Hexagon test
Also known as: hex test, hexagon agility test
The hexagon test is an agility assessment in which an athlete jumps with both feet over each side of a taped hexagon and back to the center, completing three full revolutions as quickly as possible. It measures body control, coordination, and the ability to change direction rapidly.
The hexagon test uses a hexagon marked on the floor with 24-inch (60 cm) sides and 120-degree angles. The athlete starts standing in the center facing the designated front side. On the command to begin, the athlete jumps with both feet over one side of the hexagon and immediately back to the center, then continues around the hexagon in the same direction, always returning to the middle between jumps.
The athlete keeps facing the same direction for the entire trial — the body rotates around the hexagon, but the shoulders and hips stay squared to the front line. A trial consists of three complete revolutions, and the score is the time taken to finish them. Standard protocol allows two trials with rest between, recording the faster time. A trial is discarded and repeated if the athlete lands on a line, jumps over the wrong side, or loses the sequence.
Because the test demands repeated multidirectional takeoffs and landings in a very small area, it isolates agility and neuromuscular coordination more than raw speed. It requires almost no equipment — tape, a stopwatch, and a flat non-slip surface — which makes it practical for team screening. Its main limitations are that scores are sensitive to footwear and surface, and that athletes improve substantially with practice, so familiarization trials matter when comparing results over time.
The hexagon test is one of the standardized field test protocols on the CSCS exam. Know the hexagon dimensions, the both-feet takeoff and landing requirement, the fixed body orientation, the three-revolution scoring, and the conditions that invalidate a trial — these details are exactly what test protocol questions target.
Key takeaways
- The hexagon test measures agility and body control using a hexagon with 24-inch sides and 120-degree angles.
- The athlete jumps two-footed over each side and back to the center, completing three full revolutions.
- Body orientation stays fixed toward the front throughout the trial; the score is the time for three revolutions.
- A trial is repeated if the athlete lands on a line, misses a side, or breaks the sequence.