ACSM's personal training final exam, 390
Questions and Correct Answers, With
Complete Solution. 2024/2025 .
1. True or false? Adults who do not meet public health recommendations for physical activity are
twice as likely to regain weight as those who do meet recommendations.
A) True
2. True or false? A theory is a framework that describes how and why behavior changes for a given
population in a particular setting.
A) True
3. True or false? A theory is a set of beliefs that are stable and established.
A) False
4. True or false? An individual who has developed a plan of action toward a behavior change and will
be making changes within the upcoming month is in the contemplation stage.
A) False
5. True or false? Unsolicited advice can put a client on the defensive and increase resistance to
changing his/her behavior.
A) True
6. True or false? Social Cognitive Theory puts great emphasis on a client's thoughts and feelings.
A) True
7. True or false? Beating oneself up with negative thoughts can be a powerful motivator for behavior
change.
B) False
8. True or false? Clients who are collaborators in making decisions that affect their lifestyle are
typically the most dissatisfied and least likely to make lasting behavior change.
A) False
9. True or false? The Small Changes Model is based on the premise that clients will maintain smaller
behavior changes more easily and will continue to build upon them over time.
A) True
,10. true or false? "SMALL" goals refer to goals that are self-serving
meaningful, activity-oriented, lifestyle-linked, and long-term. ,A) False
11. True or false? An eco-map can be used to illustrate the various environmental and interpersonal
interactions that impact behavior.
A) True
12. True or false? Pedometers can be used to provide a more objective measure of physical activity
than client recall.
A) True
13. True or false? Feedback must be in person to be effective.
A) False
14. An action taken to help someone change his/her behavior is called a/an:
A) Intervention
15. A control group in which the subjects do not receive the experimental treatment until after it has
been found effective in the experimental group is referred to as:
A) Wait-list control group
16. A client who has been exercising regularly for the last 4 months is in which stage of change?
A) Action
17. In which stage of change will it be MOST important to raise awareness related to the benefits of
exercise?
A) Precontemplation
18. In which stage of change will it be MOST important to create plans to avoid relapse?
A) Maintenance
19. Which stage of change would be the LEAST benefited by the behavioral strategy of substituting
alternatives?
A)Contemplation
20. Which technique is the LEAST effective way to avoid arguments and reduce resistance with clients?
A) Ignore the resistance
21. According to the Health Belief Model
the main predictors of behavior change include all of the following EXCEPT: ,A) Being able to state the
prevalence rates of various diseases in a given population
,22. The Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that a client's level of intent is shaped by all of the
following EXCEPT:
A) Knowledge of disease risk
23. Which aspect of a successful goal is missing from this client's goal? "I will exercise by walking my
dog around my neighborhood on Monday
Wednesday, and Friday.",B) The goal is missing specificity regarding the time spent walking.
24. Which of the following would NOT help to build rapport with a client?
A) Avoid eye contact
25. Which theory includes the tool of "rolling with resistance?"
A) Transtheoretical Model of Change
Chapter 8 Study Questions
1. True or false? Approximately 50% of people who being an exercise program drop out within the first
6 months.
A) True
2. True or false? Outcome expectancy refers to development of a program that is in accordance with
the client's stage of change.
A) False
3. True or false? Research has shown that extrinsic motivation and externalized forms of intrinsic
motivation contribute the most to exercise adherence.
A) False
4. True or false? Personal Trainers can help clients increase their intrinsic motivation by improving
feelings of autonomy and competence.
A) True
5. True or false? Research has shown that valuing weight loss or changes in appearance promotes
exercise adherence better than valuing one's self or quality of life.
A) False
6. True or false? Personal Trainers can help clients overcome barriers by ensuring clients understand
personal benefits of exercise and perceived barriers to exercise.
A) True
7. True or false? Providing clients with opportunities to successfully complete challenging but
attainable goals can increase self-efficacy.
A) True
, 8. True or false? Exercise self-regulation tends to lower rates of exercise adherence for female clients.
A) False
9. True or false? "SMART" goals refer to goals that are specific
meaningful, articulated, relevant, and time-sensitive. ,A) False
10. True or false? Social support and self-efficacy are two of the most consistent predictors of exercise
participation.
A) True
11. True or false? Social support can be accessed within social networks or home communities as well
as in on-line communities.
A) True
12. True or false? When it comes to exercise
the greater one's self-efficacy, the less effort the person is typically willing to put into a regular exercise
program without the assistance of a Personal Trainer. ,A) False
13. True or false? Self-determination theory suggests that certain psychological needs have to be
satisfied in order to internalize extrinsic motivation and become intrinsically motivated.
A) True
14. Barriers to exercise include many potential obstacles
including all of the following EXCEPT: ,A) Ability to prioritize one's needs over that of others
15. Which of the following is considered a social barrier to exercise?
A) Cultural values regarding gender roles and accepted behaviors
16. Which if the following would be the LEAST beneficial strategy used to plan for exercise?
D) Complete the same workout each session
17. All of the following are examples of stimulus control EXCEPT:
A) Increasing the weight routinely during resistance training
18. Which if the following is the BEST example of a long-term SMART goal?
A) To complete a 5K race fund-raiser for a charity in 4 months
19. Which of the following is NOT an example of a self-monitoring tool/method?
A) Skinfold test for body composition
20. Which type of support is being shown by a family member who offers to watch the kids while the
client works out?
