ACSM Practice Exam

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Welcome to your ACSM Practice Exam

The ACSM breakdown into four (4) Parts, in this part of ACSM Practice Exam you will have 60 questions to complete in 75 minutes.

Here are the Four (4) Domains of ACSM with the weightage and number of questions in this practice exam:

1. Initial client consultation and assessment [15 Questions] - 25%

2. Exercise programming/implementation [27 Questions] - 45%

3. Exercise leadership and client education [12 Questions] - 20%

4. Legal and professional responsibilities[6 Questions] - 10%

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Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

What is the minimum amount of time that should be given between attempts for a 1 RM bench press assessment?

A. 5 minutes

B. 3 minutes

C. 2 minutes

D. 1 minute

None

1 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

For an asymptomatic middle-aged woman referred for stress testing, which of the following maximal heart rate equations should be used?

A. 206 - (0.88 x age)

B. 216.6 - (0.84 x age)

C. 208 - (0.7 x age)

D. 220 - age

None

2 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

Syncope can best be defined as:

A. Unpleasant awareness of the forceful or rapid beating of the heart

B. Loss of consciousness

C. Abnormally uncomfortable awareness of breathing

D. Knifelike, sharp jabs aggravated by respiration

None

3 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

The study of human movement is defined as:

A. Kinesthetics

B. Exercise science

C. Biomechanics

D. Kinesiology

None

4 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

When using the client-centered approach during a consultation, how much of the time will the personal trainer be speaking?

A. 15% to 30% of the time

B. 50% to 75% of the time

C. 25% to 50% of the time

D. 10% to 15% of the time

None

5 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

What is the purpose of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)?

A. To diagnose cardiovascular disease and refer to the appropriate health professional

B. To help design the training program

C. To determine the client's motivation level

D. To screen out clients from participating in physical activities that may be too strenuous for them

None

6 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

The gastrocnemius is considered which type of muscle during a calf raise exercise?

A. Agonist

B. Synergist

C. Antagonist

D. Passive

None

7 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

Which of the following is not a common site for skinfold measurement?

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A. Midaxillary

B. Subradial

C. Subscapular

D. Triceps

None

8 out of 60

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

All of the following muscles comprise the posterior musculature of the spine except:

A. Quadratus lumborum

B. Multifidus muscles

C. Intrinsic rotators

D. Erector spinae

None

9 out of 60

10.

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

Which of the following is the medical term for shortness of breath?

A. Dyspnea

B. Orthopnea

C. Syncope

D. Tachycardia

None

10 out of 60

11.

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

Which components should a health history evaluation include?

A. Medical history, medications, and exercise history

B. Family history, medications, and nutrition

C. Medical history, medications, and sleep patterns

D. Food log, medications, and sleep patterns

None

11 out of 60

12.

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

A BMI value of 24.8 is classified as:

A. Overweight

B. Underweight

C. Normal

D. Class I obesity

None

12 out of 60

13.

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

What does the "R" stand for in the SMART acronym?

A. Realistic

B. Radical

C. Relevant

D. Redundant

None

13 out of 60

14.

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

Which of the following is not a major risk factor for coronary artery disease?

A. Being a smoker

B. Being a female 50 years old

C. Having a BMI of 35

D. Being a male 45 years old

None

14 out of 60

15.

Initial client consultation and assessment,ACSM CPT

Which of the following methods of measuring body composition is likely to be the most inaccurate?

A. Bioelectrical impedance measurements

B. Skinfold measurements

C. Height and weight measurements

D. Waist-to-hip measurements

None

15 out of 60

16.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following muscle groups should be exercised first?

A. Large muscle groups

B. Central muscle groups

C. Posterior muscle groups

D. Small muscle groups

None

16 out of 60

17.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

When working with an older adult on balance training while seated, what is an appropriate progression for arm placement?

A. Reaching the arms out to the sides, placing the hands on the thighs, placing the hands on the head

B. Using a surface for support, placing the hands on the thighs, crossing the arms in front of the chest

C. Crossing the arms in front of the chest, placing the hands on the head, reaching the arms out to the sides

D. Placing the hands on the thighs, placing the hands on the head, reaching both arms straight out in front at shoulder height

None

17 out of 60

18.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

All of the following are correct sequences for a resistance training session except:

A. Exercises for strong areas before exercises for weak areas

B. Large muscle group before small muscle group exercises

C. Multi-joint before single-joint exercises

D. Explosive power type lifts before basic strength exercises

None

18 out of 60

19.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following endurance exercise modes is the most appropriate for a beginner client with type II diabetes who may have peripheral neuropathy?

