ACSM - CEP (2025) Actual Exam
Questions and Answers A+ Graded
Physical .Activity .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Any .bodily .movement .produced .by
.contracting .skeletal .muscles, .with .an .increase .in .energy .expenditure.
Exercise .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Planned, .purposeful, .and .repetitive .movement.
Physical .Fitness .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Attributes .or .characteristics .that
.individuals .have .achieved .that .related .to .their .ability .to .perform .physical
.activity.
Metabolic .Pathways .the .body .uses .to .create .ATP .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1.
.Creatine .Phosphate .(CP)
2. .Anaerobic .Glycolysis
3. .Oxidative .System
Creatine .Phosphate .(CP) .System .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Small .amounts .of .CP
.are .stored .within .each .cell.
Simple .one-to-one .trade .off .that .allows .for .the .rapid .production .of .ATP.
ONLY .used .during .short .bouts .of .exercise .(<10 .seconds).
Anaerobic .Glycolysis .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-No .oxygen .required.
Next .most .immediate .energy .source .after .CP.
Break .down .CHO .(glucose .or .glycogen) .into .pyruvate.
Used .during .medium-duration .exercise.
No .more .than .90 .seconds.
Aerobic .Glycolysis .(Oxidative .System) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Oxygen
.dependent.
As .exercise .intensity .decreases .allowing .for .longer .duration .activities, .use .of
.this .system .increases .(Krebs .Cycle .and .ETC).
Produce .ATP .in .the .mitochondria .of .the .cell .(requires .ozygen).
Lasts .longer .than .1-2 .minutes.
Claudication .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Pain .in .the .leg .is .induced .by .exercise,
.usually .because .of .an .artery .obstruction.
VO2 .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .volume .of .oxygen .the .body .consumes.
,VO2max .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .maximum .amount .of .oxygen .the .body .can
.take .in .and .use .during .exercise.
Stroke .Volume .(SV) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .volume .of .blood .pumped .out .of
.the .heart .with .each .ventricular .contraction.
Stroke .Volume .and .Workload .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Similar .to .HR, .it .increases
.as .workload .increases .but .only .up .to .~40-60% .of .VO2max.
The .percentage .can .be .decreased .in .sedentary .individuals .and .increased .with
.training.
Stroke .Volume .and .Heart .Rate .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-As .SV .increases, .HR
.decreases .(as .more .blood .is .pumped .per .beat).
Allows .the .heart .to .beat .less .often.
Cardiac .Output .(CO) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A .measure .of .blood .pumped .per
.minute.
The .product .of .SV .and .HR .(CO .= .SV .x .HR).
Diastolic .Blood .Pressure .(DBP) .during .exericse .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-remains
.stable .or .decreases .slightly.
Rate .Pressure .Product .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Serves .as .an .estimate .of
.myocardial .oxygen .demand.
Product .of .HR .and .SBP .(HR .x .SBP).
Fick .equation .to .determine .VO2max .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-VO2max .= .HRmax .X
.SVmax .X .aVO2 .difference .max .(anteriovenous .oxygen .difference).
Gold .Standard .to .measure .Cardiorespiratory .Fitness .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
VO2max .during .open .circuit .spirometry.
Submaximal .Exercise .Test .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Estimates .VO2max .from .the
.HR .response .to .submaximal .single-stage .or .graded .exercise.
Absolute .VS. .Relative .Oxygen .Consumption .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Absolute .-
.Raw .volume .of .oxygen .consumption .by .the .body.
Relative .- .Volume .of .oxygen .consumed .relative .to .body .weight. .(Useful .to
.compare .fitness .levels .between .individuals)
Occupational .Physical .Activity .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Largest .component .of
.Physical .Activity-related .energy .expenditure.
Health .related .Physical .Fitness .components .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1.
.Cardiorespiratory .endurance .
2. .Body .composition
3. .Muscular .strength
4. .Muscular .endurance .
5. .Flexibility
,Skill .(Performance) .related .Physical .Fitness .components .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
1. .Agility
2. .Coordination
3. .Balance
4. .Power
5. .Reaction .time
6. .Speed
Cardiorespiratory .Endurance .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .of .circulatory .and
.respiratory .system .to .supply .O2 .during .sustained .physical .activity.
Body .Composition .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ratio .of .body .fat .to .lean .body .tissue,
.including .muscle, .bone, .water, .and .connective .tissue .such .as .ligaments,
.cartilage, .and .tendons.
