ACSM Practice Study Guide Questions with
Distinction level Marking scheme version
2024/2025
What is the term used to describe the body's ability to utilize
oxygen during exercise?
A. Lactate threshold
B. Anaerobic threshold
C. Anaerobic capacity
D. Oxygen consumption -correct answer D. Oxygen
consumption
Which of the following is also known as the Trunk Flexion Test?
A. Sit-and-reach test.
B. Curl-up test for muscular endurance.
C. Sit-up test for muscular endurance.
D. Any test that requires clients to touch their toes. -correct
answer A. Sit-and-reach test.
What is the order of stretching techniques from lowest risk of
injury to highest risk of injury?
A. Ballistic; slow static; proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation.
B. Slow static; ballistic; proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation.
C. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; ballistic; slow
static.
,D. Slow static; proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation;
ballistic. -correct answer D. Slow static; proprioceptive
neuromuscular facilitation; ballistic.
Which of the following joints has the greatest range of motion,
and involves the greatest number of
movements?
A. Knee joint
B. Shoulder joint
C. Hip joint
D. Ankle joint -correct answer B. Shoulder joint
What change may occur between heart rate and blood pressure
as a result of chronic exercise?
A. Resting heart rate and resting blood pressure are reduced.
B. Resting heart rate reduces, but resting blood pressure stays
the same.
C. Maximal heart rate increases but maximal blood pressure
stays the same.
D. Resting heart rate and resting blood pressure stay the same,
but maximal heart rate and
maximal blood pressure are reduced. -correct answer A.
Resting heart rate and resting blood pressure are reduced.
Which of the following is a result of chronic aerobic training?
A. Increased lipid production.
B. Decreased plasma triglyceride levels.
C. Decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.
,D. Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. -correct
answer B. Decreased plasma triglyceride levels.
Mitral valve prolapse is a condition which primarily affects the .
A. Sino-atrial node.
B. Bicuspid valve.
C. Tricuspid valve.
D. Descending aorta. -correct answer B. Bicuspid valve.
What action is involved in the concentric phase of the biceps
curl?
A. Flexion at the elbow.
B. Extension at the elbow.
C. Pronation of the forearm.
D. Supination of the forearm -correct answer A. Flexion at the
elbow.
Cardiac output is a product of heart rate multiplied by
___________.
A. peripheral resistance.
B. blood pressure.
C. blood volume.
D. stroke volume. -correct answer D. stroke volume.
Which of the following best describes the symptoms that occur at
24-48 hours after a single bout
of intensive exercise?
, A. Delayed onset muscle strain.
B. Acute onset muscle strain.
C. Delayed onset muscle soreness.
D. Acute onset muscle soreness. -correct answer C. Delayed
onset muscle soreness.
Which principle of training best describes a previously active
client, who has been ill and bedridden
for a prolonged period of time?
A. Overload
B. Specificity
C. Reversibility
D. Progression -correct answer C. Reversibility
If you are palpating the thumb side of the forearm in the wrist
area, what pulse are you checking?
A. Humeral
B. Ulnar
C. Brachial
D. Radial -correct answer D. Radial
What is the correct order of the regions of the spinal column,
from superior to inferior?
A. Cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral and coccyx.
B. Coccyx, sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical.
C. Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, coccyx, and sacral.
Distinction level Marking scheme version
2024/2025
What is the term used to describe the body's ability to utilize
oxygen during exercise?
A. Lactate threshold
B. Anaerobic threshold
C. Anaerobic capacity
D. Oxygen consumption -correct answer D. Oxygen
consumption
Which of the following is also known as the Trunk Flexion Test?
A. Sit-and-reach test.
B. Curl-up test for muscular endurance.
C. Sit-up test for muscular endurance.
D. Any test that requires clients to touch their toes. -correct
answer A. Sit-and-reach test.
What is the order of stretching techniques from lowest risk of
injury to highest risk of injury?
A. Ballistic; slow static; proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation.
B. Slow static; ballistic; proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation.
C. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; ballistic; slow
static.
,D. Slow static; proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation;
ballistic. -correct answer D. Slow static; proprioceptive
neuromuscular facilitation; ballistic.
Which of the following joints has the greatest range of motion,
and involves the greatest number of
movements?
A. Knee joint
B. Shoulder joint
C. Hip joint
D. Ankle joint -correct answer B. Shoulder joint
What change may occur between heart rate and blood pressure
as a result of chronic exercise?
A. Resting heart rate and resting blood pressure are reduced.
B. Resting heart rate reduces, but resting blood pressure stays
the same.
C. Maximal heart rate increases but maximal blood pressure
stays the same.
D. Resting heart rate and resting blood pressure stay the same,
but maximal heart rate and
maximal blood pressure are reduced. -correct answer A.
Resting heart rate and resting blood pressure are reduced.
Which of the following is a result of chronic aerobic training?
A. Increased lipid production.
B. Decreased plasma triglyceride levels.
C. Decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.
,D. Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. -correct
answer B. Decreased plasma triglyceride levels.
Mitral valve prolapse is a condition which primarily affects the .
A. Sino-atrial node.
B. Bicuspid valve.
C. Tricuspid valve.
D. Descending aorta. -correct answer B. Bicuspid valve.
What action is involved in the concentric phase of the biceps
curl?
A. Flexion at the elbow.
B. Extension at the elbow.
C. Pronation of the forearm.
D. Supination of the forearm -correct answer A. Flexion at the
elbow.
Cardiac output is a product of heart rate multiplied by
___________.
A. peripheral resistance.
B. blood pressure.
C. blood volume.
D. stroke volume. -correct answer D. stroke volume.
Which of the following best describes the symptoms that occur at
24-48 hours after a single bout
of intensive exercise?
, A. Delayed onset muscle strain.
B. Acute onset muscle strain.
C. Delayed onset muscle soreness.
D. Acute onset muscle soreness. -correct answer C. Delayed
onset muscle soreness.
Which principle of training best describes a previously active
client, who has been ill and bedridden
for a prolonged period of time?
A. Overload
B. Specificity
C. Reversibility
D. Progression -correct answer C. Reversibility
If you are palpating the thumb side of the forearm in the wrist
area, what pulse are you checking?
A. Humeral
B. Ulnar
C. Brachial
D. Radial -correct answer D. Radial
What is the correct order of the regions of the spinal column,
from superior to inferior?
A. Cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral and coccyx.
B. Coccyx, sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical.
C. Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, coccyx, and sacral.
