NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning
Specialist CSCS Questions from Actual Exam
With 100% Correct Answers And Rationales
Instructing all athletes on proper spotting and exercise technique will likely
decrease which of the following?
a. risk of liability exposure
b. assumption of risk
c. rick of product liability Correct Answer ANSWER:
a. risk of liability exposure
EXPLANATION:
Decreasing risk of liability exposure is a form of risk management, in which
strategies are employed to decrease the risk of injury from any athletic
preparation by the strength and conditioning department.
For hypertrophy training, which type of program is typically advised for
maximum gains?
a. split routines
b. full body routines
c. upper body routines Correct Answer ANSWER:
a. split routines
EXPLANATION:
When considering training frequency for strength gains, as athletes adapt
to their training stimulus, it is often recommended that they resistance-train
four or more times per week. Because of this, adopting a split routine
seems to work best to maximize results. A split routine system involves
,breaking up the body parts to be trained on separate days. This allows for a
higher volume of training with moderate intensity as opposing muscle
groups are rested on a rotating basis. Training nearly every day seems to
violate the recommended guidelines for recovery, but grouping exercises
that train portion of the body or certain muscle areas gives the trained
athlete an opportunity to adequately recover between similar training
sessions. As an example, lower body routines can be marked for Monday
and Thursday, while upper body routines are marked for Tuesday and
Friday. Setting it up this way gives good spacing between each training day
for similar body areas.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 17, pg
447
What is the most important factor to be considered when evaluating the
quality of a test?
a. specificity
b. validity
c. reliability Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. validity
EXPLANATION:
To be valid, tests must measure what they are supposed to measure; thus,
validity is the most important characteristic of a well-designed test. There
are several types of validity: construct validity, face validity, content validity,
and criterion-referenced validity. Construct validity is the ability of a test to
represent the underlying theory. Face validity is the appearance to the
athlete and others that the test is measuring what it is intended to measure.
Content validity is the assessment by experts that the test thoroughly
covers all relevant subtopics or component abilities in appropriate
proportions. Criterion-referenced validity is the extent to which test scores
are associated with some other measure of the same ability.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 12, pg
250-251
Which of the following would be considered a muscle buffer?
,a. testosterone
b. sodium bicarbonate
c. human growth hormone Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. sodium bicarbonate
EXPLANATION:
During high-intensity anaerobic exercise, a significant accumulation of H+
ions is coupled with a reduction in low pH levels in skeletal muscle. This
has been shown to decrease performance. The ability to regulate H+
concentration in skeletal muscle during high-intensity exercise has been
termed muscle buffer capacity (MBC). There is a strong relationship
between MBC and exercise performance. The more the athlete can
regulate MBC, the higher their performance. Some examples of muscle
buffers are B-alanine, sodium bicarbonate and citrate.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 11, pg
240-241
The flexor carpi radialis muscle attaches in two different places:
1. The medial condyle of the humerus
2. The base of the second and third metacarpals
From this information, which is the insertion location?
a. the glenohumeral joint
b. the base of the second and third metacarpals
c. the medial condyle of the humerus Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. the base of the second and third metacarpals
EXPLANATION:
A muscle's origin is the attachment point that is most proximal (closest to
midline of body). A muscle's insertion is the attachment point that is most
distal (away from the midline).
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 2, pg 20
, During exercises where the athlete is supine on a bench, what is an
example of one of the five points of contact?
a. head is raised above the bench or pad
b. buttocks are placed evenly on the bench or pad
c. right and left feet are placed on a foot rest Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. buttocks are placed evenly on the bench or pad
EXPLANATION:
There are five points of contact for exercises when the athlete is seated or
supine on a bench:
1. head is placed firmly on the bench or pad
2. shoulders and upper back are placed firmly and evenly on the bench or
pad
3. buttocks are placed evenly on the bench or pad
4. right foot is flat on the floor
5. left foot is flat on the floor
Establishing and maintaining these five points of contact promotes maximal
stability and spinal support.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 15, pg
353
What is considered the ideal temperature for a strength and conditioning
facility?
a. 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 62-65 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit Correct Answer ANSWER:
C. 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit
EXPLANATION:
A strength and conditioning facility needs to maintain a comfortable training
temperature. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system should
ideally have the capability to heat and cool individual sections of the facility.
