2025 Edition

Personal Trainer Practice Tests

Take this free practice test to see how prepared you are for a personal trainer certification exam. There are a number of organizations that provide a certifying credential for personal trainers. All of them require the passing of an exam to obtain certification.

For other resources, check out our free ACE Personal Trainer practice exam or our free NSCA Certified Personal Tainer practice exam.

To prepare for the ACE Personal Trainer exam, use our ACE Personal Trainer Practice Exam Kit with 750 questions with answers fully explained.

If you need to prepare for the NSCA-CPT exam, check out our NSCA-CPT Practice Exam Kit.

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ACE Personal Trainer Exam

1 When checking a client's heart rate, what is a commonly palpated site?

a. Femoral artery

b. Jugular vein

c. Carotid artery

d. Tibial artery

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The pulse can only be felt on arteries, and the most common sites are the carotid artery in the neck and the radial artery on the thumb side of the inside of the wrist.

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2 What are the correct units of measurement for calculating body mass index (BMI)?

a. Weight (lB./Height (in)

b. Weight (kg)/Height (m)

c. Height (in)/Weight (lB.

d. Height (m)/Weight (kg)

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

BMI is a ratio of weight to height, or weight/height. You must make sure to first convert height to meters and weight to kilograms.

3 You decide to run some assessments to test a client's mobility. Which of the following tests would be most appropriate?

a. Thomas test

b. Thoracic spine mobility screen

c. Sharpened Romberg test

d. Trunk flexor endurance test

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Each of the tests mentioned are assessments tools. However, only one of them (Thoracic spine mobility screen) is known to assess a client's mobility.

4 Jenna has not participated in an exercise program for 2 years. She wants to get back into a resistance training routine to gain strength and reduce her body fat percentage. How many times should you suggest she perform resistance training per week?

a. 2-3

b. 3-4

c. 3-5

d. Once a week

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A person who is not currently training or is just beginning should start out exercising between 2 and 3 times per week.

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5 Which of the following mind-body exercise programs is based on the idea that there is a core set of postural muscles that help to keep the body balanced and are essential to providing good support to the spine? This method is divided into two modalities, floor/mat work and work on a reformer.

a. Pilates

b. Tai chi

c. Restorative yoga

d. Alexander technique

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Pilates is a method of mind-body conditioning that combines stretching and strengthening exercises. The principle goal is to achieve efficient functional movement and improved performance.

NSCA-CPT Exam

6 When an anterior pelvic tilt is determined, which muscles are suspected to be tight?

a. Hip Flexors and Erector Spinae

b. Rectus Abdominis and Hamstrings

c. Gluteus Maximus and Gluteus Medius

d. Quadriceps and Anterior Tibialis

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Generally, the muscles supporting the occurring action, or the shortened muscles, are tight. When an anterior pelvic tilt occurs it is usually the result of shortened, tight hip flexors and/or erector spinae, causing lordosis in the lumbar spine.

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7 Which of the following is an example of a summative evaluation?

a. PAR-Q

b. Heart rate monitoring

c. Body fat testing

d. Observations made during the session

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

An informal observation is considered a summative evaluation of the client.

8 Which of the following are utilized for anaerobic energy production?

a. Glycogen

b. Fatty Acids

c. Amino acids

d. Oxygen

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Glycogen and creatine phosphate are the main substrates utilized for anaerobic energy production.

9 Which of the following exercise sets represent a correct recommendation for an individual with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, following the guideline of "contraindicated, indicated"?

a. Stiff-leg deadlift, Leg curl

b. Leg curl, Stiff-leg deadlift

c. Full leg extension, Step-up

d. ¾ squat, Full leg extension

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Full range leg extensions are contraindicated for individuals who have undergone ACL reconstruction, where step-ups are recommended, along with stiff-leg deadlifts, leg curls and ¾ squats.

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10 What represents proper form for an abdominal crunch on a stability ball?

a. Lying supine on the ball with hips below the ball

b. Lying prone on the ball with hips on the ball

c. Lying supine on the ball with hips on the ball

d. Lying supine on the ball with hands behind the head, pulling gently upward

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The individual should be lying supine (with back on the ball) with their feet on the floor, hips on the ball and head resting in their hands.