5/27/25, 7:15 PM NSCA CPSS
NSCA CPSS EXAM ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
What can an d) All of the above
individualized approach to
force-velocity profiles
help with?
a) Analyzing an athlete's
performance and strengths
b) Guiding training,
monitoring, and
rehabilitation
interventions
c) Improving the
interpretation of an
athlete's
underpinnings
d) All of the above
Heart rate variability (HRV) b) Homeostasis
measures the variation of
beat-to-beat intervals over
a specific time and is
commonly used in the
field of human
performance to
assess:
a) Oxygen consumption
b) Homeostasis
c) Muscle strength
d) Joint flexibility
1/38
,5/27/25, 7:49 PM NSCA CPSS
The rise of mobile applications b) Fitness and fatigue changes
and
affordable monitoring devices
has led to a broader use of
heart
rate-derived metrics as
potential indicators of:
a) External load
b) Fitness and fatigue changes
c) Flexibility and range of
motion
d) Psychological stress
The regulation of heart rate is c) Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
tightly
controlled by a vast array of
overlapping feedback loops
across
multiple biological
systems, primarily
influenced by the:
a) Respiratory system
b) Musculoskeletal system
c) Autonomic nervous system
(ANS)
d) Endocrine system
/ 2/38
,5/27/25, 7:49 PM NSCA CPSS
Activation of the sympathetic d) All of the above
branch of the ANS stimulates
the release of hormones
and signaling
mechanisms that cause an
increase in heart rate in
response to:
a) Physical stressors
b) Environmental stressors
c) Psychological stressors
d) All of the above
The parasympathetic branch c) Rest and reduced energy expenditure
of the ANS becomes the
dominant influence in
regulating heart rate
during periods of:
a) High-intensity exercise
b) Mental stress
c) Rest and reduced energy
expenditure
d) Dehydration
Monitoring changes in heart a) Reduce injury risk
rate and HRV is a proven
method for gaining insight
into the balance
between the sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems
and is used to manage
training load and
optimize
athletic performance as well
as:
a) Reduce injury risk
b) Improve joint flexibility
c) Enhance muscular strength
d) Increase cognitive
performance
/ 3/38
, 5/27/25, 7:49 PM NSCA CPSS
Which type of heart rate a) ECG sensors
sensor is
recommended for high-
intensity exercise?
a) ECG sensors
b) Optical sensors
c) Analog radio sensors
d) ANT+ sensors
What is the main advantage of c) Higher accuracy during exercise
ECG sensors over optical
sensors?
a) Ease of use
b) Integration with wearable
devices
c) Higher accuracy during
exercise
d) Lower cost
/ 4/38
NSCA CPSS EXAM ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
What can an d) All of the above
individualized approach to
force-velocity profiles
help with?
a) Analyzing an athlete's
performance and strengths
b) Guiding training,
monitoring, and
rehabilitation
interventions
c) Improving the
interpretation of an
athlete's
underpinnings
d) All of the above
Heart rate variability (HRV) b) Homeostasis
measures the variation of
beat-to-beat intervals over
a specific time and is
commonly used in the
field of human
performance to
assess:
a) Oxygen consumption
b) Homeostasis
c) Muscle strength
d) Joint flexibility
1/38
,5/27/25, 7:49 PM NSCA CPSS
The rise of mobile applications b) Fitness and fatigue changes
and
affordable monitoring devices
has led to a broader use of
heart
rate-derived metrics as
potential indicators of:
a) External load
b) Fitness and fatigue changes
c) Flexibility and range of
motion
d) Psychological stress
The regulation of heart rate is c) Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
tightly
controlled by a vast array of
overlapping feedback loops
across
multiple biological
systems, primarily
influenced by the:
a) Respiratory system
b) Musculoskeletal system
c) Autonomic nervous system
(ANS)
d) Endocrine system
/ 2/38
,5/27/25, 7:49 PM NSCA CPSS
Activation of the sympathetic d) All of the above
branch of the ANS stimulates
the release of hormones
and signaling
mechanisms that cause an
increase in heart rate in
response to:
a) Physical stressors
b) Environmental stressors
c) Psychological stressors
d) All of the above
The parasympathetic branch c) Rest and reduced energy expenditure
of the ANS becomes the
dominant influence in
regulating heart rate
during periods of:
a) High-intensity exercise
b) Mental stress
c) Rest and reduced energy
expenditure
d) Dehydration
Monitoring changes in heart a) Reduce injury risk
rate and HRV is a proven
method for gaining insight
into the balance
between the sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems
and is used to manage
training load and
optimize
athletic performance as well
as:
a) Reduce injury risk
b) Improve joint flexibility
c) Enhance muscular strength
d) Increase cognitive
performance
/ 3/38
, 5/27/25, 7:49 PM NSCA CPSS
Which type of heart rate a) ECG sensors
sensor is
recommended for high-
intensity exercise?
a) ECG sensors
b) Optical sensors
c) Analog radio sensors
d) ANT+ sensors
What is the main advantage of c) Higher accuracy during exercise
ECG sensors over optical
sensors?
a) Ease of use
b) Integration with wearable
devices
c) Higher accuracy during
exercise
d) Lower cost
/ 4/38
