ACE Personal Trainer

Which of the following statements best demonstrates a SMART goal?

"I will run 4 days per week, progressing my run time from 10 to 40 minutes for a 5K in four months."

A client you have been working with for several months tells you that a close relative recently became seriously ill. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?

"I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how difficult that must be for you."

During the initial investigation stage, which of the following questions is least important to ask?

"What kind of learner are you—visual, kinesthetic, or auditory?"

A general rule, ACE recommends that candidates allow _____________ of study time to adequately prepare for the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Exam.

3 to 4 months

ACE Certified Personal Trainers looking to advance their knowledge, skills, and abilities beyond their ACE Personal Trainer Certification would be BEST served by completing what type of continuing education?

An advanced fitness certification that is NCCA accredited.

During the investigation stage, which of the following statements best pertains to effective listening?

Asking the client questions and responding to answers with encouraging words and further open ended questions.

Which of the following strategies is not a recommended method for practicing motivational interviewing with a client?

Build dependence between trainer and client.

Which of the following is outside the ACE Certified Personal Trainer scope of practice?

Compiling detailed nutritional programming and specific meal planning recommended by their physician.

Which of the following strategies is best for personal trainers to implement to enhance the likelihood that a client will continue working with them?

Encouraging client ownership of the program to facilitate development of intrinsic motivation.

A person who is confident that he or she can successfully participate regularly in an exercise program most likely _______________.

Has high self-efficacy related to exercise.

Which of the following is most effective in helping a client develop program adherence?

Having the client self-monitor by keeping an exercise journal.

Which of the following is within the ACE Certified Personal Trainer scope of practice?

Helping clients gain a better understanding of portion sizes and healthful foods so they can make better choices.

Which of the following strategies is most effective cognitive behavioral technique that a personal trainer can implement to improve client exercise adherence?

Helping clients move from primarily external feedback to primarily internal feedback.

Which of the following self-monitoring strategies is most effective for improving clients' long-term program adherence?

Journaling thoughts, experience, and emotions

A client mentions that he prefers tactile feedback and spotting while exercising. This strategy is most likely indicative of which learning style?

Kinesthetic

A new client tells you that she used to participate in local 10k and half-marathon running events before having twins. Although she had wanted to continue running, she has not been active since her children were born two years ago. Now that they are in daycare three days per week, she has begun walking a bit and wants to begin running, with an eventual goal of completing her first marathon. Based on this information, your client most likely progressed through which of the following stages of behavioral change from pre-pregnancy to meeting with you today?

Maintenance, contemplation, preparation

What is the most influential source of self-efficacy information related to exercise?

Past exercise performance

Which personal attribute is the most reliable predictor of an individual's participation in an exercise program?

Past exercise program participation.

During the initial interview with a new client, a trainer learns the client's desire to exercise regularly was based on the results of a recent medical exam revealing prehypertension (blood pressure = 137/88mmHg), dyslipidemia (total serum cholesterol = 227mg/dL), And a family history of cardiovascular disease. Based on this information, the client's motivation to exercise is most likely associated with which of the following components of behavioral change?

Perceived Seriousness

Which of the following strategies would be most likely to enhance a client's willpower?

Planning in advance for moments of weak self-control.

The primary purpose of professional certification is to

Protect the public from harm by assessing if candidates meet established levels of minimum competence.

What is the most important factor for an individual who is starting an exercise program?

Readiness to change behavior related to exercise.

Which of the following is within the scope of practice for personal trainers?

Screening clients for exercise limitations to facilitate exercise program design.

Which of the following goals is most likely to enhance program participation and attainment?

Setting a series of progressively attainable short-term goals.

Which of the following behaviors would most likely help a trainer develop rapport with a client during the initial session?

Speaking with confidence; using fluid hand gestures while speaking and quiet hands when listening.

ACE Certification Personal Trainers must complète a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their certifications. The primary reason ACE has established this minimum continuing-education requirement is to help ACE Certified Personal Trainers _________.

Stay current with the latest exercise science research and guidelines for fitness and health.

What is the most effective way to teach a new exercise to a client?

Tell the client what the exercise is, demonstrate the exercise, and have the client perform the exercise while providing feedback.

A personal trainer who wants to provide massage to help clients who have tight or sore muscles can do so only if ____________.

The personal trainer becomes a licensed massage therapist.

What do most allied health certification programs, such as the credentials for registered dietitians, occupational therapists, and nurse practitioners, have in common with certifications from the American Council on Exercise?

They are all accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

Which of the following is most accurate regarding personal trainers recommending supplements to their clients?

Unless the personal trainer has other credentials such as an R.D. or M.D., he or she does not possess the qualifications to legally recommend supplements.

Which type of exercise program has a dropout rate almost twice the rate of a moderate-intensity program?

Vigorous intensity exercise program.

At what point does a candidate for the ACE Personal Trainer Certification agree to uphold the ACE Code of Ethnics?

While registering for an ACE certification exam.

Which of the following factors is most likely unrelated to adherence levels in supervised exercise settings?

age.

A client who is beginning to perform basic body-weight squats with fairly decent form is now ready for more specific feedback to help refine her squatting technique. Which of the following stages of learning is best represented in this scenario?

associative

On a plane, the gentleman sitting next to you asks a number of questions about exercise, nutrition, and health. He says that he does not currently exercise, but he has been thinking about joining a gym and asks you for recommendations. Based on this information, this gentleman is most likely in which of the following stages of behavioral change?

contemplation

A strong social support network can provide an individual with all of the following except ___________.

intrinsic motivation.

After one year of regular personal-training sessions, your client wanted to try to continue on her own. During the following six months, you notice your client routinely exercising for one hour, four to five days of the week. Your client says that she "loves coming to the gym and feels great after her workouts." You can most likely contribute your client's success to which of the following?

intrinsic motivation.

What is the most common excuse used by people when dropping out of an exercise program?

lack of time.

According to the principle of operant conditioning, which of the following consequences would be best for a personal trainer to use to ensure that a desired client behavior will reoccur in the future?

positive reinforcement

Which of the following processes is the best example of using reinforcement to help a client progress from a quarter lunge to performing a full lunge and then eventually adding resistance?

shaping

Which of the following processes is best exemplified by a client choosing a gym that is in the direct route between home and work?

stimulus control