Kathiresan Moorthy, Siti Hartini Binti Azmi, Norhazira Binti Abdul Rahim, Eko Purnomo
The accuracy of age calculation in assessing gross motor skills is crucial for reliable developmental assessments. This study explores whether using chronological age in months, rather than by birth year, affects the evaluation of gross motor skills in primary school pupils, ensuring fairness and precision in developmental measurement. This study aimed to determine the influence of calculating chronological age in months on the assessment of gross motor skills among Year 4 pupils using the Test of Gross Motor Development ‐ Third Edition (TGMD‐3). A total of 32 Year 4 pupils (aged 114 ‐ 125 months) from a public school in Pahang, Malaysia, were purposively selected. Gross motor skills were assessed using the TGMD‐3, which includes locomotor and object control subtests. Chronological age was calculated to the exact month using the borrowing method to ensure accurate placement within normative age bands. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. The results showed a strong correlation between age in months and TGMD‐3 scores (r =.624, p <.001). Regression analysis revealed that each additional month was associated with a 3.41‐point increase in motor proficiency (r² =.983), suggesting that even small differences in age could significantly impact motor skill assessment. Calculating age in months provides a more accurate and equitable assessment of motor competence than year‐based grouping. This enhances the validity of TGMD‐3 and aligns with educational reforms in Malaysia and global goals such as SDG4, offering practical implications for educators and policymakers in developing precise and fair assessments. © 2025 by the authors.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching, Perak, Malaysia; Universitas Negeri Padang, Faculty of Sports Science, Padang, Indonesia
