AFPA PILATES TEST PAPER 2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS TAGGED A+
✔✔What are some of the benefits of performing hip exercises on the Cadillac versus on
the reformer? - ✔✔Hip exercises performed on the cadillac have several advantages
over the same exercises done on the reformer.
1) Lying on the cadillac promotes a feeling of stability.
2) The height of the cadillac makes mounting and dis-mounting easier than on the
reformer.
3) On the cadillac each leg uses a separate spring, which facilitates the legs working
individually, whereas on the reformer the dominant side may take more of the load.
This advantages can be used to address any imbalances that may exist in the legs, and
throughout the body.
✔✔Name three exercises performed on the Cadillac that would develop trunk
stabilization. - ✔✔1) Cat Stretch
2) Chest Expansion-Standing
3) Arm Circle-Standing
✔✔What are three unique advantages & applications of using the Pilates apparatus, the
wunda chair. - ✔✔1) It readily highlights imbalances and weaknesses in a way that is
unique and specific to the chair. However, it also provides tremendous possibilities for
dealing with those very same imbalanced and weaknesses.
2) When doing the foot work on the chair, the body is in an upright position, demanding
greater activation of the trunk stabilizers than the reformer or cadillac. Being upright also
closely stimulates everyday movements, making the exercises functional.
3) Because of its design, the wunda chair does not readily accommodate full ranges of
motion; the movements performed on it are typically short in range. For this reason, it
may prove advantageous to use pads or a small box to elevate the body during the foot
work and increase the range of motion of the joints.
✔✔What are the advantage of using the wunda chair when performing the standing
pike? - ✔✔The advantage of support provided by the spring. This alleviates potential
strain on the supine during the roll-down, particularly when it's done with straight legs.
✔✔How does the wunda chair benefit the hamstring curl movement? - ✔✔The back is
not in danger of being pulled into hyper-extension, as is the case with some other
hamstring curl exercises performed in the prone position. Another advantage is the
ability to perform this hamstring curl unilaterally, exercising each leg independently. this
is of great benefit when a significant imbalance in the strength of the hamstrings is
present (one side is often dominant).
✔✔What must be achieved first for the forward lunge on the wunda chair to be entirely
successful? - ✔✔The exercise will not be successful without certain essentials being in
place: correct muscle activation patterns. Sequencing the muscle activation is key,
, starting with the hip extensors as the body moves upward and the pedal rises, followed
by the hip abductors as the back foot lifts off the pedal, and finally the quadriceps as the
knee straightens completely.
✔✔T/F The barrel provides both active and passive back extension at all ability levels. -
✔✔True
✔✔Compare and contrast the two kinds of barrels. - ✔✔There are two main categories
of barrels:
The height barrel, also known as the ladder barrel, stands several feet off the ground
and is attached to a ladder of the same height.
The step barrel, also known as the spine corrector, sits on the floor.
Lighter and more portable versions of the step barrel, such as the half barrel, also
known as the arc, are also available. There are many applications for the arc, including
placing it on other apparatus like the cadillac and reformer and using it in conjunction
with these apparatus. This opens up a world of opportunity for creative and varied
repertoire.
✔✔What are three unique advantages & applications of using the Pilates apparatus, the
barrel? - ✔✔1) Besides the modifications that have been made to the shape of the
barrel to accommodate a wide ranges of body types, it also offers the option of using
springs.
2) The barrels are exceptional tools for strengthening the back extensors and for
passively relaxing in a position of spinal extension, thereby stretching the trunk flexors.
3) The barrels also support the trunk during lateral flexion exercises, from fundamental
to advanced levels, facilitating improvement of both strength and flexibility. Unique hip
and arm work, full-body integration exercises, and stretches can be performed on the
barrels, many of which can't be easily duplicated on other apparatus.
✔✔What can occur if a student only focuses on the lower back when performing the
barrel's swan? - ✔✔This results in shearing forces on the lower back and the body
folding over, rather than arching from the knees through the trunk to the fingertips.
✔✔What is the main precaution when performing the roll-over on the barrel? - ✔✔The
lower back being easily pulled into hyper-extension because of the body's position on
the barrel.
✔✔T/F The Ped-a-Pul was one of Joseph Pilates' original apparatus, yet is not
commonly used as other equipment. - ✔✔True
✔✔T/F Some Ped-a-Pul's are attached to the wall, while others are free-standing. Both
of these, according to the author, offers unique benefits. - ✔✔True
ANSWERS TAGGED A+
✔✔What are some of the benefits of performing hip exercises on the Cadillac versus on
the reformer? - ✔✔Hip exercises performed on the cadillac have several advantages
over the same exercises done on the reformer.
