ACSM Exercise Physiologist Certification EXPECTED
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1.
Which of the following graded exercise protocols is most widely used in the United States in a clinical
setting?
a. Bruce treadmill protocol
b. Queens College Step Test
c. Astrand-Rhyming cycle
d. All are used equally
ANSWER
a. Bruce treadmill protocol
Question 2.
Underweight is classified as a BMI of ______.
a. <19.9 kg x m-2
b. <18.5 kg x m-2
c. <24.9 kg x m-2
d. <20.5 kg x m-2
ANSWER
b. 18.5 kg x m-2
Question 3.
When measuring regional body circumferences, an average of duplicate measures is used provided
that those measurements do not differ by more than ______.
a. 3 mm
b. 10 mm
c. 5 mm
d. 12 mm
ANSWER
c. 5 mm
,Question 4.
Which of the following represents the demarcation point of a very high health risk for young women
when using waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)?
a. >0.86
b. >0.95
c. >1.00
d. >1.03
ANSWER
a. >0.86
Question 5.
Which if the following is accepted as the criterion measure of cardiorespiratory fitness?
a. Field test performance
b. VO2max
c. Body fat percentage
d. HRmax
ANSWER
b. VO2max (only direct measure)
Question 6.
When estimating VO2max using the YMCA cycle ergometer protocol, which of the following best
describes the relationship between heart rate (HR) >110 bpm and 85% age-predicted HRmax or 70%
heart rate reserve (HRR)?
a. Logarithmic
b. Inverse
c. Curvilinear
d. Linear
ANSWER
d. Linear
,Question 7.
Which of the following variables is unique to the Rockport One-Mile Fitness Fitness Walking Test's
regression equation to estimate VO2max?
a. Age
b. HR
c. Gender
d. Body mass
ANSWER
c. Gender (men have a 15% higher relative vo2 max)
Question 8.
What is the suggested work rate for a deconditioned, female individual performing the Astrand-
Rhyming cycle ergometer protocol?
a. 150 or 300 kg x m x min-1 (25 or 50 W)
b. 300 or 450 kg x m x min-1 (50 or 75 W)
c. 450 or 600 kg x m x min-1 (75 or 100 W)
d. 600 or 900 kg x m x min-1 (100 or 150 W)
ANSWER
b. 300 or 450 kg x m x min-1 (50 or 75 W) deconditiond male-450-300
trained-600-900
Question 9.
The Queens College Step Test (also known as McArdle Step Test) is performed for how long?
a. 45 s
b. 90 s
c. 3 min
d. 5 min
ANSWER
c. 3 min
, Question 10.
Which of the following is not a general category for clinical exercise testing?
a. Prognosis
b. Implementation
c. Evaluation
d. Diagnosis
ANSWER
b. Implementation (consists of progno-
sis, evaluation, diagnosis) *pes statement*
Question 11.
Which of the following is considered the "gold standard" to objectively measure exercise capacity?
a. Maximal exercise test using indirect calorimetry
b. Submaximal exercise test using hemodynamic responses
c. Physician exam
d. Walk/run field test
ANSWER
a. Maximal exercise test using indirect calorimetry
Question 12.
Whose legal responsibility is it to supervise the clinical exercise laboratory and interpret all clinical
exercise testing results in a diagnostic setting?
a. The test administrator
b. The clinical exercise physiologist
c. The on-call physician assistant
d. The supervising physician
ANSWER
d. The supervising physician
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1.
Which of the following graded exercise protocols is most widely used in the United States in a clinical
setting?
a. Bruce treadmill protocol
b. Queens College Step Test
c. Astrand-Rhyming cycle
d. All are used equally
ANSWER
a. Bruce treadmill protocol
Question 2.
Underweight is classified as a BMI of ______.
a. <19.9 kg x m-2
b. <18.5 kg x m-2
c. <24.9 kg x m-2
d. <20.5 kg x m-2
ANSWER
b. 18.5 kg x m-2
Question 3.
When measuring regional body circumferences, an average of duplicate measures is used provided
that those measurements do not differ by more than ______.
a. 3 mm
b. 10 mm
c. 5 mm
d. 12 mm
ANSWER
c. 5 mm
,Question 4.
Which of the following represents the demarcation point of a very high health risk for young women
when using waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)?
a. >0.86
b. >0.95
c. >1.00
d. >1.03
ANSWER
a. >0.86
Question 5.
Which if the following is accepted as the criterion measure of cardiorespiratory fitness?
a. Field test performance
b. VO2max
c. Body fat percentage
d. HRmax
ANSWER
b. VO2max (only direct measure)
Question 6.
When estimating VO2max using the YMCA cycle ergometer protocol, which of the following best
describes the relationship between heart rate (HR) >110 bpm and 85% age-predicted HRmax or 70%
heart rate reserve (HRR)?
a. Logarithmic
b. Inverse
c. Curvilinear
d. Linear
ANSWER
d. Linear
,Question 7.
Which of the following variables is unique to the Rockport One-Mile Fitness Fitness Walking Test's
regression equation to estimate VO2max?
a. Age
b. HR
c. Gender
d. Body mass
ANSWER
c. Gender (men have a 15% higher relative vo2 max)
Question 8.
What is the suggested work rate for a deconditioned, female individual performing the Astrand-
Rhyming cycle ergometer protocol?
a. 150 or 300 kg x m x min-1 (25 or 50 W)
b. 300 or 450 kg x m x min-1 (50 or 75 W)
c. 450 or 600 kg x m x min-1 (75 or 100 W)
d. 600 or 900 kg x m x min-1 (100 or 150 W)
ANSWER
b. 300 or 450 kg x m x min-1 (50 or 75 W) deconditiond male-450-300
trained-600-900
Question 9.
The Queens College Step Test (also known as McArdle Step Test) is performed for how long?
a. 45 s
b. 90 s
c. 3 min
d. 5 min
ANSWER
c. 3 min
, Question 10.
Which of the following is not a general category for clinical exercise testing?
a. Prognosis
b. Implementation
c. Evaluation
d. Diagnosis
ANSWER
b. Implementation (consists of progno-
sis, evaluation, diagnosis) *pes statement*
Question 11.
Which of the following is considered the "gold standard" to objectively measure exercise capacity?
a. Maximal exercise test using indirect calorimetry
b. Submaximal exercise test using hemodynamic responses
c. Physician exam
d. Walk/run field test
ANSWER
a. Maximal exercise test using indirect calorimetry
Question 12.
Whose legal responsibility is it to supervise the clinical exercise laboratory and interpret all clinical
exercise testing results in a diagnostic setting?
a. The test administrator
b. The clinical exercise physiologist
c. The on-call physician assistant
d. The supervising physician
ANSWER
d. The supervising physician
