Client Interviews and Assessments

1. In what stage of the client-trainer relationship are health-history and lifestyle

questionnaires administered?
a. Rapport Stage
b. Investigation Stage
c. Planning Stage
d. Action Stage
The investigation stage occurs between the rapport stage and planning stage, and is
typically when a trainer will ask a client to fill out a health-history or lifestyle
questionnaire.
2. Dan is a new client whom you are meeting with for the first time today. He will most
likely be evaluating you as a trainer through both your verbal and non-verbal
communication. What stage of the client-trainer relationship are you in with Dan?
a. Planning
Stage
b. Action
Stage
c. Rapport
Stage
d.
Investigation
Stage
When you are first meeting a client and verbal and non-verbal communication are
extremely important to consider, you are in the rapport stage.
3. Kristin is in for her second session and you are conducting fitness assessments. While
you are checking her body fat percentage you ask her about types of exercise she
prefers to do. What stage of the client-trainer relationship are you in with Kristin?
a. Rapport
Stage
b. Planning
Stage
c.
Investigation
Stage
d. Action
Stage
This is an example of gathering information, which you should do before the planning
stage. This is part of the investigation stage.
4. Your client tells you that he understands that his family has a history of heart disease
 and that being overweight can increase his risk for such conditions. He is still wary of
beginning any kind of exercise program and says that he has never had any weight
loss success in the past. According to the Theoretical Model of Behavioral Change,
what stage of change is your client in?
a. Contemplation
b. Preparation
c.
Precontemplation
d. Action
In the precontemplation phase people are beginning to understand the implications of
being inactive, but are not quite ready to commit to a change yet.
5. In which stage of the Theoretical Model of Behavior Change is a client ready to adopt
and live a healthy lifestyle?
a. Contemplation
b. Preparation
c. Precontemplation
d. Action
A person in the preparation phase may be somewhat sporadic in their activity level, but is
ready to make the change to a healthy lifestyle.
6. According to the ACE Integrated Fitness Training Model, what step in the training
process best follows the testing of resting measures such as heart rate and blood
pressure?
a. Core Function
b. Balance
c. Static Posture
d. Health Related Assessments
It is considered best to test a client's static posture after taking resting measures but before
getting into training.

Program Design and Implementation

7. Which of the following is typically considered by clients to be the most important

factor in creating a positive first impression?
a. A trainer who is in good shape.
b. A trainer who communicates well.
c. A trainer who offers to listen to his or her home-life problems.
d. A trainer who has good posture and appears sure of themselves.
Based on study of client-feedback, the most important aspect of a good first impression
consisted of a trainer listening and being genuinely interested in what they had to say.
8. What is an example of non-verbal communication?
 a. Tone of voice.
b. Facial expression.
c. Body language.
d. All of the above.
e. Both B and C only
Tone of voice, facial expressions and body language can all effect how a client views and
hears you, regardless of what you are saying.
9. Saying things like, "I understand, 125 feels like your ideal weight." Is an example of
which positive listening skill?
a. Encouraging
b. Planning
c. Questioning
d. Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is a great way to show the client that you are listening as well as to make sure
you are hearing what they are saying correctly.
10. Which of the following is an example of a good open-ended question?
a. Do you feel that you are ready to begin a fitness program?
b. Do you have any questions about personal training?
c. Are there any exercises that you dislike?
d. What made you decide to pursue personal training?
Any question that requires an answer other than "yes" or "no" is an open-ended question
and keeps the conversation going.
11. You have been working with Judy for 1 month now. Her initial goals were to gain
strength in her lower body and you have been working on body weight squats and
lunges. She can perform 3 sets of 15 squats without a struggle. What is the best course
of action to continue to increase her lower body strength significantly?
a. Continue with the program as it is.
b. Add resistance to her squats and lunges.
c. Increase the number of squats to 20
repetitions per set.
d. Discontinue the squats and lunges until she
finds them difficult again.
Adding resistance is the next step in strength increase. This will produce significant results
in lower body strength as opposed to increasing repetitions.
12. What is an example of the "tell, show, do" technique used in the early stages of
training?
a. Telling your client to show you how to correctly perform an exercise.
b. Showing your client proper form of every exercise and allowing them to
try it on their own later.
 c. Explaining the proper way to perform an exercise, showing your client,
and then allowing them to try the exercise.
d. Watching the client perform the exercise and giving feedback about the
proper form.
As a trainer you should always explain how to perform the exercise and show your client
how it should look before they perform it. You should also allow them to try it immediately
after, while you are with them.