1) Lying on the cadillac promotes a feeling of stability.
2) The height of the cadillac makes mounting and dis-mounting easier than on the
reformer.
3) On the cadillac each leg uses a separate spring, which facilitates the legs working
individually, whereas on the reformer the dominant side may take more of the load.
This advantages can be used to address any imbalances that may exist in the legs, and
throughout the body.
✔✔Name three exercises performed on the Cadillac that would develop trunk
stabilization. - ✔✔1) Cat Stretch
2) Chest Expansion-Standing
3) Arm Circle-Standing
✔✔What are three unique advantages & applications of using the Pilates apparatus, the
wunda chair. - ✔✔1) It readily highlights imbalances and weaknesses in a way that is
unique and specific to the chair. However, it also provides tremendous possibilities for
dealing with those very same imbalanced and weaknesses.
2) When doing the foot work on the chair, the body is in an upright position, demanding
greater activation of the trunk stabilizers than the reformer or cadillac. Being upright also
closely stimulates everyday movements, making the exercises functional.
3) Because of its design, the wunda chair does not readily accommodate full ranges of
motion; the movements performed on it are typically short in range. For this reason, it
may prove advantageous to use pads or a small box to elevate the body during the foot
work and increase the range of motion of the joints.
✔✔What are the advantage of using the wunda chair when performing the standing
pike? - ✔✔The advantage of support provided by the spring. This alleviates potential
strain on the supine during the roll-down, particularly when it's done with straight legs.
✔✔How does the wunda chair benefit the hamstring curl movement? - ✔✔The back is
not in danger of being pulled into hyper-extension, as is the case with some other
hamstring curl exercises performed in the prone position. Another advantage is the
ability to perform this hamstring curl unilaterally, exercising each leg independently. this
is of great benefit when a significant imbalance in the strength of the hamstrings is
present (one side is often dominant).
✔✔What must be achieved first for the forward lunge on the wunda chair to be entirely
successful? - ✔✔The exercise will not be successful without certain essentials being in
place: correct muscle activation patterns. Sequencing the muscle activation is key,
, starting with the hip extensors as the body moves upward and the pedal rises, followed
by the hip abductors as the back foot lifts off the pedal, and finally the quadriceps as the
knee straightens completely.
✔✔T/F The barrel provides both active and passive back extension at all ability levels. -
✔✔True
✔✔Compare and contrast the two kinds of barrels. - ✔✔There are two main categories
of barrels:
The height barrel, also known as the ladder barrel, stands several feet off the ground
and is attached to a ladder of the same height.
The step barrel, also known as the spine corrector, sits on the floor.
Lighter and more portable versions of the step barrel, such as the half barrel, also
known as the arc, are also available. There are many applications for the arc, including
placing it on other apparatus like the cadillac and reformer and using it in conjunction
with these apparatus. This opens up a world of opportunity for creative and varied
repertoire.
✔✔What are three unique advantages & applications of using the Pilates apparatus, the
barrel? - ✔✔1) Besides the modifications that have been made to the shape of the
barrel to accommodate a wide ranges of body types, it also offers the option of using
springs.
2) The barrels are exceptional tools for strengthening the back extensors and for
passively relaxing in a position of spinal extension, thereby stretching the trunk flexors.
3) The barrels also support the trunk during lateral flexion exercises, from fundamental
to advanced levels, facilitating improvement of both strength and flexibility. Unique hip
and arm work, full-body integration exercises, and stretches can be performed on the
barrels, many of which can't be easily duplicated on other apparatus.
✔✔What can occur if a student only focuses on the lower back when performing the
barrel's swan? - ✔✔This results in shearing forces on the lower back and the body
folding over, rather than arching from the knees through the trunk to the fingertips.
✔✔What is the main precaution when performing the roll-over on the barrel? - ✔✔The
lower back being easily pulled into hyper-extension because of the body's position on
the barrel.
✔✔T/F The Ped-a-Pul was one of Joseph Pilates' original apparatus, yet is not
commonly used as other equipment. - ✔✔True
✔✔T/F Some Ped-a-Pul's are attached to the wall, while others are free-standing. Both
of these, according to the author, offers unique benefits. - ✔✔True