Questions and Correct Answers, With
Complete Solution. 2024/2025 .
1. True or false? Adults who do not meet public health recommendations for physical activity are
twice as likely to regain weight as those who do meet recommendations.
A) True
2. True or false? A theory is a framework that describes how and why behavior changes for a given
population in a particular setting.
A) True
3. True or false? A theory is a set of beliefs that are stable and established.
A) False
4. True or false? An individual who has developed a plan of action toward a behavior change and will
be making changes within the upcoming month is in the contemplation stage.
A) False
5. True or false? Unsolicited advice can put a client on the defensive and increase resistance to
changing his/her behavior.
A) True
6. True or false? Social Cognitive Theory puts great emphasis on a client's thoughts and feelings.
A) True
7. True or false? Beating oneself up with negative thoughts can be a powerful motivator for behavior
change.
B) False
8. True or false? Clients who are collaborators in making decisions that affect their lifestyle are
typically the most dissatisfied and least likely to make lasting behavior change.
A) False
9. True or false? The Small Changes Model is based on the premise that clients will maintain smaller
behavior changes more easily and will continue to build upon them over time.
A) True
,10. true or false? "SMALL" goals refer to goals that are self-serving
meaningful, activity-oriented, lifestyle-linked, and long-term. ,A) False
11. True or false? An eco-map can be used to illustrate the various environmental and interpersonal
interactions that impact behavior.
A) True
12. True or false? Pedometers can be used to provide a more objective measure of physical activity
than client recall.
A) True
13. True or false? Feedback must be in person to be effective.
A) False
14. An action taken to help someone change his/her behavior is called a/an:
A) Intervention
15. A control group in which the subjects do not receive the experimental treatment until after it has
been found effective in the experimental group is referred to as:
A) Wait-list control group
16. A client who has been exercising regularly for the last 4 months is in which stage of change?
A) Action
17. In which stage of change will it be MOST important to raise awareness related to the benefits of
exercise?
A) Precontemplation
18. In which stage of change will it be MOST important to create plans to avoid relapse?
A) Maintenance
19. Which stage of change would be the LEAST benefited by the behavioral strategy of substituting
alternatives?
A)Contemplation
20. Which technique is the LEAST effective way to avoid arguments and reduce resistance with clients?
A) Ignore the resistance
21. According to the Health Belief Model
the main predictors of behavior change include all of the following EXCEPT: ,A) Being able to state the
prevalence rates of various diseases in a given population
,22. The Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that a client's level of intent is shaped by all of the
following EXCEPT:
A) Knowledge of disease risk
23. Which aspect of a successful goal is missing from this client's goal? "I will exercise by walking my
dog around my neighborhood on Monday
Wednesday, and Friday.",B) The goal is missing specificity regarding the time spent walking.
24. Which of the following would NOT help to build rapport with a client?
A) Avoid eye contact
25. Which theory includes the tool of "rolling with resistance?"
A) Transtheoretical Model of Change
Chapter 8 Study Questions
1. True or false? Approximately 50% of people who being an exercise program drop out within the first
6 months.
A) True
2. True or false? Outcome expectancy refers to development of a program that is in accordance with
the client's stage of change.
A) False
3. True or false? Research has shown that extrinsic motivation and externalized forms of intrinsic
motivation contribute the most to exercise adherence.
A) False
4. True or false? Personal Trainers can help clients increase their intrinsic motivation by improving
feelings of autonomy and competence.
A) True
5. True or false? Research has shown that valuing weight loss or changes in appearance promotes
exercise adherence better than valuing one's self or quality of life.
A) False
6. True or false? Personal Trainers can help clients overcome barriers by ensuring clients understand
personal benefits of exercise and perceived barriers to exercise.
A) True
7. True or false? Providing clients with opportunities to successfully complete challenging but
attainable goals can increase self-efficacy.
A) True
, 8. True or false? Exercise self-regulation tends to lower rates of exercise adherence for female clients.
A) False
9. True or false? "SMART" goals refer to goals that are specific
meaningful, articulated, relevant, and time-sensitive. ,A) False
10. True or false? Social support and self-efficacy are two of the most consistent predictors of exercise
participation.
A) True
11. True or false? Social support can be accessed within social networks or home communities as well
as in on-line communities.
A) True
12. True or false? When it comes to exercise
the greater one's self-efficacy, the less effort the person is typically willing to put into a regular exercise
program without the assistance of a Personal Trainer. ,A) False
13. True or false? Self-determination theory suggests that certain psychological needs have to be
satisfied in order to internalize extrinsic motivation and become intrinsically motivated.
A) True
14. Barriers to exercise include many potential obstacles
including all of the following EXCEPT: ,A) Ability to prioritize one's needs over that of others
15. Which of the following is considered a social barrier to exercise?
A) Cultural values regarding gender roles and accepted behaviors
16. Which if the following would be the LEAST beneficial strategy used to plan for exercise?
D) Complete the same workout each session
17. All of the following are examples of stimulus control EXCEPT:
A) Increasing the weight routinely during resistance training
18. Which if the following is the BEST example of a long-term SMART goal?
A) To complete a 5K race fund-raiser for a charity in 4 months
19. Which of the following is NOT an example of a self-monitoring tool/method?
A) Skinfold test for body composition
20. Which type of support is being shown by a family member who offers to watch the kids while the
client works out?
