The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of predicting maximal oxygen uptake ([(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max) from sub-maximal [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2 values elicited during perceptually regulated exercise tests of 2- and 4-min duration. Nineteen physically active men and women (age range 19–23 years) volunteered to participate in two graded exercise tests to volitional exhaustion to measure [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max ([(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max_GXT), at the beginning and end of a 2-week period, and four incremental, perceptually regulated tests to predict [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max in the intervening period. Effort production tests comprised 2 × 2-min and 2 × 4-min bouts on a cycle ergometer, perceptually regulated at intensities of 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 on the Borg 6-20 rating of perceived (RPE) scale, in that order. Individual linear relationships between RPE and [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2 for RPE ranges of 9–17, 11–17 and 9–15 were extrapolated to RPE 20 to predict [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max. The prediction of [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max was not moderated by gender. Although, [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max estimated from RPE 9–17 of trial 1 of the 2-min protocol was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max_GXT and [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max predicted from the 4-min trials, the [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max predicted from trial 2 of the 2-min protocol was a more accurate prediction of [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max_GXT across all trials. The intraclass correlation coefficient (R) was also higher between [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max_GXT and [(V)\dot]O₂\dot{V}\rm O_2max predicted from trial 2 of the 2-min protocol compared to both trials in the 4-min protocol (R = 0.95, 0.88 and 0.79, respectively). Similar results were observed for RPE ranges 9–15 and 11–17. Results suggest that a sub-maximal, perceptually guided, graded exercise protocol, particularly of a 2-min duration, provides acceptable estimates of maximal aerobic power, which are not moderated by gender.