NSCA-CPT Practice Quizzes
When organizing a battery of assessments that can be conducted in the field, which of the following would be most appropriate?
12-minute run/walk
A 20-year-old female college student was informed that her percent body fat was 18%. What range should be considered if seeking to determine the criterion-reference score?
15 - 21%
A client weighs 237 lb (108 kg) and has a body fat percentage of 31%. What is their lean body mass?
164 lb (74.5 kg)
What would be an appropriate recommendation for daily protein consumption for an athletic client weighing 209lb (95kg)?
180g
A new client has received medical clearance to participate in a personal training program following rehabilitation from a myocardial infarction. Along with a continuation of the aerobic training program from rehab, the resistance training program should include which of the following?
3 days per week of 10-15 repetitions of 8-10 exercises total
A personal trainer is reviewing the lifestyle questionnaire of a client to determine if they have been participating in regular exercise. Which of the following will qualify?
30 minutes of brisk walking (40 - < 60% HRR) of at least 3 days per week for 3 months
A personal trainer wants to assess a clients muscular strength, muscular power and aerobic endurance. Which I of the following assessments are most appropriate
5RM back squat, vertical jumó, 12 min run
What is the minimum number of days recommended for an acclimation period prior to testing aerobic performance at altitudes greater than 1,900 ft (approx 580 m)?
7-12 days
A 33-year-old, 5-ft, 1-in. (155-cm) female client has been working with a personal trainer for the last six months. The exercise program has primarily consisted of walking and jogging. The results of her body composition tests are as follows. Month 1Month 6Body Weight130 lb (59 kg)124 lb (56.5 kg)Body Fat30%25% Approximately how much body fat has this client lost since her first evaluation?
8 lb (3.6 kg)
What tempo should the metronome be set for correct performance of the YMCA step test?
96 beats per minute
Consuming which of the following items may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation?
Alcohol
Which of the following series of fitness assessments includes a valid measure of local muscular endurance of the low back?
BIA, YMCA Step test, Push-up test, prone double straight leg raise, sit and reach
A new client says that they have been regularly walking 3-4 days per week for 4 months since being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. They record a definite increase in their HR while walking and would like to increase their activity. What action should the personal trainer take?
Continue with moderate intensity activity.
Which of the following should be performed after identifying trainer-client compatibility?
Discussing the clients goals
Which of the following drills would be most appropriate for a client beginning a speed training program?
Fast leg drill
the client's hips should be slightly higher than parallel to the floor when sitting on the ball
Lightly above the ball higher
What form should be administered after completing the client-trainer agreement to determine the appropriateness of starting a vigorous exercise program?
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
A client weighing 250 lb (113.5 kg) wants to lose weight. A diet record of his average daily intake is as follows: Protein 100 g Carbohydrate 450 g Fat 40 g What is the percentage of the total caloric intake for each macronutrient?
Pro - 16%, CHO - 70%, Fat - 14%
Which submaximal cardiovascular endurance test would be the most practical to administer with a large group of previously sedentary individuals?
Rockport walking test
Which of the following measures would demonstrate a better than average level of cardiorespiratory fitness in a 32-year old male recreational athlete?
VO2max of 57 ml/kg/min
In resistance training, overtraining is most often associated with a rapid increase in which of the following?
Volume
An 18-year-old previously sedentary female client with a BMI of 27 has been attempting to exercise regularly without much success. She is seeking a structured program that will progress over time. Which of the following initial activities and duration would be an appropriate recommendation?
Walk 2 mi (2.8 km) in 30 min daily
When should the client-trainer agreement be completed?
When should the client-trainer agreement be completed?
Which of the following methods should be used when collecting a skinfold measurement of the calf?
Which of the following methods should be used when collecting a skinfold measurement of the calf?
Which of the following is the best field test to assess local muscular endurance?