Muscular .Strength .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Amount .of .force .a .muscle .can .exert.
Muscle .Endurance .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .of .the .muscles .to .perform
.physical .tasks .over .a .period .of .time .without .becoming .fatigued.
Flexibility .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Range .of .motion .at .a .joint, .as .per .the .skeletal
.muscles .and .not .any .external .force.
Coordination .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .to .use .the .senses .together .with .body
.parts .to .perform .tasks .smoothly .and .accurately.
Balance .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Maintenance .of .equilibrium .while .stationary .OR
.moving.
Reaction .Time .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Time .elapsed .between .stimulation .and .the
.beginning .of .the .reaction .to .said .stimulus.
Speed .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .to .perform .a .movement .within .a .short
.period .of .time.
ACSM .Weekly/Daily .Physical .Activity .Recommendations .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
150 .min. .of .Moderate .Intensity .PA .per .week .(30 .min .or .more .most .days).
75 .min. .of .Vigorous .Intensity .PA.
Sedentary .Individuals .& .Baseline .Testing/Medical .Clearance .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER-Most .can .safely .begin .a .low-to-moderate .intensity .PA .program
.without .testing .or .clearance.
Individuals .most .at .risk .for .Sudden .Cardiac .Arrest .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
Sedentary .individuals .performing .infrequent .exercise.
Metabolic .Equivalent .(MET) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1 .Met .= .relative .oxygen
.consumption .at .rest .(3.5 .mL/kg/min).
, An .easy .way .for .the .general .public .to .gauge .their .exercise .intensity.
Also .used .to .calculate .energy .expenditure .over .time.
MET .Levels .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Light .= .<3 .(slow .walking)
Moderate .= .3-6 .(walking .at .3.0 .mph)
Vigorous .= .>6 .(jogging, .running)
Kilocalorie .(kcal) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-(Calorie): .Estimate .of .energy .cost .that
.can .be .directly .related .to .physical .activity .and .exercise.
Weight .gain, .loss .and .maintenance .can .be .estimated .(3,500 .kcal .= .1 .lb .of .fat).
Pre-Participation .Self-Guided .Screenings .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1. .PAR-Q
.(Physical .Activity .Readiness .Questionnaire)
2. .Fitness .Facility .Pre-Participation .Screening .Questionnaire
PAR-Q .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A .minimal .standard .for .entry .into .Moderate-
Intensity .exercise .programs.
Allows .individuals .to .gauge .their .own .medical .readiness .to .participate. .
Does .not .screen .well .for .those .at .low .to .moderate .risk.
Pre-Participation .Screening .Questionnaire .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Useful .for
.clients .to .assess .their .health .readiness.
More .comprehensive .and .recognizes .signs .and .symptoms .of .CVD .and .other
.risk-factor .thresholds.
ACSM .Coronary .Artery .Disease .Risk .Factors .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1. .AGE .-
.Men .(45 .and .older); .Women .(55 .and .older)
2. .FAMILY .HISTORY .- .MI, .Coronary .revascularization .or .Sudden .death .before .55
.in .father .and .65 .in .mother, .or .first .degree .relative)
3. .SMOKER .- .Current .or .quit .in .last .6 .months
4. .SEDENTARY .- .No .PA .or .< .30 .min. .of .moderate .PA .at .least .3 .days/week .for
.last .3 .months
5. .OBESITY .- .BMI .>30, .or .Wast .girth .>40in .(102cm) .for .men .& .>35in .(88cm) .for
.women
6. .HYPERTENSION .-SBP .>130 .and/or .DBP .>90 .on .two .separate .occasions .
7. .DYSLIPIDEMIA .- .LDL .>130 .or .HDL .<40, .or .on .lipid .lowering .meds
8. .PREDIABETES .- .Impaired .fasting .blood .glucose .(FBG) .between .100-125
ACSM .Coronary .Artery .Disease .NEGATIVE .Risk .Factor .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
HDL .>60
This .is .reverse .cholesterol .transport .and .reduces .the .risk .of .CVD
Dyspnea .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Shortness .of .breath .or .difficulty .breathing.
Orthopnea .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Difficulty .breathing .when .lying .down
Paroxysmal .Nocturnal .Dyspnea .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Refers .to .attacks .of
.severe .shortness .of .breath .and .coughing .that .generally .occur .at .night. .
It .usually .awakens .the .person .from .sleep, .and .may .be .quite .frightening.
