?

No.

The 1st Class threshold is 235 points. Any separate body-composition requirement has its own criteria and should not be treated as part of the 1st Class classification itself.

Check Your PFT Class

Knowing the class ranges is useful, but your own event scores are what tell you where you actually stand.

Enter your age, scoring category, strength event, repetitions, plank time, and run time into our calculator.

Your results can show:

Your strength event score
Your plank score
Your run score
Your total PFT score
Your current PFT class

[Calculate Your USMC PFT Score]

If you are close to 235 points, check which event can give you the most additional points.

Final Takeaway

A 1st Class USMC PFT score is 235 to 300 points.

The important thing is not only your total. You should also check each individual event and make sure you meet the applicable minimum requirements.

If your score is below 235, look at your three event scores and find your weakest area.

A clear understanding of the scoring system makes it easier to set a realistic PFT goal and track your progress.