NSCA-CPT exam questions and answers

NSCA-CPT EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are considered core exercises? Give examples - CORRECT ANSWER - Multi-
joint exercises that work one big muscle along with other smaller muscle and joints.
Ex: bench press, back squat

What is considered a structural exercise? Give examples - CORRECT ANSWER - Core
exercises that loads the spine and makes the muscles of the torso erect.
Ex: Back squat, overhead squat, shoulder press.

What is considered an assistance exercise? Give example. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Assistance exercises are supplementary to core exercises and used to maintain
muscular balance across a joint, help prevent or rehabilitate an injury, or isolate a
specific muscle group. These or single joint exercises.
Ex: bicep curl or pec deck

What are the 5 different exercise orders? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) Power exercises--
> Core exercises--> Assistance exercises
2.) Multi-joint--> Single joint
3.) Large Muscle--> Small muscle
4.) Push--> Pull
5.) Upper--> Lower

What is a shoulder impingement? What are some exercises you should/shouldn't do
with this? - CORRECT ANSWER - Tendonitis in the rotator cuff.
-Anterior lat pulldown instead of posterior
- Leg press instead of back squat

What is the recommended frequency of certain muscle group being worked out? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Allow at least one day, but no more than three days, of rest for
that muscle group before working it out again.

What is a compound set? Give example. - CORRECT ANSWER - A superset of two
exercises that work the same muscle groups.
Ex: Incline bench press and incline dumbbell press

Open vs closed kinetic chain exercises - CORRECT ANSWER - Open: Hand and feet
are fixed and the muscle groups in between are moving
Ex: Back squat, bicep curl

Closed: Either hands or feet are freely moving during the exercise
Ex: Chest press, calf raises, lunges

What is a Superset? Give example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Coupling two exercises
that work different muscle groups
Ex: Tricep pulldown with bicep curl

, What is positive punishment? Give example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Criticism of a
client for bad technique on an exercise.

What is negative punishment? Give example. - CORRECT ANSWER - Removal of a
privilege because of poor exercise technique or failure to complete an exercise goal.

Intrinsic motivation vs extrinsic motivation - CORRECT ANSWER - for personal
satisfaction vs. for rewards or to avoid punishment

1.)What determines the volume of training?
2.)What determines volume load? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) repetition x sets x
resistance/load
2.) total reps x load

1.) >80% of 1RM(3-5 reps) develops...
2.) <70% of 1RM (>10 reps) develops.... - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.) Muscular strength
2.) Muscular endurance

What is body weight testing? What type of clients is it primarily used for? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Multiply your body weight by the specific factor number for your certain
exercise. You should be able to complete 12-15 reps at this weight. This technique is
used for untrained or unexperienced clients.

To achieve muscular endurance for a novice trainer, what percent of 1RM and # of reps
should the client use? - CORRECT ANSWER - Less than or equal to 65% of 1RM at
10-15 reps

To achieve muscular endurance for an intermediate trainer, what percent of 1RM and #
of reps should the client use? - CORRECT ANSWER - Less than or equal to 70% of
1RM at 10-15 reps

To achieve muscular endurance for an advanced trainer, what percent of 1RM and # of
reps should the client use? - CORRECT ANSWER - Less than or equal to 75% of 1RM
at 10-25 reps

To achieve hypertrophy for a novice trainer, what percent of 1RM and # of reps should
the client use? - CORRECT ANSWER - 67-80% of 1RM at 8-12 reps

To achieve hypertrophy for an intermediate trainer, what percent of 1RM and # of reps
should the client use? - CORRECT ANSWER - 67-85% of 1RM at 6-12 reps

To achieve hypertrophy for an advanced trainer, what percent of 1RM and # of reps
should the client use? - CORRECT ANSWER - 67-85% of 1RM at 6-12 reps