What is the post-exercise heart rate range recommended for females in the Queen's College Step Test?

• A. 90-110 bpm
• B. 100-120 bpm
• C. 128-156 bpm
• D. 160-180 bpm

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how post-exercise heart rate after a standardized step test reflects cardiorespiratory fitness. In the Queen’s College Step Test, you step at a fixed rate for a short period and then measure the heart rate during the first minute of recovery. For females, a typical recovery heart rate that aligns with this test’s standard protocol is about 128 to 156 beats per minute. This range represents a moderate-to-high cardiovascular response to the prescribed effort and provides a reliable basis for estimating aerobic capacity with the test’s established calculation. Values within this range indicate the test was performed at the intended intensity and help produce a consistent VO2 max estimate; rates well below this range would suggest unusually high fitness or a lighter effort, while rates well above it could indicate lower fitness or excessive strain.