NASM CPT CORE EXAM SET 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Gluconeogenesis - ✔✔The formation of glucose from proteins and fats only
✔✔Sagittal Plane - ✔✔Divides body into left and right halves, front-to-back and up-and-
down movements
✔✔Frontal Plane - ✔✔Divides body into front and back halves, side-to-side movements
✔✔Transverse Plane - ✔✔Divides body into top and bottom halves, horizontal
abduction and adduction, ex- chest flys
✔✔Concentric - ✔✔Shortening of a muscle during muscle contraction
✔✔Eccentric - ✔✔Muscle develops tension while lengthening, decelerates force
✔✔Isometric - ✔✔No visible change in muscle length, ex-plank
✔✔Isotonic - ✔✔Muscle develops tension while visibly changing in length, ex-
concentric and eccentric
✔✔Isokinetic - ✔✔Speed of movement is fixed, only done in labs
✔✔Ammortization - ✔✔Transition from eccentric loading to concentric unloading
✔✔Reciprocal Inhibition - ✔✔The simultaneous contraction of one muscle and the
relaxation of its antagonist to allow movement to take place
✔✔1st Class Lever - ✔✔Seesaw, ex- nodding of the head
✔✔2nd Class Lever - ✔✔Wheelbarrow, ex- calf raise
✔✔3rd Class Lever - ✔✔Most common, ex- forearm during bicep curl
✔✔VT1 (Ventilatory Threshold 1) - ✔✔Body uses an equal mix of carbs and fats as fuel
sources
✔✔VT2 (Ventilatory Threshold 2) - ✔✔Glucose provides nearly all of the energy for
activity
✔✔Anaerobic - ✔✔Processes relating to the absence of oxygen
✔✔ATP-PC - ✔✔Provides energy very rapidly, lasts about 10-15 seconds
, ✔✔Glycolysis - ✔✔Provides energy for a little longer, lasts 30-60 seconds
✔✔Oxidative System - ✔✔Longest lasting, lasts 3+ minutes
✔✔EAA (Essential Amino Acids) - ✔✔Must be obtained through diet, 9 of them
✔✔AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range) - ✔✔Protein= 10-35%
Carbs= 45=65%
Fats= 20-35%, Saturated= no more than 10%
✔✔Calories Per Gram - ✔✔Protein= 4 cals/g
Carbs= 4 cals/g
Fat= 9 cals/g
Alcohol= 7 cals/g
✔✔Fiber Recommendations - ✔✔30-34 grams per day for men
25-28 grams per day for women
✔✔Fat Soluble Vitamins - ✔✔A, D, E, K
✔✔Water Recommendations - ✔✔15.5 cups/124 oz for men
11.5 cups/92 oz for women
✔✔Contraindication - ✔✔A specific situation in which a medication, procedure, or
exercise should not be used because it may be harmful to the individual
✔✔PAR-Q+ (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) - ✔✔Detailed questionnaire
designed to assess an individual's physical readiness to engage in structured exercise
✔✔Blood Pressure - ✔✔Systolic- top number, when heart is contracting
Diastolic- bottom number, when heart is at rest
✔✔Circumference Measurements - ✔✔Overall dimension of a body segment, used for
obese clients
✔✔Waist to Hip Ratio - ✔✔Measured at narrowest point of torso and then hips
Waist Measurement/Hip Measurement
✔✔Durnin-Womersley Protocol - ✔✔4 site measurement, measures biceps, triceps,
subscapular, and suprailiac
✔✔YMCA Test - ✔✔Aerobic test that measures cardio fitness, 3 minute bout of stair-
stepping at a specific cadence
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Gluconeogenesis - ✔✔The formation of glucose from proteins and fats only
✔✔Sagittal Plane - ✔✔Divides body into left and right halves, front-to-back and up-and-
down movements
✔✔Frontal Plane - ✔✔Divides body into front and back halves, side-to-side movements
✔✔Transverse Plane - ✔✔Divides body into top and bottom halves, horizontal
abduction and adduction, ex- chest flys
✔✔Concentric - ✔✔Shortening of a muscle during muscle contraction
✔✔Eccentric - ✔✔Muscle develops tension while lengthening, decelerates force
✔✔Isometric - ✔✔No visible change in muscle length, ex-plank
✔✔Isotonic - ✔✔Muscle develops tension while visibly changing in length, ex-
concentric and eccentric
✔✔Isokinetic - ✔✔Speed of movement is fixed, only done in labs
✔✔Ammortization - ✔✔Transition from eccentric loading to concentric unloading
✔✔Reciprocal Inhibition - ✔✔The simultaneous contraction of one muscle and the
relaxation of its antagonist to allow movement to take place
✔✔1st Class Lever - ✔✔Seesaw, ex- nodding of the head
✔✔2nd Class Lever - ✔✔Wheelbarrow, ex- calf raise
✔✔3rd Class Lever - ✔✔Most common, ex- forearm during bicep curl
✔✔VT1 (Ventilatory Threshold 1) - ✔✔Body uses an equal mix of carbs and fats as fuel
sources
✔✔VT2 (Ventilatory Threshold 2) - ✔✔Glucose provides nearly all of the energy for
activity
✔✔Anaerobic - ✔✔Processes relating to the absence of oxygen
✔✔ATP-PC - ✔✔Provides energy very rapidly, lasts about 10-15 seconds
, ✔✔Glycolysis - ✔✔Provides energy for a little longer, lasts 30-60 seconds
✔✔Oxidative System - ✔✔Longest lasting, lasts 3+ minutes
✔✔EAA (Essential Amino Acids) - ✔✔Must be obtained through diet, 9 of them
✔✔AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range) - ✔✔Protein= 10-35%
Carbs= 45=65%
Fats= 20-35%, Saturated= no more than 10%
✔✔Calories Per Gram - ✔✔Protein= 4 cals/g
Carbs= 4 cals/g
Fat= 9 cals/g
Alcohol= 7 cals/g
✔✔Fiber Recommendations - ✔✔30-34 grams per day for men
25-28 grams per day for women
✔✔Fat Soluble Vitamins - ✔✔A, D, E, K
✔✔Water Recommendations - ✔✔15.5 cups/124 oz for men
11.5 cups/92 oz for women
✔✔Contraindication - ✔✔A specific situation in which a medication, procedure, or
exercise should not be used because it may be harmful to the individual
✔✔PAR-Q+ (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) - ✔✔Detailed questionnaire
designed to assess an individual's physical readiness to engage in structured exercise
✔✔Blood Pressure - ✔✔Systolic- top number, when heart is contracting
Diastolic- bottom number, when heart is at rest
✔✔Circumference Measurements - ✔✔Overall dimension of a body segment, used for
obese clients
✔✔Waist to Hip Ratio - ✔✔Measured at narrowest point of torso and then hips
Waist Measurement/Hip Measurement
✔✔Durnin-Womersley Protocol - ✔✔4 site measurement, measures biceps, triceps,
subscapular, and suprailiac
✔✔YMCA Test - ✔✔Aerobic test that measures cardio fitness, 3 minute bout of stair-
stepping at a specific cadence