YMCA bench press
Which of the following should not be included within an informed consent document?
a photo/video release agreement
Which of the following is a common error when performing the lying knee to chest stretch?
allowing the opposite leg to lift off the floor
Which of the following best describes sarcopenia?
an age-related loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers
To limit the possibility of being held responsible for injuries that occur during a training session, a personal trainer should include which of the following during the client consultation?
an assumption of risk
Which of the following drills would be best for improving stride frequency?
ankling
At the suggestion of his personal trainer, a client elects to participate in his gym's daily fun runs for enjoyment. While on the run, the client sprains an ankle. What would be the most common defense for a negligence claim filed against the personal trainer in this situation?
assumption of risk
Which of the following best describes the correct position at the start of the second pull during the power clean?
bar positioned on the thighs between the knees and middle of the thigh, shoulders over the bar
A client will be performing a 12-minute run test on a treadmill for the first time. Which of the following instructions should be provided for the safety of the athlete?
begin by straddling the belt while holding on to the handrails
Which of the following actions should clients focus on while performing the split squat jump?
begin with a countermovement
Which of the following is considered an assistance exercise?
bent over row
Which of the following medications may affect a normal increase in heart rate during exercise?
beta-blockers
A client has indicated that she has experienced large and recurrent weight fluctuations over the past two years. Her dieting often leads to binge-eating episodes followed by rigorous exercise and fasting. Which of the following disorders are these symptoms indicative of?
bulimia nervosa
Which of the following actions is most appropriate when performing a back hyperextension exercise on a stability ball?
clasp the hands behind the head
Which of the following is a characteristic of all motor units?
contain the same type of muscle fibers
Which of the following is considered a symptom that is suggestive of cardiovascular disease?
cramp-like pain during exercise that disappears after exercise cessation
Carbohydrate intakes of 7 to 10 g/kg body weight per day is recommended for clients participating regularly in which of the following activities?
cross-country skiing 90 min per day
Which of the following factors is the first step when determining if a client can begin an exercise program without a medical clearance?
current level of structured physical activity
Which of the following should be performed after identifying trainer-client compatibility?
discussing the client's goals
A personal trainer is designing a compound set for a client's training session. Which of the following should be paired with the front squat?
dumbbell lunge
When is it most appropriate for a personal trainer to administer a health/medical questionnaire?
during the client's health appraisal screening
When should the personal trainer administer an informed consent form to a client?
during the health appraisal screening
Which of the following should be part of a fitness facility's emergency plan?
duties of each staff member should be described
Which of the following physiological adaptations is most likely to occur in response to an aerobic endurance training program?
enhanced ventricular hypertrophy
Which of the following should be part of the initial interview with a new client?
establishing the client-trainer agreement
A personal trainer's client asks why the previous client was wearing a knee brace. The personal trainer should respond with which of the following statements?
explain that the information is confidential
Which of the following is a common error when performing the semistraddle (modified hurdler's stretch)?
externally rotate the thigh while reaching towards the foot
Which of the following describes systolic blood pressure?
force exerted against arterial walls during myocardial contraction
Which of the following would be the most appropriate testing order when conducting a fitness evaluation with an obese client?
girth measurements, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance
Which of the following describes the most appropriate hand position when performing the push-up?
hands placed about 2 to 3 inches (5.1-7.6 cm) wider than shoulder-width allowing for the elbows to point away from the trunk
Which exercise will require the personal trainer to observe without assisting the lifter?
hang clean
Which of the following arrangement of exercises would be most appropriate when the goal is to improve athletic performance?
hang power clean, back squat, leg curl
Which of the following is the difference between an individual's maximal heart rate and resting heart rate?
heart rate reserve
A 32-year-old female client has a waist circumference of 37 inches (94 cm) and a BMI of 27. What is her risk stratification for coronary heart disease?
high risk
Which combination of training factors would put a new client at the greatest risk for overtraining?
high training volume, low training intensity, one rest day per week
Which of the following joint actions occurs during the concentric phase of the front squat?
hip extension
A client demonstrates shortened step length when running but is seeking to improve their pace. Which of the following should be recommended?
increase gluteus maximus strength
Which of the following adaptations would occur in the first few months after beginning an aerobic training program?
