Chester Step Test

[Smiddy]

Newbie on the forum and I am aware this has been covered many times but need a bit of advice on this test.
I have my medical next Monday and am aware that this test may trip me up.
I have re-created the test at home with chest strap and downloaded beeps metranome and chart from a previous post.
My question is I am 43 and bombed out of the test at 80%( 20sec into level 3), I only managed  2 readings, but these 2 readings gave me a score of 41 on the chart.
Is there a set level you have to reach or can you achieve a pass on level 2?
I have a strange pulse when training it tends to increse initially then lower and steady out, so this would take me up to 80% fairly quikly on level 3 then drop back down, would this be a fail a soon as it passes 80%?
I can achieve a steady pulse way below 80% at the gym whilst training fairly intensley for 40 mins pluss at the gym.
So is this a reliable test?
Many Thanks

[geoff]

as far as I know its a min. 42 pass and the reading is taken from your lowest( after 1st 2 mins ) reading and goes thru your highest and up till the line crosses that 80% mark. When I have done it you only take a reading when told to do so, which is at the end of each 2 min. level so your 20 second in reading shouldn't come in to it but you will have to do another 1 min 40 secs before you take the reading, and I would think on level 3 it should settle because it's not that high intensity wise, it only seems to feel a bit like a work out when you do 4 and 5 and even then you should be ok of you can work to 40% for long periods in the gym. I would aim at 50/60 to give you a safe margin in the medical. I was told to take deep breaths even at the early levels and you feel you don't need them as it gets your heart rate working properly and starts to get the oxygen into blood/muscles, which is what it's all about.

[Andy Cole]

but in answer to your question No it is not a reliable test!!!