Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Third Edition (BOT-3)
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Third Edition (BOT-3) is a standardized assessment designed to evaluate fine and gross motor skills in children and young adults.
The BOT-3 is commonly used by occupational therapists and physical therapists, special education professionals, developmental adaptive physical education teachers, and diagnosticians, to identify motor difficulties, understand areas of relative strength and weakness, guide intervention planning, and monitor progress.
Key takeaways
- The BOT-3 evaluates fine and gross motor proficiency in individuals ages 4 through 25 years, 11 months.
- Its eight core subtests assess fine motor control, dexterity, coordination, balance, strength and dynamic movement.
- BOT-3 results can help clinicians identify motor difficulties, establish measurable treatment goals and monitor progress.
- Scores should be interpreted alongside clinical observations, functional performance, developmental history, and other assessment findings. Using an EHR can help clinicians organize assessments and goals in a secure location.
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How does the BOT-3 differ from the BOT-2?
The BOT-3 includes new norms, updated test materials, flexible administration options, and additional scoring options. The assessment is designed for individuals aged 4 through 25 years, 11 months.
The BOT-3 includes eight core subtests, along with an extended balance subtest. It also includes supplemental scores, including skilled manual performance, movement fundamentals, and motor planning and coordination. The BOT-3 does not include a short form as the BOT-2 does. Instead, a separate screening measure, the BOT-3 brief, is offered.
What does the BOT-3 measure?
- Fine motor skills: Fine motor tasks examining precision, visual-motor integration, and the ability to manipulate small objects efficiently.
- Gross motor skills: Gross motor assess larger movements involving the whole body, including coordinated movement including the whole body, including coordinated movement, dynamic control, and strength.
- Balance and coordination: The assessment examines static and dynamic balance as well as bilateral and upper-limb coordination.
- Strength and agility: Strength and dynamic movement tasks provide information regarding an individual’s ability to generate force and perform coordinated movements efficiently.
BOT-3 age range and administration
The BOT-3 is standardized for individuals ages 4 years to 25 years and 11 months, and is appropriate for a wide range of individuals, including clients who are developing to clients with mild to moderate motor challenges.
The BOT-3 can be administered in several formats, including the complete form, fine-motor and gross-motor forms, and digitally via Q-global. The formats allow clinicians to select the most relevant sections based on the referral question and clinical needs.
Administration time can vary, depending on the selected form, with the complete form typically taking about 50-90 minutes. The fine and gross motor forms each takes approximately 25-45 minutes. Total testing time may differ based on the individual’s age, attention, familiarity with tasks, and level of motor ability.
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BOT-3 subtests
The BOT-3 includes eight core subtests
- Fine motor precision: Activities require controlled, accurate finger and hand movements.
- Fine motor integration: Asks the individual to reproduce increasingly complex geometric forms.
- Manual dexterity: Includes goal-directed manipulation of small objects, including reaching, grasping, and bimanual coordination.
- Upper-limb coordination: Evaluates arm and hand movements through activities involving catching, throwing, and dribbling.
- Bilateral coordination: Tasks requiring body control, and sequential and simultaneous coordination of the lower and upper limbs, according to the Pearson website.
- Balance and agility: The balance subtest evaluates postural control and the ability to maintain balance during different movement demands.
- Strength: The strength subtest examines functional strength through age-appropriate motor tasks requiring the individual to sustain force.
- Dynamic movement: Assesses agility and running speed.
- Extended balance: A supplementary subtest involving more advanced balance skills using a balance beam.
BOT-3 subtests table
Subtest | What it evaluates | Possible functional relevance |
Fine motor precision | Controlled and accurate finger and hand movements | Handwriting, cutting, fastening and manipulating classroom materials |
Fine motor integration | Reproduction of increasingly complex geometric forms | Visual-motor tasks, drawing and written work |
Manual dexterity | Reaching, grasping, bimanual coordination and manipulation of small objects | Dressing, play, schoolwork and self-care |
Upper-limb coordination | Arm and hand coordination during catching, throwing and dribbling | Ball skills, play and recreational participation |
Bilateral coordination | Sequential and simultaneous coordination of the upper and lower limbs | Coordinated movement, play and everyday motor tasks |
Balance and agility | Postural control and balance during different movement demands | Mobility, playground activities and safe participation |
Strength | Ability to generate and sustain force during functional motor tasks | Physical activity, mobility and everyday movement |
Dynamic Movement | Running speed and agility | Movement efficiency, recreation and community participation |
Extended Balance* | More advanced balance skills performed using a balance beam | Higher-level postural control and balance |
Understanding BOT-3 scores
BOT-3 results may include standard scores, percentile ranks, age equivalents, growth scale values, and descriptive categories. Standard scores and percentiles compare performance with same-aged peers, while age equivalents provide an estimate of the age level associated with the raw score.
Results should always be interpreted with clinical observations, functional performance, developmental history, and other assessment findings rather than used on their own to determine a child’s abilities or needs.
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Using BOT-3 results in therapy
Identifying motor delays is one of the key uses of the BOT-3, as it can help reveal areas of motor difficulty that may not be obvious during informal observation.
For example, a child may demonstrate adequate general mobility but have significantly greater difficulty with fine motor precision, bilateral coordination, or dynamic movement.
The results also support treatment planning by helping therapists prioritize intervention areas and establish measurable goals, with the score profile guiding whether intervention should emphasize fine motor control, coordination, balance, strength, or motor planning.