increased blood volume
Participation in aerobic endurance training results in which of the following physiological adaptations?
increased glycogen stores
What adaptation occurs during the first 8 - 10 weeks of resistance training resulting in a regulation of the amount of force produced?
increased rate of the electrical impulse
A client is preparing for her first 10-km race. The client has controlled Type I diabetes and has been cleared to exercise by her physician. Which of the following is the most effective method for preventing hypoglycemia during the race?
increasing carbohydrate intake
Which of the following primarily dictates the degree to which an energy system contributes to the needed production of ATP?
intensity
When conducting a fitness assessment, a personal trainer noted that the client could move several limbs to a position that exceeded what was considered a normal ROM at the joint? Which of the following is the cause of this situation?
joint hyperlaxity
In contrast to the back squat, the front squat applies more torque to which of the following?
knee joint
Which of the following would be considered incorrect technique when performing the single-leg hop?
land in the beginning position on the opposite foot
Which of the following muscles is a prime mover during the bent-over row exercise?
latissimus dorsi
Which of the following pairs of exercises is an example of a superset?
leg (knee) extension, leg (knee) curl
A certified personal trainer is starting a strength and conditioning program for a group of youth athletes aged 10-11 yrs. Which of the following would be the most appropriate training load and volume at the beginning of the program?
light to moderate weight for 1 to 2 sets x 8 to 12 repetitions
Which of the following is a positive risk factor for cardiovascular disease?
male - 47 years old
Which of the following is the method of measuring aerobic exercise intensity based on increments of resting oxygen uptake?
metabolic equivalent
Which of the following exercises should be prescribed for a client seeking to increase the flexibility of the hamstrings?
modified hurdler's stretch
A client's training program involves the performance of 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% 1 RM with 30 sec of rest. What is the training goal?
muscular hypertrophy
Which of the following is the correct order of energy systems relative to running at steady state for 20 min, playing basketball, and 4 sets of 400 meter sprints?
oxidative, phosphagen, glycolytic
After establishing a client's program goals, the certified personal trainer recommends the individual buy a new pair of running shoes as a reward once they've attained their goals. Which of the following motivational techniques does this best represent?
positive reinforcement
Which of the following demonstrates that a client is performing a flat barbell bench press correctly?
push the bar in a backward motion until the elbows are extended
A male client's assessment results are as follows: Age - 54 BP- 118/ 76 RHR - 66 BF - 27% VO2max - 39 ml/kg/min Medication(s) - Beta blocker Which of the following would be the most appropriate measure of exercise intensity?
rating of perceived exertion
A 48-year-old female postal worker is on cholesterol medication, quit smoking 5 months ago, and reports shoulder pain when walking and delivering mail on her 3-mile route. She would like to add resistance training and begin a more vigorous training program. What is the appropriate recommendation?
recommend a medical clearance prior to beginning vigorous activity
A personal trainer notices that a client checked "yes" to one of the general health questions on the PAR-Q+ form. What action should the personal trainer take?
recommend the client contact their physician prior to starting or increasing physical activity
A client with shoulder impingement asks their personal trainer for a rehabilitative exercise program. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the personal trainer?
refer the client to a medical professional
A personal trainer reviews the report from a dietary recall of a client known to be hypertensive. The sodium intake is approximately 2,500 mg /day. Which of the following actions should the personal trainer take?
refer the client to a registered dietitian
A personal trainer's client identifies that they had success following a ketogenic diet. Therefore, they ask the personal trainer to provide a long-term meal plan based upon ketogenic food options. What should be the response of the personal trainer?
refer the client to a registered dietitian for assistance
Which of the following instructions should be provided to a client prior to performing a blood pressure (BP) assessment?
refrain from smoking or ingesting caffeine at least 30 minutes prior to BP measurements
When conducting a fitness assessment that includes multiple tests in a single session, which of the following testing orders is recommended?
resting blood pressure, skinfold, YMCA bench press, Rockport walking test
When discussing dietary fat intake, which of the following is an appropriate recommendation?
