NPCP Practice Exam UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Which of the following BEST describes what would be included in a Pilates teachers
documentation?
A: It provides detailed and extensive notes of each session
B: It involves rewriting the program when a new exercise is given
C: It involves noting new exercises and unique observations
D: It includes providing the client with copies of all notes - CORRECT ANSWER C: It
involves noting new exercises and unique observations
2. Which of the following BEST describes the proper set up for Breast Stroke?
A: Long box, feet in straps, client facing headrest
B: Long box, hands in straps, client facing foot bar
C: Long box, feet in straps, client facing foot bar
D: Long box, hands in straps, clients facing headrest - CORRECT ANSWER B: Long
box, hands in straps, client facing foot bar
3. Placing the Magic circle between the ankles in teaser is an appropriate adjustment for:
A: Increasing the level of challenge
B: Clients with knee valgus
C: Decreasing the level of difficulty
D: A third trimester prenatal client - CORRECT ANSWER A: Increasing the level of
challenge
4. Short spine massage, swan, and twist are part of a clients program. Which of the following
exercise would balance out this program?
,A: Teaser
B: Corkscrew
C: Down stretch
D: Cleopatra - CORRECT ANSWER D: Cleopatra
5. What is the BEST reason to arrive prior to teaching a class?
A: To check emails and phone messages
B: To fold towels
C: To greet clients and set up the room
D: To warm yourself up - CORRECT ANSWER C: To greet clients and set up the
room
6. What is the BEST reason to continue your personal Pilates practice?
A: To keep you strong for dance class
B: To balance out your cardio activity
C: To maintain conditioning after completing Pilates education
D: To maintain your strength, stamina, and enthusiasm - CORRECT ANSWER D: To
maintain your strength, stamina, and enthusiasm
7. Which of the following exercises is BEST suited for a client in the second trimester of
pregnancy?
A: Short spine massage on the reformer
B: Seated double leg pumps on the Wunda chair
C: Swan on the trap table
D: Standing side splits on the reformer - CORRECT ANSWER B: Seated double leg
pumps on the Wunda chair
,8: Which of the following cues can improve the start position for standing chest expansion?
A: Draw the shoulder blades together
B: Hips back and chest forward
C: Weight in heels
D: Reach the crown of your head to the ceiling - CORRECT ANSWER D: Reach the
crown of your head to the ceiling
9. Joseph Pilates described his body of work and exercise system as what?
A: Contrology
B: Pilates
C: Physical culture
D: Life fitness - CORRECT ANSWER A: Contrology
10. During your session, you notice a client stops moving when you provide a tactile cue.
What might this indicate?
A: The client was unaware they stopped
B: The client may be unclear of the tactile cue purpose
C: The client may not hear you well
D: The client may want you to demonstrate - CORRECT ANSWER B: The client may
be unclear of the tactile cue purpose
11. Which of the following should be the focus of a Pilates program for a semi-professional
athlete with hyper mobility?
A: Core control and flexibility
B: Range of motion and core control
C: Flexibility and control
, D: Strength and stability - CORRECT ANSWER D: Strength and stability
12. Which of the following symptoms requires immediate cessation of exercise with a
pregnant client and follow-up consultation with her physician?
A: Low back pain
B: Nausea
C: Abdominal pain
D: Headache - CORRECT ANSWER C: Abdominal pain
13. Which of the following is a reason NOT to physically modify Pilates equipment?
A: The equipment will no longer be aesthetically pleasing
B: The integrity of the equipment might be compromised
C: Many exercises will have to be re-designed
D: The equipment might require more maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER B: The
integrity of the equipment might be compromised
14. Which of the following muscles would benefit from a stretch after a long duration of
sitting?
A: Rectus abdominus
B: IT band
C: Vastus lateralis
D: Rectus femoris - CORRECT ANSWER D: Rectus femoris
15. A common similarity between semi-circle, rollover, and long spine massage is which of
the following?
