Abstract: A method of determining properties of sheet metal uses a specimen having a full width section and a reduced width section about 95% the width of the full width section in a tensile test. The strain hardening exponent is calculated from thickness and width measurements made before and after the specimen is strained to failure. The same and other measurements are used to calculate yield strength, elongation, ultimate strength and plastic strain ratio. Particularly useful for continuously yielding materials, the yield strength may also be determined from calculations using the strain hardening exponent and the ultimate strength.