Program Progression and Modification

13. Beth is a 28-year-old woman who is looking to improve her overall fitness. How long
should she rest for in between sets on a leg press exercise?
a. Less than 30 seconds
b. 30-90 seconds
c. 2-5 minutes
d. 30-60 seconds
A person exercising for the purpose of general fitness should rest for 30-90 seconds in
between sets of a resistance exercise.
14. Bob is a 30-year-old man looking to increase muscular endurance for distance
running. How long should he rest in between sets on the leg extension machine?
a. Less than 30 seconds
b. 30-90 seconds
c. 2-5 minutes
d. 30-60 seconds
When training for muscular endurance, a rest interval of less than 30 seconds in between
sets of resistance exercise is optimal.
15. Andrew is a 35-year-old man who is looking to increase strength in his upper body.
How long should he rest in between sets of a bench press exercise?
a. Less than 30 seconds
b. 30-90 seconds
c. 2-5 minutes
d. 30-60 seconds
When training for muscular strength or power a person should rest for a good 2-5 minutes
between sets of resistance exercise.
16. When training a client to activate their core for the purpose of gaining proximal
stability, what exercise modality should come first in the progression?
a. A sequence of movements in alternating planes with contralateral
limbs raised off the floor.
b. Sagittal plane shoulder movements with one arm raised off the floor.
c. Frontal plane hip movements with one knee raised off the floor.
 d. Transverse plane hip movements with one knee raised off the floor.
A sequence of controlled shoulder movements with one arm raised an inch off the ground
is an appropriate beginning exercise for core stability.
17. James has been training for and competing in triathlons for 5 years. He wants to
increase running speed and cycling power. How many times should you suggest he
train per week?
a.
2-
3
b.
3-
4
c.
4-
6
d.
4-
7
An athlete with advanced skill like James should train no less than 4 times a week and can
train up to 7 if done properly.
18. Bill is training at 80-90% of his 1 repetition maximum on leg press. How long should
he typically wait before training his legs again?
a. 24 hours
b. 36 hours
c. 48 hours
d. 72 hours
While it is recommended to wait 48 hours in between general resistance training sessions,
when training at a workload as high as 80-90% of a client's 1RM it is recommended to
wait 72 hours before working the muscle group again.

Professional Conduct, Safety and Risk Management

19. Which of the following is within the ACE personal trainer's scope of practice?
a. Advising a client on which types of supplements to take.
b. Giving relationship advice to a client.
c. Assisting a client in setting realistic fitness goals.
d. Gently massaging a client's sore muscle.
ACE personal trainers need to stay within their scope of practice, which includes helping a
client set goals, in order to keep the client safe and avoid legal issues.
20. Which of the following is appropriate according to the ACE personal trainer's scope of
practice?
 a. Diagnosing a client's ankle injury.
b. Massaging a client's shoulder.
c. Teaching a client self myo-fascial releasing techniques.
d. Setting up a calorie-restricted diet plan for a client.
Teaching self-massage is a hands-free way to help a client reduce muscle soreness, thus
staying within the ACE personal trainer's scope of practice.
21. An ACE certified personal trainer must complete how many continuing education
hours in what period of time to keep their certification active?
a. 10 hours in 1 year
b. 20 hours in 2 years
c. 20 hours in 1 year
d. 10 hours in 2 years
An ACE certified personal trainer must complete 20 hours of continuing education study in
a two year time period to keep one's certification active.
22. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of inflammation at a joint?
a. Pain
b. Warmth
c. Increased range of motion
d. Loss of function
A person suffering from inflammation will experience decreased range of motion at that
joint due to swelling.
23. Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to stretching?
a. Presence of osteoporosis
b. Joint swelling
c. Prolonged immobilization of muscles
d. A healing fracture site
While some conditions may pose slight concern and require extra consideration while
stretching, a healing fracture site should never be stretched, no matter what.
24. Which of the following is a form that notifies the client of the risk associated with
exercise?
a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
b. Health History Questionnaire
c. Informed Consent form
d. Liability Waiver