Questions and Answers A+ Graded
Physical .Activity .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Any .bodily .movement .produced .by
.contracting .skeletal .muscles, .with .an .increase .in .energy .expenditure.
Exercise .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Planned, .purposeful, .and .repetitive .movement.
Physical .Fitness .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Attributes .or .characteristics .that
.individuals .have .achieved .that .related .to .their .ability .to .perform .physical
.activity.
Metabolic .Pathways .the .body .uses .to .create .ATP .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1.
.Creatine .Phosphate .(CP)
2. .Anaerobic .Glycolysis
3. .Oxidative .System
Creatine .Phosphate .(CP) .System .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Small .amounts .of .CP
.are .stored .within .each .cell.
Simple .one-to-one .trade .off .that .allows .for .the .rapid .production .of .ATP.
ONLY .used .during .short .bouts .of .exercise .(<10 .seconds).
Anaerobic .Glycolysis .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-No .oxygen .required.
Next .most .immediate .energy .source .after .CP.
Break .down .CHO .(glucose .or .glycogen) .into .pyruvate.
Used .during .medium-duration .exercise.
No .more .than .90 .seconds.
Aerobic .Glycolysis .(Oxidative .System) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Oxygen
.dependent.
As .exercise .intensity .decreases .allowing .for .longer .duration .activities, .use .of
.this .system .increases .(Krebs .Cycle .and .ETC).
Produce .ATP .in .the .mitochondria .of .the .cell .(requires .ozygen).
Lasts .longer .than .1-2 .minutes.
Claudication .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Pain .in .the .leg .is .induced .by .exercise,
.usually .because .of .an .artery .obstruction.
VO2 .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .volume .of .oxygen .the .body .consumes.
,VO2max .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .maximum .amount .of .oxygen .the .body .can
.take .in .and .use .during .exercise.
Stroke .Volume .(SV) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .volume .of .blood .pumped .out .of
.the .heart .with .each .ventricular .contraction.
Stroke .Volume .and .Workload .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Similar .to .HR, .it .increases
.as .workload .increases .but .only .up .to .~40-60% .of .VO2max.
The .percentage .can .be .decreased .in .sedentary .individuals .and .increased .with
.training.
Stroke .Volume .and .Heart .Rate .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-As .SV .increases, .HR
.decreases .(as .more .blood .is .pumped .per .beat).
Allows .the .heart .to .beat .less .often.
Cardiac .Output .(CO) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A .measure .of .blood .pumped .per
.minute.
The .product .of .SV .and .HR .(CO .= .SV .x .HR).
Diastolic .Blood .Pressure .(DBP) .during .exericse .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-remains
.stable .or .decreases .slightly.
Rate .Pressure .Product .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Serves .as .an .estimate .of
.myocardial .oxygen .demand.
Product .of .HR .and .SBP .(HR .x .SBP).
Fick .equation .to .determine .VO2max .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-VO2max .= .HRmax .X
.SVmax .X .aVO2 .difference .max .(anteriovenous .oxygen .difference).
Gold .Standard .to .measure .Cardiorespiratory .Fitness .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
VO2max .during .open .circuit .spirometry.
Submaximal .Exercise .Test .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Estimates .VO2max .from .the
.HR .response .to .submaximal .single-stage .or .graded .exercise.
Absolute .VS. .Relative .Oxygen .Consumption .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Absolute .-
.Raw .volume .of .oxygen .consumption .by .the .body.
Relative .- .Volume .of .oxygen .consumed .relative .to .body .weight. .(Useful .to
.compare .fitness .levels .between .individuals)
Occupational .Physical .Activity .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Largest .component .of
.Physical .Activity-related .energy .expenditure.
Health .related .Physical .Fitness .components .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1.
.Cardiorespiratory .endurance .
2. .Body .composition
3. .Muscular .strength
4. .Muscular .endurance .
5. .Flexibility
,Skill .(Performance) .related .Physical .Fitness .components .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
1. .Agility
2. .Coordination
3. .Balance
4. .Power
5. .Reaction .time
6. .Speed
Cardiorespiratory .Endurance .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .of .circulatory .and
.respiratory .system .to .supply .O2 .during .sustained .physical .activity.
Body .Composition .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ratio .of .body .fat .to .lean .body .tissue,
.including .muscle, .bone, .water, .and .connective .tissue .such .as .ligaments,
.cartilage, .and .tendons.
