ACSM EP UPDATED FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following allows for a self-guided screening prior to physical activity?
a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus
b. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire
c. Minnesota Leisure Time Activity Survey
d. Jenkins Activity Survey - ✔✔a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus
✔✔The risk factor for obesity is a BMI at or greater than:
a. 45 kg/m2.
b. 30 kg/m2.
c. 15 kg/m2.
d. 60 kg/m2 - ✔✔b. 30 kg/m2.
✔✔Initial interviews with clients should include health history, exercise readiness forms,
and inquiries about:
a. Work schedule and hobbies that may interfere with training schedules.
b. Client goals and expectations for working with an ACSM-EP.
c. Social support networks that can help or hinder the training routine.
d. Previous work with other ACSM-EPs. - ✔✔b. Client goals and expectations for
working with an ACSM-EP.
✔✔Which of the following indicates you should not let your client exercise that day and
should refer them to a physician?
a. Feelings of depression
b. A resting blood pressure of 130/84 mm Hg
c. Abnormally uncomfortable awareness of breathing
d. A resting heart rate of 72 bpm - ✔✔c. Abnormally uncomfortable awareness of
breathing
✔✔Which of the following blood pressure readings indicates hypertension?
a. 142/91 mm Hg
b. 134/80 mm Hg
c. 120/67 mm Hg
d. 130/88 mm Hg - ✔✔a. 142/91 mm Hg
✔✔A client with a history of heart disease is experiencing symptoms of severe calf pain,
which occurs consistently around 10 minutes into walking. This condition MOST likely
is:
a. Tibial nerve entrapment.
b. Piriformis syndrome.
c. Sciatica.
d. Intermittent claudication. - ✔✔d. Intermittent claudication.
,✔✔Vigorous exercise, per the ACSM risk classification, is activity at what MET level?
a. Six
b. Five
c. Three to five
d. Three to less than six - ✔✔a. Six
✔✔A heart murmur that is clinically significant may be indicative of:
a. Anemia.
b. Hypertension.
c. Shortness of breath.
d. Valvular heart disease. - ✔✔d. Valvular heart disease.
✔✔Palpitations are BEST defined as:
a. A sudden increase of heart rate during exertion.
b. A heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute.
c. A slowing down of heart rate that occurs during cool-down.
d. An uncomfortable rhythm of heartbeats or forceful heartbeats. - ✔✔d. An
uncomfortable rhythm of heartbeats or forceful heartbeats.
✔✔Which of the following is considered a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease?
a. Sedentary lifestyle
b. Woman, age 45
c. BMI of 27
d. HDL = 70 - ✔✔a. Sedentary lifestyle
✔✔At the minimum, the health history questionnaire should assess a client's:
a. History of various diseases and illnesses.
b. Diet and supplement intake.
c. Current activity patterns.
d. Elective surgery history. - ✔✔a. History of various diseases and illnesses.
✔✔Which of the following is considered a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease?
a. Sedentary lifestyle
b. BMI of 27
c. HDL of 70 mg/dL
d. Woman, age 45 - ✔✔a. Sedentary lifestyle
✔✔Which of the following MUST be included as part of every client's screening?
a. Postural assessment
b. Body composition assessment
c. Movement screen
,d. Health risk appraisal - ✔✔d. Health risk appraisal
✔✔ACSM-EPs should always confirm with clients that their risk classification and health
information are accurate and up to date before:
a. Beginning exercise testing and/or training.
b. Contacting the client's physician.
c. Agreeing to take on the client.
d. Discussing health history. - ✔✔a. Beginning exercise testing and/or training.
✔✔The risk factor for smoking no longer applies for which of the following?
a. Quit smoking for four months
b. Quit smoking for two months
c. Quit smoking for nine months
d. Quit smoking for one month - ✔✔c. Quit smoking for nine months
✔✔Which of the following forms may be used if a health/medical history evaluation form
is not readily available?
a. Health fitness assessment
b. PAR-Q+
c. Personal Trainer-Client Agreement
d. Informed consent - ✔✔b. PAR-Q+
✔✔Which of the following profiles is considered a risk factor with respect to obesity?
a. BMI greater than 25 for males
b. BMI of 28 for females
c. Waist of 32 inches for females
d. Waist of 40 inches for males - ✔✔d. Waist of 40 inches for males
✔✔An immediate referral to a physician is indicated with a client exhibits signs or
symptoms of which of the following?
a. Intermittent tightening of the calf muscles when standing
b. Syncope during mild exertion
c. Discomfort in the hips during walking
d. Labored breathing during vigorous exercise - ✔✔b. Syncope during mild exertion
✔✔Intermittent claudication refers to:
a. Fluid buildup around the ankle joints while bearing weight.
b. Pedal pulse pressures that vacillate between strong and weak.
c. A constant pain that is felt in the anterior compartment of the lower leg.
d. Pain that occurs in the lower extremities during walking and disappears after
stopping. - ✔✔d. Pain that occurs in the lower extremities during walking and
disappears after stopping.
