ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist Exam.
434 Questions and Correct Answers, With
Complete Solution. (Actual Exam Questions
Included) Updated 2024/2025.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
tachycardia, excessive sweating (diaphoresis), light-headedness, visual disturbances
Physical Activity
Any bodily movement produced by contracting skeletal muscles, with an increase in energy expenditure.
Exercise
Planned, purposeful, repetitive
Physical Fitness
Attributes or characteristics that individuals have achieved that related to their ability to perform
physical activity
3 metabolic pathways the body uses to creates ATP
1. Creatine Phosphate
2. anaerobic glycolysis
3. 0xidative system
Claudication
pain in the leg is induced by exercise, usually because of an artery obstruction.
Creatine Phosphate system
Small amounts of CP are stored within each cell. Simple one-to-one trade off that allows for the rapid
production of ATP. ONLY for use during short bouts of exercise. less that 10 seconds.
Anaerobic glycolysis
No oxygen required. NExt most immediate energy source. break down carbs (glucose or glycogen) into
pyruvate. Used during medium-duration exercise. no more than about 90 seconds.
Aerobic glycolysis (oxidative system)
,Oxygen dependent. As exercise intensity decreases allowing for longer duration activities, use of the
oxidative system increases. (Krebs cycle and ETC). Produce ATP in the mitochondria of the cell--requires
oxygen. Lasts longer than 1-2 minutes.
What is VO2?
The volume of oxygen the body consumes. VO2 max is the highest volume of oxygen the body can
consume.
Define Stroke Volume
the amount of blood ejected by the heart in one beat
SV= EDV x ESV
end diastolic volume
end systolic volume
How does SV increase with workload?
Similar to HR, it increases as workload increases but only up to ~40% to 60% of VO2max. The
percentages can be decreases in sedentary individuals and increased with training.
What happens to resting HR as stroke volume increases?
it decreases, as more blood being pumped per beat allows the heart to beat less often.
What is cardiac output?
the amount of blood pumped from the heart by each ventricle per minute. The product of stroke volume
and heart rate.
Q(L/min)= HR (bpm) x SV (mL/beat)
What does Diastolic Blood pressure do during exercise?
Remains stable or decreases slightly.
What is rate pressure product?
serves as an estimate of myocardial oxygen demand. Product of HR and Systolic BP. RPP=HR X SBP
What is the Fick equation used to determine VO2 max?
VO2 = Q x (a - VO2 diff)
What is the gold standard to measure Cardiorespiratory fitness?
VO2 max during open circuit spirometry.
How does a submaximal exercise test work?
It estimates VO2 max from the HR response to submaximal single stage or graded exercise.
,absolute oxygen consumption vs. relative oxygen consumption
absolute is the raw volume of O2 consumed by the body.
Relative is the volume of O2 consumed relative to body weight. Useful to compare fitness levels between
individuals.
What is one of the largest components of PA-related energy expenditure?
Occupational Physical Ativity
5 Health related physical fitness components
Cardio respiratory endurance,
body composition,
muscular strength,
muscular endurance,
and flexibility
6 Skill (performance) related physical fitness components
Agility, coordination, balance, power, reaction time, and speed
cardiorespiratory endurance
ability of circulatory system and respiratory system to supply o2 during sustained physical activity
Body composition
relative amounts of muscle, fat, bone, and other vital parts of the body
Muscular strength
Ability of muscle to exert force
muscular endurance
ability of muscle to continue to perform without fatigue
flexibility
ROM at a joint. as per the skeletal muscles and not any external forces.
Agility
ability to change position of the body in space with speed and accuracy
coordination
ability to use the senses together with body parts to perform tasks smoothly and accurately
balance
maintenance of equilibrium while stationary OR moving
, reaction time
time elapsed between stimulation and the beginning of the reaction to said stimulus
speed
ability to perform a movement within a short period of time
ACSM's weekly/daily physical activity recommendations
150 minutes Moderate PA per week (30 min or more most days of the week), 75 minutes of vigorous
intensity
Can most sedentary individuals safely begin a low-to moderate intensity PA Program without the need
for baseline testing or medical clearance?
Yes indeed
Most common musculoskeletal injuries occur in what area of the body?
lower body- particularly the knee or foot
Who is most at risk for sudden cardiac death?
Sedentary individuals performing infrequent exercise
Light PA is defined as
<3 MET's
Moderate PA is defined as
3 to <6 MET's
Vigorous PA is defined as
>/=6 MET's
What is 1 MET? Why do we use METs?
1 MET = the relative oxygen consumption at rest. or, 3.5 mL per kg per minute. It is an easy way for the
general public to gauge their exercise intensity. Also used to calculate energy expenditure over time.
What is a kilocalorie? what is it also known as?
AKA: Calorie. estimate of energy cost that can be directly related to physical activity and exercise. Weight
gain, loss and maintenance can be estimated remembering that 3,500kcal =1 lb of fat.
Two types of pre-participation self-guided screenings
1. PAR-Q (physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)
2.Fitness Facility Pre-participation screening questionnaire
What is the PAR-Q? Limitation?
