NCSF - National Council on Strength
and Fitness - Exam 2025 - 2026
NCSF CPT Final Practice Exam 2025 – Strength &
Conditioning Certification Review Questions with
Rationales | Exercise Science, Program Design &
Nutrition | National Council on Strength and Fitness
,NCSF FINAL EXAM
What term represents the transfer of energy across joints to support voluntary movement?
kinetic chain
Kinetic chain refers to the concept that energy transfers across joints to support voluntary
actions. This is applicable during general movements such as running on a treadmill, where any
energy that is not harnessed will be lost as heat and fail to contribute toward accomplishing the
task. Successful energy transfer will result in a more stable and efficient environment, which is
normally encouraged through closed-chain exercises.
The posterior pelvic tilt seen in this picture, is commonly seen in bilateral leg exercises a result
of tight ____________________.
glutes
The hip extensors, including the glutes and proximal insertion of the hamstrings, are often found
to be inflexible. Part of the reason for this common occurrence is attributed to the increased
propensity to sit for long hours with flexed knees and rounded back. Improper seated posture
causes posterior pelvic migration and reduced hip extensor length.
Ankle dorsi flexion is caused by _________________.
a concentric contraction of the anterior tibialis
A concentric contraction of the anterior tibialis would cause dorsi flexion of the ankle, as seen
during the recovery phase of jogging. Weakness in the anterior tibialis has also been shown to
increase the prevalence of shin splints among runners and falls among older adults.
When performing biceps and triceps exercises, what joint action should occur at the shoulder?
no joint movement
No movement should occur in the glenohumeral joint during arm exercises. The most common
"cheat" error is flexing the hips and extending the shoulders during triceps exercises, and
extending the hips and flexing the shoulders during bicep exercises.
What exercise is used to cause elevation of the shoulder complex (scapulae and humerus)?
barbell shrug
The trapezius musculature is comprised of three portions that serve distinct functions. The upper
trapezius is responsible for shoulder elevation as seen during a shrug exercise, the middle
,trapezius aids in scapular rotation and the lower trapezius is primarily reserved for functions
above 90 degrees of shoulder abduction.
What is the natural curvature of the thoracic spine?
kyphotic curve
The thoracic spine naturally maintains a kyphotic curve. A kyphotic curvature rounds outward
but should not be confused with the term kyphosis, which refers to an abnormally significant
curvature commonly seen among the elderly.
When performed correctly, what is the prime mover responsible for hip extension during the
back squat?
gluteus maximus
While the quadriceps are the prime mover for front squats, the glute maximus is the prime mover
for the back squat when performed correctly.
What back muscle is the prime mover for the seated row exercise as it is responsible for
retraction of the scapula?
rhomboids
Scapular retraction supersedes arm extension during the row and is further promoted through
hyper-extension of the shoulder as controlled by the rhomboids. While the rhomboids do not
attach to the arm they are heavily involved in rowing exercises such as the seated row, bent-over
row and one-arm row.
Which of the following exercises requires the greatest contribution from trunk stabilizers when
using 80% 1RM?
barbell bent-over row
Due to the horizontal postion of the body during the bent over row, the trunk must maintain a
high level of stability from isometric muscle contractions. This partially explains why exercisers
remain too vertical and have a hard time remaining in the proper position.
The performance of dumbbell side raises occurs in what movement plane?
frontal
The dumbbell side raise occurs in the frontal movement plane. The frontal plane bisects the body
at the midaxillary line, splitting the body into equal front and back halves. Frontal-plane actions
are performed when moving right or left and include ab/adduction exercises.
, What position of the knee is necessary to fully stretch the gastrocnemius when the ankle is in full
dorsi flexion?
fully extended
Since the gastrocnemius crosses the knee it must be extended to optimize the stretch. Active-
isolation stretches for the calves actually use a constant contraction of the quadriceps to extend
the knee along with anterior tibialis controlled dorsi flexion to optimize the gastrocnemius
stretch.
What muscles are used to globally stabilize the humerus during the bench press?
latissimus dorsi and deltoid
The pectoralis major is the prime mover for the bench press, but the latissimus dorsi and
shoulders must control the position of the humerus during horizontal ab/adduction. This keeps
the arms in the same plane during the eccentric and concentric phases. The supraspinatus serves
as the local stabilizer for the glenohumeral joint.
Based on the principles of stability what exercise would be the most difficult to stabilize?
standing single-arm dumbbell press
Stability is affected by the base of support, location of the center of mass relative to the base of
support, the height of the center of mass and the direction of the force relative to the direction of
the base. The single-arm press affects several of these factors and since it is located on one side it
forces more trunk stability to keep the body from "tipping". Interestingly, the physioball does not
dramatically affect the stability when the loads are bilaterally symmetrical.
To correct the movement error seen in the image, the client should be instructed to
____________.
take a broader step and push the back leg downward
Which of the following refers to the cumulative input to the nervous system that relays body and
positional movement?
proprioception
Proprioceptors provide neural data to manage body movement and spatial awareness. The idea of
proprioception suggests the body can move in a controlled manner with or without data provided
from sight as the body "feels" the environment.