A. Resistance circuit training

B. Stationary bike

C. Treadmill running

D. Step aerobics

None

19 out of 60

20.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

What type of strength curve makes it possible to lift more weight if only the bottom 1/2 of a repetition is performed?

A. Inverted-U strength curve

B. Descending strength curve

C. Bell-shaped strength curve

D. Ascending strength curve

None

20 out of 60

21.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following is an appropriate stretch for the knee extensors?

A. Seated hamstring stretch

B. Standing quadriceps stretch

C. Supine rotational stretch

D. Supine knees to chest

None

21 out of 60

22.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

If exercise is done intermittently, what should be the minimum amount of time for each interval?

A. 10 minutes

B. 5 minutes

C. 20 minutes

D. 15 minutes

None

22 out of 60

23.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

During pregnancy, there is an increase in relaxin levels in the body. What effect does this have?

A. Increased fatigue

B. Nausea

C. Increased joint range of motion

D. Decreased venous return

None

23 out of 60

24.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following describes an endurance training routine?

A. Lower weight and higher repetitions

B. Lower weight and longer rest periods

C. Higher weight and lower repetitions

D. Higher weight and shorter rest periods

None

24 out of 60

25.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

What is an appropriate progression per week for advancing cardiorespiratory exercise for a beginner who does 60 total minutes of low-intensity exercise for the first week?

A. Add 20-25 minutes per week until they reach 150 minutes/week

B. Add 10-15 minutes/week until they reach 120 minutes/week

C. Progress to 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise and 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in week two

D. Progress to 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week

None

25 out of 60

26.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following combinations of repetitions are the most effective?

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A. Concentric-eccentric

B. Eccentric-concentric

C. Concentric-isometric

D. Isometric-eccentric

None

26 out of 60

27.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

All of the following are acute program variables except:

A. Amount of resistance and number of repetitions

B. Number of sets

C. Order of exercises

D. Duration of stretching

None

27 out of 60

28.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following general gender differences might be a reason females generally have more flexibility (ROM) than males?

A. Females tend to have wider and shallower hips

B. Females tend to have larger joint spaces

C. Females tend to have a smaller bone structure

D. Females have the protein elastin

None

28 out of 60

29.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

In which phase of the clean does the "double knee bend" occur?

A. Transition

B. Catch

C. First pull

D. Second pull

None

29 out of 60

30.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

What type of resistance training is recommended for diabetic individuals with retinopathy?

A. Variable resistance training

B. Circuit training

C. Maximum strength training

D. Functional isometrics

None

30 out of 60

31.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following positions is considered the most basic for a hip rotator stretch?

A. Seated on the floor

B. Lying prone

C. Lying supine

D. Seated in a chair

None

31 out of 60

32.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

After 35 years of age, how much bone density loss occurs per year in women?

A. About 2% to 3%

B. About 5% to 6%

C. About 1%

D. About 4%

None

32 out of 60

33.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

What type of exercise is a dumbbell bench press?

A. Multijoint, unilateral

B. Single-joint, unilateral

C. Multijoint, bilateral

D. Single-joint, bilateral

None

33 out of 60

34.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following is not a contraindicated movement pattern for an individual with osteoporosis?

A. Back extension

B. Excessive hip flexion

C. Supine twisting

D. Forward bending

None

34 out of 60

35.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

What type of strength curve does a biceps curl utilize?

A. Inverted-U strength curve

B. Descending strength curve

C. C. Bell-shaped strength curve

D. Ascending strength curve

None

35 out of 60

36.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

When the training level exceeds the threshold for change, what occurs?

A. Regression

B. Overtraining

C. Physiological adaptation

D. Deloading

None

36 out of 60

37.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

An individual performs a dumbbell biceps curl by starting with the palms facing the body when the arms are straight, then turning the palms toward the ceiling as they lift the dumbbells. In addition to elbow flexion, what movement pattern are they performing and in what plane of motion?

A. Pronation, sagittal plane

B. Supination, sagittal plane

C. Supination, transverse plane

D. Extension, frontal plane

None

37 out of 60

38.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

Which of the following best describes isotonic resistance training?

A. A muscle contraction that causes the muscle to lengthen

B. A muscle contraction in which the muscle exerts a constant tension

C. A muscle contraction that generates force without changing the length of the muscle

D. A muscle contraction that causes the muscle to shorten

None

38 out of 60

39.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

When calculating the estimation of energy expenditure, which of the following activities does not require a horizontal component?

A. Stepping

B. Arm cycling

C. Running

D. Leg cycling

None

39 out of 60

40.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

In regard to progression, which of the following is considered the highest priority in clients with type 2 diabetes?