434 Questions and Correct Answers, With
Complete Solution. (Actual Exam Questions
Included) Updated 2024/2025.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
tachycardia, excessive sweating (diaphoresis), light-headedness, visual disturbances
Physical Activity
Any bodily movement produced by contracting skeletal muscles, with an increase in energy expenditure.
Exercise
Planned, purposeful, repetitive
Physical Fitness
Attributes or characteristics that individuals have achieved that related to their ability to perform
physical activity
3 metabolic pathways the body uses to creates ATP
1. Creatine Phosphate
2. anaerobic glycolysis
3. 0xidative system
Claudication
pain in the leg is induced by exercise, usually because of an artery obstruction.
Creatine Phosphate system
Small amounts of CP are stored within each cell. Simple one-to-one trade off that allows for the rapid
production of ATP. ONLY for use during short bouts of exercise. less that 10 seconds.
Anaerobic glycolysis
No oxygen required. NExt most immediate energy source. break down carbs (glucose or glycogen) into
pyruvate. Used during medium-duration exercise. no more than about 90 seconds.
Aerobic glycolysis (oxidative system)
,Oxygen dependent. As exercise intensity decreases allowing for longer duration activities, use of the
oxidative system increases. (Krebs cycle and ETC). Produce ATP in the mitochondria of the cell--requires
oxygen. Lasts longer than 1-2 minutes.
What is VO2?
The volume of oxygen the body consumes. VO2 max is the highest volume of oxygen the body can
consume.
Define Stroke Volume
the amount of blood ejected by the heart in one beat
SV= EDV x ESV
end diastolic volume
end systolic volume
How does SV increase with workload?
Similar to HR, it increases as workload increases but only up to ~40% to 60% of VO2max. The
percentages can be decreases in sedentary individuals and increased with training.
What happens to resting HR as stroke volume increases?
it decreases, as more blood being pumped per beat allows the heart to beat less often.
What is cardiac output?
the amount of blood pumped from the heart by each ventricle per minute. The product of stroke volume
and heart rate.
Q(L/min)= HR (bpm) x SV (mL/beat)
What does Diastolic Blood pressure do during exercise?
Remains stable or decreases slightly.
What is rate pressure product?
serves as an estimate of myocardial oxygen demand. Product of HR and Systolic BP. RPP=HR X SBP
What is the Fick equation used to determine VO2 max?
VO2 = Q x (a - VO2 diff)
What is the gold standard to measure Cardiorespiratory fitness?
VO2 max during open circuit spirometry.
How does a submaximal exercise test work?
It estimates VO2 max from the HR response to submaximal single stage or graded exercise.
,absolute oxygen consumption vs. relative oxygen consumption
absolute is the raw volume of O2 consumed by the body.
Relative is the volume of O2 consumed relative to body weight. Useful to compare fitness levels between
individuals.
What is one of the largest components of PA-related energy expenditure?
Occupational Physical Ativity
5 Health related physical fitness components
Cardio respiratory endurance,
body composition,
muscular strength,
muscular endurance,
and flexibility
6 Skill (performance) related physical fitness components
Agility, coordination, balance, power, reaction time, and speed
cardiorespiratory endurance
ability of circulatory system and respiratory system to supply o2 during sustained physical activity
Body composition
relative amounts of muscle, fat, bone, and other vital parts of the body
Muscular strength
Ability of muscle to exert force
muscular endurance
ability of muscle to continue to perform without fatigue
flexibility
ROM at a joint. as per the skeletal muscles and not any external forces.
Agility
ability to change position of the body in space with speed and accuracy
coordination
ability to use the senses together with body parts to perform tasks smoothly and accurately
balance
maintenance of equilibrium while stationary OR moving
, reaction time
time elapsed between stimulation and the beginning of the reaction to said stimulus
speed
ability to perform a movement within a short period of time
ACSM's weekly/daily physical activity recommendations
150 minutes Moderate PA per week (30 min or more most days of the week), 75 minutes of vigorous
intensity
Can most sedentary individuals safely begin a low-to moderate intensity PA Program without the need
for baseline testing or medical clearance?
Yes indeed
Most common musculoskeletal injuries occur in what area of the body?
lower body- particularly the knee or foot
Who is most at risk for sudden cardiac death?
Sedentary individuals performing infrequent exercise
Light PA is defined as
<3 MET's
Moderate PA is defined as
3 to <6 MET's
Vigorous PA is defined as
>/=6 MET's
What is 1 MET? Why do we use METs?
1 MET = the relative oxygen consumption at rest. or, 3.5 mL per kg per minute. It is an easy way for the
general public to gauge their exercise intensity. Also used to calculate energy expenditure over time.
What is a kilocalorie? what is it also known as?
AKA: Calorie. estimate of energy cost that can be directly related to physical activity and exercise. Weight
gain, loss and maintenance can be estimated remembering that 3,500kcal =1 lb of fat.
Two types of pre-participation self-guided screenings
1. PAR-Q (physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)
2.Fitness Facility Pre-participation screening questionnaire
What is the PAR-Q? Limitation?
