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FITNESS PROFESSIONAL'S HANDBOOK 7TH
EDITION HOWLEY EXAM 2026 – 2027 LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
Fitness Professional's Handbook 7th Edition Howley Exam — 250 Practice
Questions
SECTION 1: HEALTH, FITNESS, & PERFORMANCE (Questions 1-25)
1. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults should
engage in how much moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week?
• A. 75 minutes
• B. 150 minutes
• C. 200 minutes
• D. 300 minutes
Answer: B
Rationale: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults
engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of
vigorous-intensity activity per week. This is a foundational guideline that fitness
professionals must know when prescribing exercise programs .
2. Which of the following is NOT considered a health-related component of
physical fitness?
• A. Cardiorespiratory endurance
• B. Muscular strength
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• C. Agility
• D. Body composition
Answer: C
Rationale: The health-related components of physical fitness include cardiorespiratory
endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
Agility is a skill-related component of fitness, along with balance, coordination, power,
reaction time, and speed .
3. According to the ACSM, what is the minimum number of days per week
recommended for cardiorespiratory exercise to improve fitness?
• A. 1-2 days
• B. 3-5 days
• C. 5-7 days
• D. Every other day
Answer: B
Rationale: The ACSM recommends cardiorespiratory exercise 3-5 days per week for
most adults to improve fitness. This frequency allows for adequate training stimulus
while providing sufficient recovery between sessions .
4. The FITT-VP principle stands for:
• A. Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, Progression
• B. Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, Performance
• C. Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Variety, Progression
• D. Fitness, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, Progression
Answer: A
Rationale: The FITT-VP principle is the foundation of exercise prescription: Frequency
(how often), Intensity (how hard), Time (how long), Type (mode of activity), Volume (total
amount), and Progression (advancement over time) .
5. A client with a VO2max of 35 mL/kg/min would be classified as having what level
of cardiorespiratory fitness for a 40-year-old female?
• A. Poor
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• B. Fair
• C. Average
• D. Good
Answer: C
Rationale: For a 40-year-old female, a VO2max of 35 mL/kg/min falls within the
"average" category according to ACSM fitness classification standards. Values below 28
are considered poor, 29-34 fair, 35-40 average, 41-44 good, and above 45 excellent.
6. Which of the following is a performance-related component of fitness?
• A. Cardiorespiratory endurance
• B. Body composition
• C. Muscular endurance
• D. Power
Answer: D
Rationale: Power is a performance-related (skill-related) component of fitness, along
with agility, balance, coordination, reaction time, and speed. Cardiorespiratory
endurance, body composition, and muscular endurance are health-related
components .
7. The dose-response relationship between physical activity and health indicates
that:
• A. Any amount of exercise is equally beneficial
• B. More vigorous exercise is always better than moderate exercise
• C. Greater amounts of physical activity lead to greater health benefits
• D. Exercise has no effect on health outcomes
Answer: C
Rationale: The dose-response relationship shows that greater amounts of physical
activity (within safe limits) lead to greater health benefits. However, this relationship is
not linear, and even small amounts of activity provide significant health benefits
compared to being sedentary .
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8. What is the recommended weekly volume of physical activity for substantial
health benefits?
• A. 500-1000 MET-minutes per week
• B. 1000-1500 MET-minutes per week
• C. 1500-2000 MET-minutes per week
• D. 2000-2500 MET-minutes per week
Answer: A
Rationale: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 500-1000 MET-
minutes per week for substantial health benefits. This equates to approximately 150
minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity .
9. The term "metabolic equivalent" (MET) is defined as:
• A. 1 MET = 1.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
• B. 1 MET = 2.0 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
• C. 1 MET = 3.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
• D. 1 MET = 5.0 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
Answer: C
Rationale: One metabolic equivalent (MET) is defined as the resting metabolic rate,
equivalent to approximately 3.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption. This is used as a
reference point for expressing the intensity of physical activities .
10. A client who is new to exercise should begin training at what percentage of their
heart rate reserve (HRR)?
• A. 40-50%
• B. 50-60%
• C. 60-70%
• D. 70-80%
Answer: B
Rationale: For beginners, the ACSM recommends starting at 50-60% of heart rate
reserve (HRR). This intensity is safe, comfortable, and allows for adaptation while
minimizing injury risk. More fit individuals can progress to higher intensities .