Most sources indicate that anywhere between 68 and 78 degrees
Specialist CSCS Questions from Actual Exam
With 100% Correct Answers And Rationales
Instructing all athletes on proper spotting and exercise technique will likely
decrease which of the following?
a. risk of liability exposure
b. assumption of risk
c. rick of product liability Correct Answer ANSWER:
a. risk of liability exposure
EXPLANATION:
Decreasing risk of liability exposure is a form of risk management, in which
strategies are employed to decrease the risk of injury from any athletic
preparation by the strength and conditioning department.
For hypertrophy training, which type of program is typically advised for
maximum gains?
a. split routines
b. full body routines
c. upper body routines Correct Answer ANSWER:
a. split routines
EXPLANATION:
When considering training frequency for strength gains, as athletes adapt
to their training stimulus, it is often recommended that they resistance-train
four or more times per week. Because of this, adopting a split routine
seems to work best to maximize results. A split routine system involves
,breaking up the body parts to be trained on separate days. This allows for a
higher volume of training with moderate intensity as opposing muscle
groups are rested on a rotating basis. Training nearly every day seems to
violate the recommended guidelines for recovery, but grouping exercises
that train portion of the body or certain muscle areas gives the trained
athlete an opportunity to adequately recover between similar training
sessions. As an example, lower body routines can be marked for Monday
and Thursday, while upper body routines are marked for Tuesday and
Friday. Setting it up this way gives good spacing between each training day
for similar body areas.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 17, pg
447
What is the most important factor to be considered when evaluating the
quality of a test?
a. specificity
b. validity
c. reliability Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. validity
EXPLANATION:
To be valid, tests must measure what they are supposed to measure; thus,
validity is the most important characteristic of a well-designed test. There
are several types of validity: construct validity, face validity, content validity,
and criterion-referenced validity. Construct validity is the ability of a test to
represent the underlying theory. Face validity is the appearance to the
athlete and others that the test is measuring what it is intended to measure.
Content validity is the assessment by experts that the test thoroughly
covers all relevant subtopics or component abilities in appropriate
proportions. Criterion-referenced validity is the extent to which test scores
are associated with some other measure of the same ability.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 12, pg
250-251
Which of the following would be considered a muscle buffer?
,a. testosterone
b. sodium bicarbonate
c. human growth hormone Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. sodium bicarbonate
EXPLANATION:
During high-intensity anaerobic exercise, a significant accumulation of H+
ions is coupled with a reduction in low pH levels in skeletal muscle. This
has been shown to decrease performance. The ability to regulate H+
concentration in skeletal muscle during high-intensity exercise has been
termed muscle buffer capacity (MBC). There is a strong relationship
between MBC and exercise performance. The more the athlete can
regulate MBC, the higher their performance. Some examples of muscle
buffers are B-alanine, sodium bicarbonate and citrate.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 11, pg
240-241
The flexor carpi radialis muscle attaches in two different places:
1. The medial condyle of the humerus
2. The base of the second and third metacarpals
From this information, which is the insertion location?
a. the glenohumeral joint
b. the base of the second and third metacarpals
c. the medial condyle of the humerus Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. the base of the second and third metacarpals
EXPLANATION:
A muscle's origin is the attachment point that is most proximal (closest to
midline of body). A muscle's insertion is the attachment point that is most
distal (away from the midline).
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 2, pg 20
, During exercises where the athlete is supine on a bench, what is an
example of one of the five points of contact?
a. head is raised above the bench or pad
b. buttocks are placed evenly on the bench or pad
c. right and left feet are placed on a foot rest Correct Answer ANSWER:
b. buttocks are placed evenly on the bench or pad
EXPLANATION:
There are five points of contact for exercises when the athlete is seated or
supine on a bench:
1. head is placed firmly on the bench or pad
2. shoulders and upper back are placed firmly and evenly on the bench or
pad
3. buttocks are placed evenly on the bench or pad
4. right foot is flat on the floor
5. left foot is flat on the floor
Establishing and maintaining these five points of contact promotes maximal
stability and spinal support.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th Edition. Ch 15, pg
353
What is considered the ideal temperature for a strength and conditioning
facility?
a. 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 62-65 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit Correct Answer ANSWER:
C. 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit
EXPLANATION:
A strength and conditioning facility needs to maintain a comfortable training
temperature. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system should
ideally have the capability to heat and cool individual sections of the facility.
Most sources indicate that anywhere between 68 and 78 degrees