saturated fat should be less than 10% or 1/3 of your total dietary fat intake
Which of the following recommendations is most appropriate when setting up a client to run on a treadmill?
set the treadmill grade to approximately 1%
Which of the following symptoms indicates that a client may have anorexia nervosa and should be referred to a professional for help?
severely restricting food intake
A client recovering from a patellofemoral injury is referred to a personal trainer by a physical therapist. The client is instructed to limit closed chain knee movements to less than 90 degrees of flexion. Which of the following exercises would be the most appropriate to include in the client's program?
single-leg balance
Which of the following order of plyometric drills is listed from low to high intensity?
skip, jump from box, double-leg hop, depth jump
An emergency response plan should include which of the following information?
specific actions of employees during an emergency
A 35-year-old male has started working with a personal trainer. The results of his fitness evaluation are as follows: Resting heart rate - 80 bpm Blood pressure - 143/96 mmHg The client's blood pressure would be categorized as which of the following?
stage 2 hypertension
When training a client to use a stair stepper, which of the following recommendations is most appropriate?
stand upright and take deep steps (4 - 8 in. or 10 - 20 cm)
A weightlifting belt would be appropriate during which of the following activities?
standing shoulder press - 4 sets of 4 reps @ 90% 1 RM
When performing the abdominal crunch on a stability ball, how should a client's body be positioned?
supine with the lumbar to lower thoracic region of the spine on the apex of the ball
When performing the bench press, the anterior deltoid acts in what manner?
synergist
Which of the following methods should be used when performing a skinfold measurement of the thigh?
take a vertical fold on the anterior aspect of the thigh midway between the hip and knee joints
When exercising outdoors, which of the following affects fluid replacement needs most?
temperature
Which of the following guidelines should a personal trainer use to determine the stability ball size for a client?
the client's hips should be slightly higher than parallel to the floor when sitting on the ball
Which of the following describes the recommended arm position when walking fast?
the elbows should be held at about 90 degrees of flexion
A personal trainer manually stretches and massages the muscles of her clients at the end of a training session. Is there a safety or legal concern?
there are legal concerns as the actions are not within scope of practice
What factor differentiates power from work?
time
What is the purpose of the PAR-Q?
to identify if the client needs to obtain medical clearance
What is a common mistake of the predesign phase?
to plan the facility based on current needs only
A client has been using a pedal-based stair climber for only 2 weeks and is seeking to increase the workload demand. Which of the following recommendations could be made?
touch the handrail with only one hand
A client was diagnosed with severe knee osteoarthritis but does not want surgery. She would like to participate in an exercise program that focuses on losing body fat. Which of the following exercises would be contraindicated for this client?
treadmill jogging
Which of the following series of skinfold sites should a personal trainer include in the fitness assessment of a 20-year-old recreational female athlete?
triceps, abdomen, thigh
Which of the following is indicative of a female with metabolic syndrome?
waist circumference-36 in. (91 cm), BP-140/85 mmHg, HDL-45 mg/dl
Which of the following coaching cues would be considered most appropriate when teaching a client how to perform the butterfly stretch?
while leaning forward, slightly push the elbows down and pull the feet towards the body
To determine a client's relative upper body strength, what data should the personal trainer collect during the fitness assessment?
1 RM bench press and body weight
Which of the following protocols is most appropriate for an experienced 73-year-old client seeking to improve their strength?
1 set of 4 - 6 reps at 85%
A personal training client began participating in 10k fun runs a year ago and would like to become more competitive. Which of the following submaximal assessments can the personal trainer conduct to estimate their current VO2max?
1.5-mile (2.4 km) run
A client weighs 110 lb (50 kg) and exercises frequently. A diet record reveals an average daily intake of the following: Protein - 100 g Carbohydrate - 450 g Fat - 40 g What is the client's current average caloric intake?
2,550 kcal
A 44-year-old male client weighs 220 lb (100 kg) and exercises 7 days a week. A diet record reveals an average daily intake of the following: Protein - 100 g Carbohydrate - 450 g Fat - 40 g What is the client's current average caloric intake?
2,560 kcal