, ✔✔A 30-year-old potential client states she just had a physical and was informed by her
physician that her total cholesterol and blood pressure looked great. You review her
medical history and note she is taking vitamins and antihypertensive medication. Based
on this profile, she would be considered as having how many risk factors?
a. Two
b. Three
c. One
d. Zero - ✔✔c. One
✔✔When meeting with a client for the initial consultation, the client reports not being
physically active (fails to meet minimum requirements). The client does not possess any
diagnosed CMR diseases, nor does the client present with any signs/symptoms of CMR
disease. What is the recommended course of action according to the ACSM
preparticipation screening algorithm?
a. The client may begin a light/moderate-intensity exercise program
b. The client may begin a vigorous-intensity exercise program
c. The client should discontinue and seek medical clearance
d. The client should participate in an ACSM-EP supervised diagnostic exercise test -
✔✔a. The client may begin a light/moderate-intensity exercise program
✔✔Syncope is defined as:
a. Shortness of breath that occurs during rest.
b. Loss of consciousness/fainting.
c. Shortness of breath during exercise.
d. An unpleasant sensation of forceful or rapid heart beats. - ✔✔b. Loss of
consciousness/fainting.
✔✔A characteristic sign of heart failure or bilateral chronic venous insufficiency is:
a. Bilateral ankle edema.
b. Unilateral limb edema.
c. Generalized edema.
d. Anasarca. - ✔✔a. Bilateral ankle edema.
✔✔The negative risk factor for cardiovascular disease is:
a. Sedentary lifestyle.
b. Body mass index.
c. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
d. Family history. - ✔✔c. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
✔✔Which organizations publish formal screening guidelines for those who plan to
participate in physical activity?
a. ACSM and American Heart Association
b. American Heart Association and President's Council on Physical Fitness
c. ACSM and American Medical Association
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following allows for a self-guided screening prior to physical activity?
a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus
b. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire
c. Minnesota Leisure Time Activity Survey
d. Jenkins Activity Survey - ✔✔a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus
✔✔The risk factor for obesity is a BMI at or greater than:
a. 45 kg/m2.
b. 30 kg/m2.
c. 15 kg/m2.
d. 60 kg/m2 - ✔✔b. 30 kg/m2.
✔✔Initial interviews with clients should include health history, exercise readiness forms,
and inquiries about:
a. Work schedule and hobbies that may interfere with training schedules.
b. Client goals and expectations for working with an ACSM-EP.
c. Social support networks that can help or hinder the training routine.
d. Previous work with other ACSM-EPs. - ✔✔b. Client goals and expectations for
working with an ACSM-EP.
✔✔Which of the following indicates you should not let your client exercise that day and
should refer them to a physician?
a. Feelings of depression
b. A resting blood pressure of 130/84 mm Hg
c. Abnormally uncomfortable awareness of breathing
d. A resting heart rate of 72 bpm - ✔✔c. Abnormally uncomfortable awareness of
breathing
✔✔Which of the following blood pressure readings indicates hypertension?
a. 142/91 mm Hg
b. 134/80 mm Hg
c. 120/67 mm Hg
d. 130/88 mm Hg - ✔✔a. 142/91 mm Hg
✔✔A client with a history of heart disease is experiencing symptoms of severe calf pain,
which occurs consistently around 10 minutes into walking. This condition MOST likely
is:
a. Tibial nerve entrapment.
b. Piriformis syndrome.
c. Sciatica.
d. Intermittent claudication. - ✔✔d. Intermittent claudication.
,✔✔Vigorous exercise, per the ACSM risk classification, is activity at what MET level?
a. Six
b. Five
c. Three to five
d. Three to less than six - ✔✔a. Six
✔✔A heart murmur that is clinically significant may be indicative of:
a. Anemia.
b. Hypertension.
c. Shortness of breath.
d. Valvular heart disease. - ✔✔d. Valvular heart disease.
✔✔Palpitations are BEST defined as:
a. A sudden increase of heart rate during exertion.
b. A heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute.
c. A slowing down of heart rate that occurs during cool-down.
d. An uncomfortable rhythm of heartbeats or forceful heartbeats. - ✔✔d. An
uncomfortable rhythm of heartbeats or forceful heartbeats.