The BOT-3 findings are useful for progress monitoring, allowing clinicians to track changes in performance over time and evaluate the effectiveness of intervention strategies.
BOT-3 in occupational and physical therapy
The BOT-3 is commonly used by OTs and PTs to evaluate motor skills that support everyday participation. OT applications may include examining fine motor precision, visual motor integration, manual dexterity, and coordination for tasks such as handwriting, dressing, play, and classroom activities.
PTs will focus more on balance and strength, and dynamic movement.
The BOT-3 may be used as a part of a comprehensive evaluation for individuals with motor difficulties associated with conditions such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), ADHD, autism, or cerebral palsy. Results can help identify areas of strength and difficulty and inform individualized intervention planning.
BOT-3 vs. other assessments
Here’s how the BOT-3 compares to other pediatric occupational therapy assessments
- BOT-3 vs. PDMS-3: PDMS-3 is for children from birth through age 5, while the BOT-3 covers ages 4-25 and provides a broader assessment of fine and gross motor proficiency.
- BOT-3 vs. MABC-3: The MABC-3 “provides an objective measurement of gross and fine motor coordination difficulties in children and young adults aged 3-25 years,” according to Pearson Assessments.
- BOT-3 vs. Beery VMI: The Beery VMI primarily evaluates visual motor integration.
- BOT-3 Brief vs. Complete Form: The BOT brief is a quick screening option with 20 items, taking approximately 25-35 minutes. The assessment provides an overall motor score plus fine motor and gross motor cut scores to determine whether further evaluation is required.
Strengths and limitations of the BOT-3
Strengths
- Broad assessment of fine and gross motor skills
- Flexible administration options
- Updated U.S norms
- Supplemental scores for areas such as skilled manual performance and motor planning
- Can support evaluation, treatment planning, and progress monitoring
Limitations of the BOT-3
- The complete form can take up to 90 minutes
- Requires trained administration and standardized procedures
- Results should be interpreted alongside clinical observation and functional performance rather than used alone
When combined with clinical observations and functional information, BOT-3 results can help therapists develop individualized interventions that support meaningful participation in everyday activities.
How EHRs can help with documentation
Modern EHR/practice management platforms (such as TheraPlatform) assist greatly with documentation by providing HIPAA‑compliant, integrated systems for note entry, storage, scheduling, and billing.
They allow therapists to:
- Use and customize templates (e.g., SOAP, DAP, and others) or build their own to streamline note writing and ensure consistency.
- Link notes to treatment plans, goals, and session history so client progress is easily tracked over time.
- Utilize e-fax and secure document sharing via client portal to safely exchange information with clients or other providers while maintaining confidentiality.
- Leverage dictation and telehealth transcription, which can automatically convert sessions into therapy or assessment notes, saving time and reducing manual entry.
- Take advantage of AI features that streamline documentation by automatically populating intake form data into assessment templates and generating complete therapy and assessment notes from the information you provide, all with a single click.
Watch this video to learn how to save time on therapy notes
Meanwhile, AI‑assisted note tools are emerging which can further help clinicians by:
- Automatically transcribing session audio (if permitted) and highlighting key moments (e.g. emotional shifts, major themes).
- Suggesting draft notes or filling in objective or assessment sections based on observed data, freeing up clinicians’ time.
- Supporting consistency and reducing missing components in notes, which helps from both clinical, legal, and insurance perspectives.
Together, structured SOAP‑type notes, good EHR platforms, and smart AI tools support better therapeutic outcomes, more efficient workflows, and stronger accountability.
Streamline your practice with One EHR
- Scheduling
- Flexible notes
- Template library
- Billing & payments
- Insurance claims
- Client portal
- Telehealth
- E-fax
Resources for occupational therapists
TheraPlatform is an all-in-one EHR, practice management, and teletherapy software built with AI-powered notes for therapists to help them save time on admin tasks. It offers a 30-day risk-free trial with no credit card required and supports different industries and sizes of practices, including occupational therapists in group and solo practices.
More resources
- Therapy resources and worksheets
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- Ultimate teletherapy ebook
- The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
- The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
- Insurance billing 101
- Practice management tools
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- Free on-demand insurance billing for therapist course
- Free mini video lessons to enhance your private practice
- 9 Admin tasks to automate in your private practice
References
- Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Third Edition. (2025). In Pearsonassessments.com. https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Motor-Sensory/Bruininks-Oseretsky-Test-of-Motor-Proficiency-%7C-Third-Edition/p/P100071001?tab=product-details
- MABC-3 - Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Third Edition, Pearson Assessments US. (2025). In Pearsonassessments.com. https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Motor-Sensory/Movement-Assessment-Battery-for-Children%2C-Third-Edition/p/P100051002
FAQs about the BOT-3
What age range does BOT-3 cover?
BOT-3 is designed for individuals ages 4:0 through 25:11, covering children, adolescents, and young adults.
How long does BOT-3 take?
The complete form takes about 50-90 minutes. The fine motor and gross motor forms each take about 25-45 minutes.
What is the difference between BOT-2 and BOT-3?
The BOT-3 is the updated third edition of the BOT and includes updated norms, revised materials, flexible administration options, and additional scoring options. The BOT-3 also extends the age range through 25:11, compared with 21:11 for the BOT-2.