A: The focus of each is spinal articulation
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Which of the following BEST describes what would be included in a Pilates teachers
documentation?
A: It provides detailed and extensive notes of each session
B: It involves rewriting the program when a new exercise is given
C: It involves noting new exercises and unique observations
D: It includes providing the client with copies of all notes - CORRECT ANSWER C: It
involves noting new exercises and unique observations
2. Which of the following BEST describes the proper set up for Breast Stroke?
A: Long box, feet in straps, client facing headrest
B: Long box, hands in straps, client facing foot bar
C: Long box, feet in straps, client facing foot bar
D: Long box, hands in straps, clients facing headrest - CORRECT ANSWER B: Long
box, hands in straps, client facing foot bar
3. Placing the Magic circle between the ankles in teaser is an appropriate adjustment for:
A: Increasing the level of challenge
B: Clients with knee valgus
C: Decreasing the level of difficulty
D: A third trimester prenatal client - CORRECT ANSWER A: Increasing the level of
challenge
4. Short spine massage, swan, and twist are part of a clients program. Which of the following
exercise would balance out this program?
,A: Teaser
B: Corkscrew
C: Down stretch
D: Cleopatra - CORRECT ANSWER D: Cleopatra
5. What is the BEST reason to arrive prior to teaching a class?
A: To check emails and phone messages
B: To fold towels
C: To greet clients and set up the room
D: To warm yourself up - CORRECT ANSWER C: To greet clients and set up the
room
6. What is the BEST reason to continue your personal Pilates practice?
A: To keep you strong for dance class
B: To balance out your cardio activity
C: To maintain conditioning after completing Pilates education
D: To maintain your strength, stamina, and enthusiasm - CORRECT ANSWER D: To
maintain your strength, stamina, and enthusiasm
7. Which of the following exercises is BEST suited for a client in the second trimester of
pregnancy?
A: Short spine massage on the reformer
B: Seated double leg pumps on the Wunda chair
C: Swan on the trap table
D: Standing side splits on the reformer - CORRECT ANSWER B: Seated double leg
pumps on the Wunda chair
,8: Which of the following cues can improve the start position for standing chest expansion?
A: Draw the shoulder blades together
B: Hips back and chest forward
C: Weight in heels
D: Reach the crown of your head to the ceiling - CORRECT ANSWER D: Reach the
crown of your head to the ceiling
9. Joseph Pilates described his body of work and exercise system as what?
A: Contrology
B: Pilates
C: Physical culture
D: Life fitness - CORRECT ANSWER A: Contrology
10. During your session, you notice a client stops moving when you provide a tactile cue.
What might this indicate?
A: The client was unaware they stopped
B: The client may be unclear of the tactile cue purpose
C: The client may not hear you well
D: The client may want you to demonstrate - CORRECT ANSWER B: The client may
be unclear of the tactile cue purpose
11. Which of the following should be the focus of a Pilates program for a semi-professional
athlete with hyper mobility?
A: Core control and flexibility
B: Range of motion and core control
C: Flexibility and control
, D: Strength and stability - CORRECT ANSWER D: Strength and stability
12. Which of the following symptoms requires immediate cessation of exercise with a
pregnant client and follow-up consultation with her physician?
A: Low back pain
B: Nausea
C: Abdominal pain
D: Headache - CORRECT ANSWER C: Abdominal pain
13. Which of the following is a reason NOT to physically modify Pilates equipment?
A: The equipment will no longer be aesthetically pleasing
B: The integrity of the equipment might be compromised
C: Many exercises will have to be re-designed
D: The equipment might require more maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER B: The
integrity of the equipment might be compromised
14. Which of the following muscles would benefit from a stretch after a long duration of
sitting?
A: Rectus abdominus
B: IT band
C: Vastus lateralis
D: Rectus femoris - CORRECT ANSWER D: Rectus femoris
15. A common similarity between semi-circle, rollover, and long spine massage is which of
the following?
A: The focus of each is spinal articulation
