NCSF Exam with Questions and Correct
Answers Latest 2025
Sugar - CORRECT ANSWERS What is the only fuel source that can be used during
anaerobic metabolism?
Carbohydrates, lipids (fats) - CORRECT ANSWERS __________ serve as the primary
fuel for exercise, while ________ are primarily used during rest and low-intensity physical
activity.
Aerobic metabolism can occur using what fuel sources? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Carbohydrates, fats, protein and various associated substrates
What is the primary fuel source during 1) a vertical jump, 2) a 3RM deadlift, and 3) a 10-
second sprint? - CORRECT ANSWERS 1) stored ATP, 2-3) stored creatine phosphate
What are the primary storage sites for glycogen within the body? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Skeletal muscle (~400g) and the liver (~95g)
How much rest is needed to fully recover from an exercise that significantly drains creatine
phosphate stores within a muscle? - CORRECT ANSWERS 2-5 minutes
As a client increases their VO2max, he or she will have a lower _________ during any sub-
maximal exercise intensity; this is mainly attributed to an increase in __________. -
CORRECT ANSWERS Heart rate, stroke volume
Cardiac output is a product of: - CORRECT ANSWERS Stroke volume x heart rate
Cellular metabolism using oxygen and various substrates for fuel occurs in the: -
CORRECT ANSWERS Mitochondria
What muscle fiber type has the lowest capacity to produce force? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Type I (slow-twitch oxidative)
Slow oxidative muscle fibers have the smallest relative _____________ and are primarily
fueled via __________ metabolism. - CORRECT ANSWERS Diameter; aerobic
Following high-intensity exercise, a client may continue to burn additional calories for a
number of hours due to a phenomenon known as: - CORRECT ANSWERS Excess post-
exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)
, What mineral is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to initiate the cascade of events
leading to a muscular contraction? - CORRECT ANSWERS Calcium
What type of fatigue is associated with reduced muscle glycogen storage following
localized muscular work? - CORRECT ANSWERS Peripheral fatigue
How is force production improved through neural adaptations? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Via increased motor unit recruitment, faster firing rates, and improved firing synchronicity
Identify at least three primary causes for short-term (acute) muscular fatigue between sets.
- CORRECT ANSWERS Exhaustion of ATP/creatine phosphate reserves, tissue acidity,
insufficient oxygen, reduced enzyme activity, tubular system disturbances
If excessive tension is placed upon a given muscle, ________________ send inhibitory
signals to reduce motor unit activity and protect the tissue from potential damage. -
CORRECT ANSWERS Golgi tendon organs
_________ is the hormone released from the pancreas to help control blood glucose
levels; it also inhibits fat use when in circulation. - CORRECT ANSWERS Insulin
_______ is an adrenal hormone released in response to high physiological or
psychological stress. It limits carbohydrate uptake, disrupts the protein-sparing
mechanism and can suppress immune system function when chronically released at
elevated levels. - CORRECT ANSWERS Cortisol
What hormone released from the liver in response to appropriately-devised hypertrophy
training signals the body to increase protein synthesis? - CORRECT ANSWERS Insulin-
like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
Identify three anabolic hormones that are released in response to heavy, strenuous
resistance training. - CORRECT ANSWERS Testosterone, growth hormone, IGF-1
Throwing a medicine ball for distance requires what type of muscular contraction? -
CORRECT ANSWERS Ballistic
What artery is being assessed in under the chin on the neck? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Carotid
Holding one's breath to increase stability while lifting a heavy load is referred to as the
_______________. - CORRECT ANSWERS Valsalva maneuver
The ____________________ is an estimate of myocardial oxygen demand and relative
stress placed upon the heart. - CORRECT ANSWERS Rate pressure product (RPP); it is
calculated using the formula = systolic blood pressure x heart rate
Answers Latest 2025
Sugar - CORRECT ANSWERS What is the only fuel source that can be used during
anaerobic metabolism?
Carbohydrates, lipids (fats) - CORRECT ANSWERS __________ serve as the primary
fuel for exercise, while ________ are primarily used during rest and low-intensity physical
activity.
Aerobic metabolism can occur using what fuel sources? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Carbohydrates, fats, protein and various associated substrates
What is the primary fuel source during 1) a vertical jump, 2) a 3RM deadlift, and 3) a 10-
second sprint? - CORRECT ANSWERS 1) stored ATP, 2-3) stored creatine phosphate
What are the primary storage sites for glycogen within the body? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Skeletal muscle (~400g) and the liver (~95g)
How much rest is needed to fully recover from an exercise that significantly drains creatine
phosphate stores within a muscle? - CORRECT ANSWERS 2-5 minutes
As a client increases their VO2max, he or she will have a lower _________ during any sub-
maximal exercise intensity; this is mainly attributed to an increase in __________. -
CORRECT ANSWERS Heart rate, stroke volume
Cardiac output is a product of: - CORRECT ANSWERS Stroke volume x heart rate
Cellular metabolism using oxygen and various substrates for fuel occurs in the: -
CORRECT ANSWERS Mitochondria
What muscle fiber type has the lowest capacity to produce force? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Type I (slow-twitch oxidative)
Slow oxidative muscle fibers have the smallest relative _____________ and are primarily
fueled via __________ metabolism. - CORRECT ANSWERS Diameter; aerobic
Following high-intensity exercise, a client may continue to burn additional calories for a
number of hours due to a phenomenon known as: - CORRECT ANSWERS Excess post-
exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)
, What mineral is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to initiate the cascade of events
leading to a muscular contraction? - CORRECT ANSWERS Calcium
What type of fatigue is associated with reduced muscle glycogen storage following
localized muscular work? - CORRECT ANSWERS Peripheral fatigue
How is force production improved through neural adaptations? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Via increased motor unit recruitment, faster firing rates, and improved firing synchronicity
Identify at least three primary causes for short-term (acute) muscular fatigue between sets.
- CORRECT ANSWERS Exhaustion of ATP/creatine phosphate reserves, tissue acidity,
insufficient oxygen, reduced enzyme activity, tubular system disturbances
If excessive tension is placed upon a given muscle, ________________ send inhibitory
signals to reduce motor unit activity and protect the tissue from potential damage. -
CORRECT ANSWERS Golgi tendon organs
_________ is the hormone released from the pancreas to help control blood glucose
levels; it also inhibits fat use when in circulation. - CORRECT ANSWERS Insulin
_______ is an adrenal hormone released in response to high physiological or
psychological stress. It limits carbohydrate uptake, disrupts the protein-sparing
mechanism and can suppress immune system function when chronically released at
elevated levels. - CORRECT ANSWERS Cortisol
What hormone released from the liver in response to appropriately-devised hypertrophy
training signals the body to increase protein synthesis? - CORRECT ANSWERS Insulin-
like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
Identify three anabolic hormones that are released in response to heavy, strenuous
resistance training. - CORRECT ANSWERS Testosterone, growth hormone, IGF-1
Throwing a medicine ball for distance requires what type of muscular contraction? -
CORRECT ANSWERS Ballistic
What artery is being assessed in under the chin on the neck? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Carotid
Holding one's breath to increase stability while lifting a heavy load is referred to as the
_______________. - CORRECT ANSWERS Valsalva maneuver
The ____________________ is an estimate of myocardial oxygen demand and relative
stress placed upon the heart. - CORRECT ANSWERS Rate pressure product (RPP); it is
calculated using the formula = systolic blood pressure x heart rate