✔✔Which of the following is considered a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease?
a. Sedentary lifestyle
b. Woman, age 45
c. BMI of 27
d. HDL = 70 - ✔✔a. Sedentary lifestyle
✔✔At the minimum, the health history questionnaire should assess a client's:
a. History of various diseases and illnesses.
b. Diet and supplement intake.
c. Current activity patterns.
d. Elective surgery history. - ✔✔a. History of various diseases and illnesses.
✔✔Which of the following is considered a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease?
a. Sedentary lifestyle
b. BMI of 27
c. HDL of 70 mg/dL
d. Woman, age 45 - ✔✔a. Sedentary lifestyle
✔✔Which of the following MUST be included as part of every client's screening?
a. Postural assessment
b. Body composition assessment
c. Movement screen
,d. Health risk appraisal - ✔✔d. Health risk appraisal
✔✔ACSM-EPs should always confirm with clients that their risk classification and health
information are accurate and up to date before:
a. Beginning exercise testing and/or training.
b. Contacting the client's physician.
c. Agreeing to take on the client.
d. Discussing health history. - ✔✔a. Beginning exercise testing and/or training.
✔✔The risk factor for smoking no longer applies for which of the following?
a. Quit smoking for four months
b. Quit smoking for two months
c. Quit smoking for nine months
d. Quit smoking for one month - ✔✔c. Quit smoking for nine months
✔✔Which of the following forms may be used if a health/medical history evaluation form
is not readily available?
a. Health fitness assessment
b. PAR-Q+
c. Personal Trainer-Client Agreement
d. Informed consent - ✔✔b. PAR-Q+
✔✔Which of the following profiles is considered a risk factor with respect to obesity?
a. BMI greater than 25 for males
b. BMI of 28 for females
c. Waist of 32 inches for females
d. Waist of 40 inches for males - ✔✔d. Waist of 40 inches for males
✔✔An immediate referral to a physician is indicated with a client exhibits signs or
symptoms of which of the following?
a. Intermittent tightening of the calf muscles when standing
b. Syncope during mild exertion
c. Discomfort in the hips during walking
d. Labored breathing during vigorous exercise - ✔✔b. Syncope during mild exertion
✔✔Intermittent claudication refers to:
a. Fluid buildup around the ankle joints while bearing weight.
b. Pedal pulse pressures that vacillate between strong and weak.
c. A constant pain that is felt in the anterior compartment of the lower leg.
d. Pain that occurs in the lower extremities during walking and disappears after
stopping. - ✔✔d. Pain that occurs in the lower extremities during walking and
disappears after stopping.
, ✔✔A 30-year-old potential client states she just had a physical and was informed by her
physician that her total cholesterol and blood pressure looked great. You review her
medical history and note she is taking vitamins and antihypertensive medication. Based
on this profile, she would be considered as having how many risk factors?
a. Two
b. Three
c. One
d. Zero - ✔✔c. One
✔✔When meeting with a client for the initial consultation, the client reports not being
physically active (fails to meet minimum requirements). The client does not possess any
diagnosed CMR diseases, nor does the client present with any signs/symptoms of CMR
disease. What is the recommended course of action according to the ACSM
preparticipation screening algorithm?
a. The client may begin a light/moderate-intensity exercise program
b. The client may begin a vigorous-intensity exercise program
c. The client should discontinue and seek medical clearance
d. The client should participate in an ACSM-EP supervised diagnostic exercise test -
✔✔a. The client may begin a light/moderate-intensity exercise program
✔✔Syncope is defined as:
a. Shortness of breath that occurs during rest.
b. Loss of consciousness/fainting.
c. Shortness of breath during exercise.
d. An unpleasant sensation of forceful or rapid heart beats. - ✔✔b. Loss of
consciousness/fainting.
✔✔A characteristic sign of heart failure or bilateral chronic venous insufficiency is:
a. Bilateral ankle edema.
b. Unilateral limb edema.
c. Generalized edema.
d. Anasarca. - ✔✔a. Bilateral ankle edema.
✔✔The negative risk factor for cardiovascular disease is:
a. Sedentary lifestyle.
b. Body mass index.
c. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
d. Family history. - ✔✔c. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
✔✔Which organizations publish formal screening guidelines for those who plan to
participate in physical activity?
a. ACSM and American Heart Association
b. American Heart Association and President's Council on Physical Fitness
c. ACSM and American Medical Association
