NSCA-CPT Practice Exam Questions
and Answers
The optimal area for body weight training in a gym is which of the following? - ANS-49
sq ft.
A personal trainer was asked to help design a home gym. Where should the personal
trainer recommend the mirrors be placed? - ANS-Position bottom edge at a minimum of
20in (51cm) off the floor
Which of the following muscle groups are concentrically involved during the upward
movement phase of the lead leg of the step-up exercise? - ANS-Quadriceps
Which of the following joint actions occurs during the concentric phase of the front
squat? - ANS-Hip Extension
Which of the following identifies the change in biomechanics from walking to running? -
ANS-Foot strikes shifts from being in front of the body while walking to under the hips
while running
Which method of stretching will improve end range of motion through activation of the
Golgi tendon organ? - ANS-PNF Stretching
When training a client to use a stair stepper, which of the following recommendations
should be made? - ANS-Stand up-right and take deep steps (4 - 8in or 10 - 20cm)
Which of the following actions is most appropriate when performing a back
hyperextension exercise on a stability ball? - ANS-Clasp the hands behind the head.
Which of the following best describes proper technique when using skipping as a
plyometric activity? - ANS-Drive the toes of the lead leg in a dorsiflexed position while
raising the leg forward and up to 90 degrees of hip and knee flexion
What plane of motion is a wide grip pull up performed in? - ANS-Frontal
Which of the following best describes proper technique when instructing a client to
perform preacher curls? - ANS-Keep the upper torso against the pad and perpendicular
to the floor.
When performing the bench press, the anterior deltoid acts in which manner? - ANS-
Synergist
, Performance of which of the following exercises will result in the greatest activation of
the erector spinae? - ANS-Supine hip lift on a ball
A client's excessive posterior pelvic tilt has been linked to their low back pain. A
stretching program should focus on which of the following musculature? - ANS-
Hamstrings
Which of the following exercises is most appropriate to include for a client beginning a
plyometric program for the first time? - ANS-Jump to box
Which of the following drills would be best for improving stride frequency? - ANS-
Ankling
What motivational technique is practiced when a client states "I enjoy doing squats"? -
ANS-Positive self talk
Which of the following training loads and volumes would be most appropriate for a 45-
year-old client who has been training 3 days per week for approximately 6 months and
wishes to develop muscular hypertrophy? - ANS-Performing 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions
at 70%-75% of the 1RM
Which of the following best describes the concentric force-velocity relationship of
skeletal muscle during maximal effort? - ANS-Velocity increases, concentric force
decreases
Which of the following identifies why a client's foot strike lands in front of their center of
gravity? - ANS-Overstriding
Which stretching technique most closely stimulates movements that occur in activities in
daily living? - ANS-Dynamic Stretching
If an athlete is performing a movement commonly referred to as a "negative"; they are
employing which of the following muscle actions? - ANS-Eccentric
Which of the following physiological adaptations is most likely to occur in response to an
aerobic endurance training program? - ANS-Enhanced ventricular hypertrophy
Which of the following is an example of a closed kinetic chain exercise? - ANS-Push-up
Which of the following is classified as a high intensity plyometric drill? - ANS-Depth
Jump
Which of the following guidelines are appropriate for a personal trainer to follow when
training a pregnant client? - ANS-Avoid exercises while lying on the back after the first
trimester
and Answers
The optimal area for body weight training in a gym is which of the following? - ANS-49
sq ft.
A personal trainer was asked to help design a home gym. Where should the personal
trainer recommend the mirrors be placed? - ANS-Position bottom edge at a minimum of
20in (51cm) off the floor
Which of the following muscle groups are concentrically involved during the upward
movement phase of the lead leg of the step-up exercise? - ANS-Quadriceps
Which of the following joint actions occurs during the concentric phase of the front
squat? - ANS-Hip Extension
Which of the following identifies the change in biomechanics from walking to running? -
ANS-Foot strikes shifts from being in front of the body while walking to under the hips
while running
Which method of stretching will improve end range of motion through activation of the
Golgi tendon organ? - ANS-PNF Stretching
When training a client to use a stair stepper, which of the following recommendations
should be made? - ANS-Stand up-right and take deep steps (4 - 8in or 10 - 20cm)
Which of the following actions is most appropriate when performing a back
hyperextension exercise on a stability ball? - ANS-Clasp the hands behind the head.
Which of the following best describes proper technique when using skipping as a
plyometric activity? - ANS-Drive the toes of the lead leg in a dorsiflexed position while
raising the leg forward and up to 90 degrees of hip and knee flexion
What plane of motion is a wide grip pull up performed in? - ANS-Frontal
Which of the following best describes proper technique when instructing a client to
perform preacher curls? - ANS-Keep the upper torso against the pad and perpendicular
to the floor.
When performing the bench press, the anterior deltoid acts in which manner? - ANS-
Synergist
, Performance of which of the following exercises will result in the greatest activation of
the erector spinae? - ANS-Supine hip lift on a ball
A client's excessive posterior pelvic tilt has been linked to their low back pain. A
stretching program should focus on which of the following musculature? - ANS-
Hamstrings
Which of the following exercises is most appropriate to include for a client beginning a
plyometric program for the first time? - ANS-Jump to box
Which of the following drills would be best for improving stride frequency? - ANS-
Ankling
What motivational technique is practiced when a client states "I enjoy doing squats"? -
ANS-Positive self talk
Which of the following training loads and volumes would be most appropriate for a 45-
year-old client who has been training 3 days per week for approximately 6 months and
wishes to develop muscular hypertrophy? - ANS-Performing 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions
at 70%-75% of the 1RM
Which of the following best describes the concentric force-velocity relationship of
skeletal muscle during maximal effort? - ANS-Velocity increases, concentric force
decreases
Which of the following identifies why a client's foot strike lands in front of their center of
gravity? - ANS-Overstriding
Which stretching technique most closely stimulates movements that occur in activities in
daily living? - ANS-Dynamic Stretching
If an athlete is performing a movement commonly referred to as a "negative"; they are
employing which of the following muscle actions? - ANS-Eccentric
Which of the following physiological adaptations is most likely to occur in response to an
aerobic endurance training program? - ANS-Enhanced ventricular hypertrophy
Which of the following is an example of a closed kinetic chain exercise? - ANS-Push-up
Which of the following is classified as a high intensity plyometric drill? - ANS-Depth
Jump
Which of the following guidelines are appropriate for a personal trainer to follow when
training a pregnant client? - ANS-Avoid exercises while lying on the back after the first
trimester