Muscular .Strength .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Amount .of .force .a .muscle .can .exert.
Muscle .Endurance .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .of .the .muscles .to .perform
.physical .tasks .over .a .period .of .time .without .becoming .fatigued.
Flexibility .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Range .of .motion .at .a .joint, .as .per .the .skeletal
.muscles .and .not .any .external .force.
Coordination .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .to .use .the .senses .together .with .body
.parts .to .perform .tasks .smoothly .and .accurately.
Balance .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Maintenance .of .equilibrium .while .stationary .OR
.moving.
Reaction .Time .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Time .elapsed .between .stimulation .and .the
.beginning .of .the .reaction .to .said .stimulus.
Speed .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Ability .to .perform .a .movement .within .a .short
.period .of .time.
ACSM .Weekly/Daily .Physical .Activity .Recommendations .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
150 .min. .of .Moderate .Intensity .PA .per .week .(30 .min .or .more .most .days).
75 .min. .of .Vigorous .Intensity .PA.
Sedentary .Individuals .& .Baseline .Testing/Medical .Clearance .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER-Most .can .safely .begin .a .low-to-moderate .intensity .PA .program
.without .testing .or .clearance.
Individuals .most .at .risk .for .Sudden .Cardiac .Arrest .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
Sedentary .individuals .performing .infrequent .exercise.
Metabolic .Equivalent .(MET) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1 .Met .= .relative .oxygen
.consumption .at .rest .(3.5 .mL/kg/min).
, An .easy .way .for .the .general .public .to .gauge .their .exercise .intensity.
Also .used .to .calculate .energy .expenditure .over .time.
MET .Levels .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Light .= .<3 .(slow .walking)
Moderate .= .3-6 .(walking .at .3.0 .mph)
Vigorous .= .>6 .(jogging, .running)
Kilocalorie .(kcal) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-(Calorie): .Estimate .of .energy .cost .that
.can .be .directly .related .to .physical .activity .and .exercise.
Weight .gain, .loss .and .maintenance .can .be .estimated .(3,500 .kcal .= .1 .lb .of .fat).
Pre-Participation .Self-Guided .Screenings .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1. .PAR-Q
.(Physical .Activity .Readiness .Questionnaire)
2. .Fitness .Facility .Pre-Participation .Screening .Questionnaire
PAR-Q .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A .minimal .standard .for .entry .into .Moderate-
Intensity .exercise .programs.
Allows .individuals .to .gauge .their .own .medical .readiness .to .participate. .
Does .not .screen .well .for .those .at .low .to .moderate .risk.
Pre-Participation .Screening .Questionnaire .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Useful .for
.clients .to .assess .their .health .readiness.
More .comprehensive .and .recognizes .signs .and .symptoms .of .CVD .and .other
.risk-factor .thresholds.
ACSM .Coronary .Artery .Disease .Risk .Factors .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-1. .AGE .-
.Men .(45 .and .older); .Women .(55 .and .older)
2. .FAMILY .HISTORY .- .MI, .Coronary .revascularization .or .Sudden .death .before .55
.in .father .and .65 .in .mother, .or .first .degree .relative)
3. .SMOKER .- .Current .or .quit .in .last .6 .months
4. .SEDENTARY .- .No .PA .or .< .30 .min. .of .moderate .PA .at .least .3 .days/week .for
.last .3 .months
5. .OBESITY .- .BMI .>30, .or .Wast .girth .>40in .(102cm) .for .men .& .>35in .(88cm) .for
.women
6. .HYPERTENSION .-SBP .>130 .and/or .DBP .>90 .on .two .separate .occasions .
7. .DYSLIPIDEMIA .- .LDL .>130 .or .HDL .<40, .or .on .lipid .lowering .meds
8. .PREDIABETES .- .Impaired .fasting .blood .glucose .(FBG) .between .100-125
ACSM .Coronary .Artery .Disease .NEGATIVE .Risk .Factor .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
HDL .>60
This .is .reverse .cholesterol .transport .and .reduces .the .risk .of .CVD
Dyspnea .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Shortness .of .breath .or .difficulty .breathing.
Orthopnea .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Difficulty .breathing .when .lying .down
Paroxysmal .Nocturnal .Dyspnea .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Refers .to .attacks .of
.severe .shortness .of .breath .and .coughing .that .generally .occur .at .night. .
It .usually .awakens .the .person .from .sleep, .and .may .be .quite .frightening.