A. Decreasing rest periods between sets

B. Maximizing caloric expenditure

C. Improving 1-RM

D. Improving VO2 max

None

40 out of 60

41.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

All of the following are types of stretching to improve flexibility for the general population except:

A. Proprioceptive neural facilitation (PNF) stretching

B. Dynamic stretching

C. Ballistic stretching

D. Static stretching

None

41 out of 60

42.

Exercise programming/implementation,ACSM CPT

All of the following are methods of progressive overload for resistance training except:

A. Increasing the resistance

B. Increasing the rest periods

C. Increasing the number of sets

None

42 out of 60

43.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

Informational support can be defined as:

A. Providing an individual with constructive feedback

B. Encouragement or acceptance from others

C. Advice or information given in regard to exercise

D. Material aid given to provide an individual the opportunity to exercise

None

43 out of 60

44.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

Each of the following are nutrients that provide energy except:

A. Water

B. Fats

C. Proteins

D. Carbohydrates

None

44 out of 60

45.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

All of the following are fat-soluble vitamins except:

A. Vitamin K

B. Vitamin D

C. Vitamin B

D. Vitamin A

None

45 out of 60

46.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

All of the following are considered environmental barriers to exercise except:

A. Cost of facility

B. Bad weather

C. Gender role expectations

D. Lack of shower facilities

None

46 out of 60

47.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

What is the maximum daily recommended amount of protein intake for an adult athlete?

A. 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight

B. 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight

C. 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight

D. 2.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight

None

47 out of 60

48.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

As a personal trainer exhibiting empathy, what is the best way to ensure you are understanding what a client is saying?

A. Repeat the client's words

B. Clarify what was said in the form of a question

C. Take session notes

D. Ensure that their verbal and nonverbal cues are not contradictory

None

48 out of 60

49.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

All of the following are benefits of eating small but frequent meals except:

A. Lower metabolic rate

B. Improved physical performance

C. Lower stress hormone production

D. Lower insulin response

None

49 out of 60

50.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

All of the following are water-soluble vitamins except:

A. Vitamin D

B. Vitamin C

C. Niacin

D. Thiamin (vitamin B1)

None

50 out of 60

51.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

Exercise self-regulation includes all of these strategies except:

A. Planning the workout before it begins

B. Managing the schedule to include exercise

C. Excluding distracting friends from exercise

D. Identifying a variety of ways to exercise

None

51 out of 60

52.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

All of the following are examples of tangible support except:

A. Client's friend offering to pick up his dry cleaning to give him more time to work out

B. Client's family member offering to watch the kids while he works out

C. Client's spouse taking a walk with him

D. Client's friend paying for a month of gym membership for him

None

52 out of 60

53.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

Which of the following is advertised as useful for improving endurance?

A. Caffeine

B. Androstenedione

C. Omega-3 fatty acids

D. Creatine

None

53 out of 60

54.

Exercise leadership and client education,ACSM CPT

Potential health risks are considered very high for a woman with a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of more than:

A. 0.75

B. 0.80

C. 0.82

D. 0.86

None

54 out of 60

55.

Legal and professional responsibilities,ACSM CPT

All of the following professionals are people a personal trainer could refer a client to except:

A. Wellness coach

B. Health food store owner

C. Massage therapist

D. Athletic trainer

None

55 out of 60

56.

Legal and professional responsibilities,ACSM CPT

The number one claim made against fitness facilities and professionals involves:

A. Falling

B. Harassment

C. Negligence

D. Abuse

None

56 out of 60

57.

Legal and professional responsibilities,ACSM CPT

An incident report must include which of the following?

A. I, III, and IV only

B. II, III, and IV only

C. I and IV only

D. II and III only

None

57 out of 60

58.

Legal and professional responsibilities,ACSM CPT

All of the following are potential risks for injury while using a weight machine except:

A. A weight plate slipping

B. A cable breaking

C. A pin not being properly inserted

D. Too heavy of a dumbbell

None

58 out of 60

59.

Legal and professional responsibilities,ACSM CPT

Besides the safety of the client, why is it important for a personal trainer to have CPR training?

A. To better manage risk

B. Community involvement

C. To avoid a legal claim for failure to provide an emergency response

D. To have a better understanding of a well-prepared emergency plan

None

59 out of 60

60.

Legal and professional responsibilities,ACSM CPT

Which common disorder in the hip can produce symptoms of sciatica?

A. Arthritis

B. Bursitis

C. Osteoporosis

D. Piriformis syndrome

None

60 out of 60

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