What muscle is the prime mover for the lateral lunge performed in the picture?
and Fitness - Exam 2025 - 2026
NCSF CPT Final Practice Exam 2025 – Strength &
Conditioning Certification Review Questions with
Rationales | Exercise Science, Program Design &
Nutrition | National Council on Strength and Fitness
,NCSF FINAL EXAM
What term represents the transfer of energy across joints to support voluntary movement?
kinetic chain
Kinetic chain refers to the concept that energy transfers across joints to support voluntary
actions. This is applicable during general movements such as running on a treadmill, where any
energy that is not harnessed will be lost as heat and fail to contribute toward accomplishing the
task. Successful energy transfer will result in a more stable and efficient environment, which is
normally encouraged through closed-chain exercises.
The posterior pelvic tilt seen in this picture, is commonly seen in bilateral leg exercises a result
of tight ____________________.
glutes
The hip extensors, including the glutes and proximal insertion of the hamstrings, are often found
to be inflexible. Part of the reason for this common occurrence is attributed to the increased
propensity to sit for long hours with flexed knees and rounded back. Improper seated posture
causes posterior pelvic migration and reduced hip extensor length.
Ankle dorsi flexion is caused by _________________.
a concentric contraction of the anterior tibialis
A concentric contraction of the anterior tibialis would cause dorsi flexion of the ankle, as seen
during the recovery phase of jogging. Weakness in the anterior tibialis has also been shown to
increase the prevalence of shin splints among runners and falls among older adults.
When performing biceps and triceps exercises, what joint action should occur at the shoulder?
no joint movement
No movement should occur in the glenohumeral joint during arm exercises. The most common
"cheat" error is flexing the hips and extending the shoulders during triceps exercises, and
extending the hips and flexing the shoulders during bicep exercises.
What exercise is used to cause elevation of the shoulder complex (scapulae and humerus)?
barbell shrug
The trapezius musculature is comprised of three portions that serve distinct functions. The upper
trapezius is responsible for shoulder elevation as seen during a shrug exercise, the middle
,trapezius aids in scapular rotation and the lower trapezius is primarily reserved for functions
above 90 degrees of shoulder abduction.
What is the natural curvature of the thoracic spine?
kyphotic curve
The thoracic spine naturally maintains a kyphotic curve. A kyphotic curvature rounds outward
but should not be confused with the term kyphosis, which refers to an abnormally significant
curvature commonly seen among the elderly.
When performed correctly, what is the prime mover responsible for hip extension during the
back squat?
gluteus maximus
While the quadriceps are the prime mover for front squats, the glute maximus is the prime mover
for the back squat when performed correctly.
What back muscle is the prime mover for the seated row exercise as it is responsible for
retraction of the scapula?
rhomboids
Scapular retraction supersedes arm extension during the row and is further promoted through
hyper-extension of the shoulder as controlled by the rhomboids. While the rhomboids do not
attach to the arm they are heavily involved in rowing exercises such as the seated row, bent-over
row and one-arm row.
Which of the following exercises requires the greatest contribution from trunk stabilizers when
using 80% 1RM?
barbell bent-over row
Due to the horizontal postion of the body during the bent over row, the trunk must maintain a
high level of stability from isometric muscle contractions. This partially explains why exercisers
remain too vertical and have a hard time remaining in the proper position.
The performance of dumbbell side raises occurs in what movement plane?
frontal
The dumbbell side raise occurs in the frontal movement plane. The frontal plane bisects the body
at the midaxillary line, splitting the body into equal front and back halves. Frontal-plane actions
are performed when moving right or left and include ab/adduction exercises.
, What position of the knee is necessary to fully stretch the gastrocnemius when the ankle is in full
dorsi flexion?
fully extended
Since the gastrocnemius crosses the knee it must be extended to optimize the stretch. Active-
isolation stretches for the calves actually use a constant contraction of the quadriceps to extend
the knee along with anterior tibialis controlled dorsi flexion to optimize the gastrocnemius
stretch.
What muscles are used to globally stabilize the humerus during the bench press?
latissimus dorsi and deltoid
The pectoralis major is the prime mover for the bench press, but the latissimus dorsi and
shoulders must control the position of the humerus during horizontal ab/adduction. This keeps
the arms in the same plane during the eccentric and concentric phases. The supraspinatus serves
as the local stabilizer for the glenohumeral joint.
Based on the principles of stability what exercise would be the most difficult to stabilize?
standing single-arm dumbbell press
Stability is affected by the base of support, location of the center of mass relative to the base of
support, the height of the center of mass and the direction of the force relative to the direction of
the base. The single-arm press affects several of these factors and since it is located on one side it
forces more trunk stability to keep the body from "tipping". Interestingly, the physioball does not
dramatically affect the stability when the loads are bilaterally symmetrical.
To correct the movement error seen in the image, the client should be instructed to
____________.
take a broader step and push the back leg downward
Which of the following refers to the cumulative input to the nervous system that relays body and
positional movement?
proprioception
Proprioceptors provide neural data to manage body movement and spatial awareness. The idea of
proprioception suggests the body can move in a controlled manner with or without data provided
from sight as the body "feels" the environment.
What muscle is the prime mover for the lateral lunge performed in the picture?
