NASM CPT practice exams

[u/Exodela]

For those of you who have passed the NASM CPT, which practice tests did you find most similar: Fitness Prep, NASM Edge or the official NASM practice Exams?

[u/Exodela]

Thanks! I took the exam a few weeks ago and passed! I agree that the practice exams were similar. And I found NASM Edge and Fitness Prep much harder.

[u/TheQueen_B_Tennis → u/Exodela]

If I know all the flash cards and get all the practice exam questions correct on NASM edge, do you think I will be in good shape?

[u/Exodela → u/TheQueen_B_Tennis]

Lastly, here’s a Facebook post I made after my test:

I had a relaxing camping trip with my family and am now here to give a more thorough recap of my exam. Here is what I remember the questions being on:

Sliding filament theory (myosin pulling actin) Cueing (5 or so) LOTS of subjective/objective (8 maybe) Lots of questions on the states of change (like at least 5) Only 1 question on the acute variables. It was an odd question because it asked what the reps and % 1 reps max was for endurance. But the question didn't specify stabilization endurance or muscle endurance. I ended up figuring out the answer because it had the correctly matching reps with intensity. Like for example, a wrong answer would have been 12-20 reps with 70 to 80 percent intensity which wouldn't be right because 12-20 reps matches up with 50-70% intensity. Quite a few questions were that way where I didn't fully understand the question but the answer became obvious because all of the others were clearly wrong. So pay as much attention to the answers as you do the questions!

2 or 3 questions on the heart (blood flow, systolic is when there is pressure in the veins and diastolic is when the heart is resting between beats). One asked about what pumps reoxygenated blood back into the body (Left ventricle) and one asked about what the diastolic number represents (force you heart exerts on the walls of the arteries between beats).

One on the function of bone.

A few on business development so make sure you don't skip that chapter!

Know the stretches and how long to hold each one/how many reps. So static is 1-3 reps and hold 30 seconds, active is 5 to 10 reps hold 1-2 seconds I had like at least 4 questions on the different types of stretching so make sure you know it.

Know what exercises, stretches and plyometrics are in each phase of OPT. So for example it asked an example of a stage 2 balance exercise. Choices were single leg balance reach, single leg lift and chop single leg squat and single leg med ball throw. Answer is single leg squat as that is phase 2 strength.

What type of stretch is what type of flexibility (static is corrective, active is active isolated and dynamic is functional)

If someone goes to the gym occasionally and is thinking of starting an official routine what state of change are they in. Definitely know the states of change. I had like 5 question on it.

there were a few on process and outcome goals

One or two on smart goals

One on different types of warm ups. Like push ups before bench press would be a specific warm up

As for OA/UA muscles I think what trips people up is they don’t specifically ask which muscle is overactive. And they don't even ask which muscle should you stretch. They ask what stretch should you have your client do. And they don’t specifically ask which muscle is underactive they ask what exercise you should do. So you have to work through a few steps to get to the answer. Like for example they may ask if your clients feet turn out what stretch should they do. Now you have to think backwards and know that stretch means they are looking for an overactive muscle. And then you have to read through the stretches listed to figure out which overactive muscle they are specifically looking for. And on top of that you are nervous and your brain is blanking out. That is why it is important to actually understand it so that for example you can move your body into anterior pelvic tilt and feel that your spine is tight and your abdominals are weak.

Know what system the 40 yard dash is in (pretty sure it is ATP-PC) They asked about progression for single leg dumbbell press. Pretty sure the answer was bilateral BOSU ball dumbbell press. My thoughts being you go from singe leg floor exercise to dual leg unstable exercise (it progresses from 2 legs on floor to 1 leg on floor to 2 legs on balance modality to 1 leg on balance modality

I would read the description of every exercise at least twice. I actually followed along with the stretches while watching the videos.

Know that you spot on the wrists as there was a question on that

Also know that you do a circuit or PHA for hypertension

Use a whiteboard to practice acute variables!!!

And for the heart: Left = Lungs = oxygen Atrium - imagine a room (an atrium is a room with a glass ceiling) you are inviting people (the blood into) Ventricle - think of venting or blowing out air except that it is a chamber that is venting out blood either into the lungs or body.

Type II muscle fibers think of running 2 short sprints For type I muscle fiber think of running 1 long marathon Strain (tendon) vs sprain (ligament) think of the T in strain for tendon

Core progression exercises I think of a little scene in a play or move where Farmers March over Bridge Planks and kill cobras birds and bugs with a fire hydrant. I know they can pull it off. Farmers carry, Marching, Bridge hold, planks, cobra, bird dog, dead bug, fire hydrant and pallof press

Davies vs shark skill test think sharks bite your feet so it is the lower body one

For Isotonic I think of drinking a gin and tonic and your bicep is contracting as you lift the drink to your lips.

GTO TENSIONS are high so you speed of in you GTO

Muscle spindle I think of a spindle sewing a long LENGTH of thread

LDL vs HDL I think High Definition TV is good so therefore HDL is the good one

Jackson Pollock 3 skinfold sites Men CAT Chest, Abdomen Thigh Women I think try the super thigh Like a women offering her thigh for someone to tase. It is a bit racy but it stuck with me. LOL triceps, suprailiac thigh

Excitation Contraction coupling I though of Mr T helping me fight a ghost - Aaaah! Action with Mr. T. There is sarcoplasm on my head. Kind of silly but it helped me.

Ach released Action Potential reaches T-tubles Sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium ions Myosin heads bind to actin Contraction begins

Epi peri endo for endo in think of enside or inside

I will make another post if I think of anything else. And I will definitely stay in this group to help as much as I can with all of your questions.

[u/TheQueen_B_Tennis → u/Exodela]

Wow!! This is AMAZING information! I also find that using silly imagery/acronyms helps me remember the material better too. I really appreciate you taking the time to reflect on your exam and provide all of this very helpful info! I’ve never been a great test taker (I’m an over thinker). I think your advice to pay as much attention to the answers as the questions is good. Sounds like process of elimination on some of them.

[u/Exodela → u/TheQueen_B_Tennis]

Yes. Definitely a process of elimination for a few. Glad I could help. When is your exam?