The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived competence on exercise performance. Subjects were 44 healthy male college students (mean age= 20.48 ± 1.53 yrs). Based on subjects' perceived competence, they were categorized into two groups: 1)high perceived competence group;2) low perceived competence group. During the experiment, each subject performed one 12-minute walk-run test and one Bruce treadmill VO �� max test. The results indicated that high perceived competence subjects were better on 12 min walk-run performance than low perceived competence subjects, and there were no significant difference on relationship of 12 min walk-run test with maximal oxygen consumption between high and low perceived competence subjects. The results of this study fostered our understanding onthe effects of perceived competence on exercise performance, and provide scuentific basis for human performance tests.