NBC HWC 2026 STUDY GUIDE CORE
COACHING COMPETENCIES AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
◉ Practice Question #278:
A client came to her first session, from their providers office, with a
list of their biometrics.
Blood pressure: 118/72mmHg
LDL: 75 mg/dl
Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.95
Physical activity: yoga/strength training, 60-minutes 3x per week
and running, 30-minutes 5x per week
A1C: 7.2%
Which of the following is most concerning as it increases her risk for
chronic disease?
A. Blood pressure
B. Cholesterol
C. Waist-to-hip ratio
D. Physical activity level
E. A1C
Answer: E. A1C
,◉ Practice Question #276:
A 65-year-old woman comes to her fifth session. She is working with
her coach to increase her overall caloric intake to help her gain
weight.
Client: I really want to gain about 20 pounds and I have gained some
weight by adding one more egg at breakfast.
Coach: Have you ever thought about trying protein shakes.
Client: I don't like the taste of those.
The coach response is an example of what?
A. Coaching presence
B. The Coach's agenda
C. The Client's agenda
D. Amplified Reflection
Answer: B. The Coach's agenda
◉ Practice Question #274: P
Coaches are often taught to use the client's strengths and values in
their coaching process. Using the client's strengths and emphasizing
their values increases their ______________?
A. Ability to set goals
B. Internal motivation
C. Growth mindset
,D. Self-compassion
Answer: B. Internal motivation
◉ Practice Question #273:
A 29-year-old man comes to coaching for his 4th session. He has
been working with his coach on increasing his positive self-talk.
Coach: Describe for me what it feels like when you have positive self-
talk anytime during the day.
Client: It feels freeing and empowering. Like I could do anything that
day.
Coach: On a scale of 1-10, 1 being not confident at all to 10 being 100
perecent confident, how confident are you that you can meet your
goal of positive self-talk at least twice per day.
Client: I would say a 7.
Coach: Why a 7 and not a 6?
What is the coach trying to elicit from the client with their
questions?
A. Identifying strengths
B. Change talk
C. Empathy
D. Ability to change
Answer: B. Change talk
, ◉ Practice Question #272:
***********************************
With a client's permission, a coach starts the coaching session with
an activity that included having the client pick up an object and with
a beginner's mind and use their senses to explore the object.
The activity the coach is doing is designed to increase what?
A. Stress
B. Self-efficacy
C. Mindfulness
D. Empathy
Answer: C. Mindfulness
◉ Practice Question #271:
A 35-year old woman comes to her 2nd coaching session. She has
been exploring with her coach which areas of her health she wants
to focus on. Her partner and medical provider keep encouraging her
to go to health coaching because of her poor eating habits.
Client: It seems like I really just need to work on everything.
Coach: Let's explore what is most important to you. If you were to
look forward 1 year from now what change would you most like to
see happen for yourself.
Client: I have no idea. I just can't change my eating habits. I find most
vegetables repulsive and fruit is so sticky.
Which stage of change is the client most likely in?
COACHING COMPETENCIES AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
◉ Practice Question #278:
A client came to her first session, from their providers office, with a
list of their biometrics.
Blood pressure: 118/72mmHg
LDL: 75 mg/dl
Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.95
Physical activity: yoga/strength training, 60-minutes 3x per week
and running, 30-minutes 5x per week
A1C: 7.2%
Which of the following is most concerning as it increases her risk for
chronic disease?
A. Blood pressure
B. Cholesterol
C. Waist-to-hip ratio
D. Physical activity level
E. A1C
Answer: E. A1C
,◉ Practice Question #276:
A 65-year-old woman comes to her fifth session. She is working with
her coach to increase her overall caloric intake to help her gain
weight.
Client: I really want to gain about 20 pounds and I have gained some
weight by adding one more egg at breakfast.
Coach: Have you ever thought about trying protein shakes.
Client: I don't like the taste of those.
The coach response is an example of what?
A. Coaching presence
B. The Coach's agenda
C. The Client's agenda
D. Amplified Reflection
Answer: B. The Coach's agenda
◉ Practice Question #274: P
Coaches are often taught to use the client's strengths and values in
their coaching process. Using the client's strengths and emphasizing
their values increases their ______________?
A. Ability to set goals
B. Internal motivation
C. Growth mindset
,D. Self-compassion
Answer: B. Internal motivation
◉ Practice Question #273:
A 29-year-old man comes to coaching for his 4th session. He has
been working with his coach on increasing his positive self-talk.
Coach: Describe for me what it feels like when you have positive self-
talk anytime during the day.
Client: It feels freeing and empowering. Like I could do anything that
day.
Coach: On a scale of 1-10, 1 being not confident at all to 10 being 100
perecent confident, how confident are you that you can meet your
goal of positive self-talk at least twice per day.
Client: I would say a 7.
Coach: Why a 7 and not a 6?
What is the coach trying to elicit from the client with their
questions?
A. Identifying strengths
B. Change talk
C. Empathy
D. Ability to change
Answer: B. Change talk
, ◉ Practice Question #272:
***********************************
With a client's permission, a coach starts the coaching session with
an activity that included having the client pick up an object and with
a beginner's mind and use their senses to explore the object.
The activity the coach is doing is designed to increase what?
A. Stress
B. Self-efficacy
C. Mindfulness
D. Empathy
Answer: C. Mindfulness
◉ Practice Question #271:
A 35-year old woman comes to her 2nd coaching session. She has
been exploring with her coach which areas of her health she wants
to focus on. Her partner and medical provider keep encouraging her
to go to health coaching because of her poor eating habits.
Client: It seems like I really just need to work on everything.
Coach: Let's explore what is most important to you. If you were to
look forward 1 year from now what change would you most like to
see happen for yourself.
Client: I have no idea. I just can't change my eating habits. I find most
vegetables repulsive and fruit is so sticky.
Which stage of change is the client most likely in?