FITNESS PROFESSIONAL'S HANDBOOK 7TH
EDITION HOWLEY EXAM 2026 – 2027 LATEST
VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
Fitness Professional's Handbook 7th Edition Howley Exam — 250 Practice
Questions
SECTION 1: HEALTH, FITNESS, & PERFORMANCE (Questions 1-25)
1. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults should
engage in how much moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week?
• A. 75 minutes
• B. 150 minutes
• C. 200 minutes
• D. 300 minutes
Answer: B
Rationale: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults
engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of
vigorous-intensity activity per week. This is a foundational guideline that fitness
professionals must know when prescribing exercise programs .
2. Which of the following is NOT considered a health-related component of
physical fitness?
• A. Cardiorespiratory endurance
• B. Muscular strength
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• C. Agility
• D. Body composition
Answer: C
Rationale: The health-related components of physical fitness include cardiorespiratory
endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
Agility is a skill-related component of fitness, along with balance, coordination, power,
reaction time, and speed .
3. According to the ACSM, what is the minimum number of days per week
recommended for cardiorespiratory exercise to improve fitness?
• A. 1-2 days
• B. 3-5 days
• C. 5-7 days
• D. Every other day
Answer: B
Rationale: The ACSM recommends cardiorespiratory exercise 3-5 days per week for
most adults to improve fitness. This frequency allows for adequate training stimulus
while providing sufficient recovery between sessions .
4. The FITT-VP principle stands for:
• A. Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, Progression
• B. Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, Performance
• C. Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Variety, Progression
• D. Fitness, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, Progression
Answer: A
Rationale: The FITT-VP principle is the foundation of exercise prescription: Frequency
(how often), Intensity (how hard), Time (how long), Type (mode of activity), Volume (total
amount), and Progression (advancement over time) .
5. A client with a VO2max of 35 mL/kg/min would be classified as having what level
of cardiorespiratory fitness for a 40-year-old female?
• A. Poor
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• B. Fair
• C. Average
• D. Good
Answer: C
Rationale: For a 40-year-old female, a VO2max of 35 mL/kg/min falls within the
"average" category according to ACSM fitness classification standards. Values below 28
are considered poor, 29-34 fair, 35-40 average, 41-44 good, and above 45 excellent.
6. Which of the following is a performance-related component of fitness?
• A. Cardiorespiratory endurance
• B. Body composition
• C. Muscular endurance
• D. Power
Answer: D
Rationale: Power is a performance-related (skill-related) component of fitness, along
with agility, balance, coordination, reaction time, and speed. Cardiorespiratory
endurance, body composition, and muscular endurance are health-related
components .
7. The dose-response relationship between physical activity and health indicates
that:
• A. Any amount of exercise is equally beneficial
• B. More vigorous exercise is always better than moderate exercise
• C. Greater amounts of physical activity lead to greater health benefits
• D. Exercise has no effect on health outcomes
Answer: C
Rationale: The dose-response relationship shows that greater amounts of physical
activity (within safe limits) lead to greater health benefits. However, this relationship is
not linear, and even small amounts of activity provide significant health benefits
compared to being sedentary .
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8. What is the recommended weekly volume of physical activity for substantial
health benefits?
• A. 500-1000 MET-minutes per week
• B. 1000-1500 MET-minutes per week
• C. 1500-2000 MET-minutes per week
• D. 2000-2500 MET-minutes per week
Answer: A
Rationale: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 500-1000 MET-
minutes per week for substantial health benefits. This equates to approximately 150
minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity .
9. The term "metabolic equivalent" (MET) is defined as:
• A. 1 MET = 1.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
• B. 1 MET = 2.0 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
• C. 1 MET = 3.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
• D. 1 MET = 5.0 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption
Answer: C
Rationale: One metabolic equivalent (MET) is defined as the resting metabolic rate,
equivalent to approximately 3.5 mL/kg/min of oxygen consumption. This is used as a
reference point for expressing the intensity of physical activities .
10. A client who is new to exercise should begin training at what percentage of their
heart rate reserve (HRR)?
• A. 40-50%
• B. 50-60%
• C. 60-70%
• D. 70-80%
Answer: B
Rationale: For beginners, the ACSM recommends starting at 50-60% of heart rate
reserve (HRR). This intensity is safe, comfortable, and allows for adaptation while
minimizing injury risk. More fit individuals can progress to higher intensities .
