,NSCA CPSS 2026/2027 — Original Practice
Question Set (200 Questions) NSCA CPSS Exam
2026/2027 Test Bank
Certified Performance and Sport Scientist | 550 Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales
DOMAIN 1 — Sport Science Theory and Process
1. The SAID principle states that adaptations are:
A) Proportional to training volume
B) Specific to the type of imposed demands
C) Reversible when training stops
D) Identical across all athletes
Answer: B
Rationale: SAID = Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands. Option A describes overload, C describes
reversibility, D contradicts individuality.
2. According to the General Adaptation Syndrome, which stage follows the alarm phase?
A) Exhaustion
B) Supercompensation
C) Resistance
D) Recovery
Answer: C
Rationale: GAS proceeds Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion. Supercompensation is a related but distinct
recovery concept.
3. A pre-competition taper should generally involve:
A) Increasing both volume and intensity
B) Complete rest for two weeks
C) Reducing volume while maintaining or slightly increasing intensity
D) Doubling training frequency
,Answer: C
Rationale: Tapering research supports reducing volume (40–60%) while maintaining or slightly
increasing intensity to preserve fitness while dissipating fatigue.
4. The acute:chronic workload ratio is calculated as:
A) Chronic load ÷ acute load
B) Weekly load × monotony
C) Total distance ÷ time
D) Acute load ÷ chronic load
Answer: D
Rationale: ACWR = acute load (typically 1 week) ÷ chronic load (typically 4 weeks). High ratios have been
associated with increased injury risk in some research.
5. Detraining effects on VO₂max typically become detectable within:
A) 1–2 weeks
B) 1 day
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiovascular and aerobic adaptations decline detectably within about 1–2 weeks of training
cessation.
6. Session RPE is calculated as:
A) Heart rate × time
B) RPE × duration
C) Distance ÷ time
D) Weight × reps
Answer: B
Rationale: Session RPE (Foster's method) = perceived exertion × session duration, yielding an internal
load measure in arbitrary units.
7. Which of the following is an internal training load measure?
A) Total distance
B) Power output
C) Heart rate
D) Sprint count
, Answer: C
Rationale: Heart rate reflects the internal physiological response. Distance, power, and sprint counts are
external measures.
8. Which of the following is an example of an eccentric muscle action?
A) Pushing up during a squat
B) Holding a plank
C) Standing up from a chair
D) Lowering a barbell during a bench press
Answer: D
Rationale: Eccentric action involves muscle lengthening under tension. Pushing up and standing are
concentric; a plank is isometric.
9. The stretch-shortening cycle primarily enhances performance by:
A) Increasing muscle length
B) Utilizing stored elastic energy and the stretch reflex
C) Reducing neural drive
D) Decreasing force output
Answer: B
Rationale: The SSC uses elastic energy storage in tendons and the stretch reflex to augment force during
rapid eccentric-to-concentric transitions.
10. Rate of force development (RFD) is best defined as:
A) The total force produced
B) The duration of a contraction
C) The speed at which force is produced
D) The muscle's cross-sectional area
Answer: C
Rationale: RFD is the rate at which force is generated over time — critical for explosive actions.
11. The interference effect in concurrent training is most likely when:
A) High-volume endurance is performed immediately before or after strength training
B) Endurance and strength are separated by 6+ hours
C) Only strength training is performed
D) Training is fully periodized
Question Set (200 Questions) NSCA CPSS Exam
2026/2027 Test Bank
Certified Performance and Sport Scientist | 550 Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales
DOMAIN 1 — Sport Science Theory and Process
1. The SAID principle states that adaptations are:
A) Proportional to training volume
B) Specific to the type of imposed demands
C) Reversible when training stops
D) Identical across all athletes
Answer: B
Rationale: SAID = Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands. Option A describes overload, C describes
reversibility, D contradicts individuality.
2. According to the General Adaptation Syndrome, which stage follows the alarm phase?
A) Exhaustion
B) Supercompensation
C) Resistance
D) Recovery
Answer: C
Rationale: GAS proceeds Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion. Supercompensation is a related but distinct
recovery concept.
3. A pre-competition taper should generally involve:
A) Increasing both volume and intensity
B) Complete rest for two weeks
C) Reducing volume while maintaining or slightly increasing intensity
D) Doubling training frequency
,Answer: C
Rationale: Tapering research supports reducing volume (40–60%) while maintaining or slightly
increasing intensity to preserve fitness while dissipating fatigue.
4. The acute:chronic workload ratio is calculated as:
A) Chronic load ÷ acute load
B) Weekly load × monotony
C) Total distance ÷ time
D) Acute load ÷ chronic load
Answer: D
Rationale: ACWR = acute load (typically 1 week) ÷ chronic load (typically 4 weeks). High ratios have been
associated with increased injury risk in some research.
5. Detraining effects on VO₂max typically become detectable within:
A) 1–2 weeks
B) 1 day
C) 6 months
D) 1 year
Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiovascular and aerobic adaptations decline detectably within about 1–2 weeks of training
cessation.
6. Session RPE is calculated as:
A) Heart rate × time
B) RPE × duration
C) Distance ÷ time
D) Weight × reps
Answer: B
Rationale: Session RPE (Foster's method) = perceived exertion × session duration, yielding an internal
load measure in arbitrary units.
7. Which of the following is an internal training load measure?
A) Total distance
B) Power output
C) Heart rate
D) Sprint count
, Answer: C
Rationale: Heart rate reflects the internal physiological response. Distance, power, and sprint counts are
external measures.
8. Which of the following is an example of an eccentric muscle action?
A) Pushing up during a squat
B) Holding a plank
C) Standing up from a chair
D) Lowering a barbell during a bench press
Answer: D
Rationale: Eccentric action involves muscle lengthening under tension. Pushing up and standing are
concentric; a plank is isometric.
9. The stretch-shortening cycle primarily enhances performance by:
A) Increasing muscle length
B) Utilizing stored elastic energy and the stretch reflex
C) Reducing neural drive
D) Decreasing force output
Answer: B
Rationale: The SSC uses elastic energy storage in tendons and the stretch reflex to augment force during
rapid eccentric-to-concentric transitions.
10. Rate of force development (RFD) is best defined as:
A) The total force produced
B) The duration of a contraction
C) The speed at which force is produced
D) The muscle's cross-sectional area
Answer: C
Rationale: RFD is the rate at which force is generated over time — critical for explosive actions.
11. The interference effect in concurrent training is most likely when:
A) High-volume endurance is performed immediately before or after strength training
B) Endurance and strength are separated by 6+ hours
C) Only strength training is performed
D) Training is fully periodized
