How To Be overprepared for the NASM

[MuscledHorse]

I took and passed the NASM PT exam in late January. This was helpful not in that it gave away any questions, it did not, but it gave you a good idea of how the questiosn were structured. This is important since the exam's questions are really nothing like the practice questions on the site. I will go so far as to say I am impressed with the difficulty of the NASM exam; it easily rivaled the national licensure (NAPLEX) exam for licensure of Dr. of Pharmacy graduates.

[Bradster101190]

I took and passed the NASM PT exam in late January. This was helpful not in that it gave away any questions, it did not, but it gave you a good idea of how the questiosn were structured. This is important since the exam's questions are really nothing like the practice questions on the site. I will go so far as to say I am impressed with the difficulty of the NASM exam; it easily rivaled the national licensure (NAPLEX) exam for licensure of Dr. of Pharmacy graduates.

Congratulations , I am glad you found this helpful.



Also thanks for your input on the difficulty of the exam , I agree with you completely. The exam is hard if you study for it the right way by not relying on cramming or memorization, but thats the best way.

[RogerBigCalves]

Actually the Chart was right and the picture was wrong, so toes out means overactive lateral gastrocnemius. MISTAKES IN BOOKS SUCK WHEN TRYING TO REMEMBER THESE THINGS!! They will both be in my memory forever, so I need to drill the correct answer in.

[RogerBigCalves]

Actually the Chart was right and the picture was wrong, so toes out means overactive lateral gastrocnemius. MISTAKES IN BOOKS SUCK WHEN TRYING TO REMEMBER THESE THINGS!! They will both be in my memory forever, so I need to drill the correct answer in.

Apparently my first post didn't go up so this doesn't make any sense by itself. I'm not sure if this was said as I didn't read all the posts, but the only problem I had on the practice test was on the movement assessment where toes turn out. I went back and checked the book on p. 122 where it has the picture of the overactive muscles in red and underactive in blue, but the chart and picture didn't match up with the table. The table is right and the picture is wrong if this has messed you up. Other than that and misspelling navicular if you know the book the test is simple.

[cookdaniel]

I took the NASM PT exam for the 2nd time. This was very helpful for me as it gave me an idea of how the questions were well structured. I am impressed and appreciate the difficulty level of the NASM examination. Thanks for this useful information about the NASM test buddy. Keep on sharing some more good stuff here...

[AirKev]

Great thread! I'm interested in becoming a PT through NASM. I know it's gone be quite a hassle for me to study for the final exam and also be active army. But I found out some good and helpful resources to help me study for when that time comes for me.

[wheynweed]

Studying now and just had a random question, how many of the 120 questions can you miss before you fail?

[RogerBigCalves]

Studying now and just had a random question, how many of the 120 questions can you miss before you fail?

NOTE: This is based on when I took the test it may have changed since then.

There are 120 questions, but only 100 are graded because 20 are 'potential' questions. You need to get 70% out of the 100 that are graded. The other 20 are ones that they are testing to see if they are fair or good questions by looking at how often they are answered correctly and by who (not individuals, but by test ranges). Also you don't know which ones they are so just make sure you are prepared well and if some questions happen to not be written well or feel misleading they are probably these questions so don't sweat it and just do your best.

[alfred18]

Great write up and straight to the point. I been wanting to become a PT Certified. While I was looking at your write up, I kind of knew everything. I'm in the process of becoming a RN and took anatomy and physiology I & II, elective I took weight training I & II, Health and Nutrition, and Dietetics: Intro to Clinical Nutrition. I took them part of my pre-requisites before applying to the BSN (Bachelor in Science of Nursing) program Plus all the reading of research/data online or here in bb.com. Should I try to get certified under the NASM? If so, which product package did you purchase? Or should I just try to do ISSA? Thanks in advance.

[Bradster101190]

Great write up and straight to the point. I been wanting to become a PT Certified. While I was looking at your write up, I kind of knew everything. I'm in the process of becoming a RN and took anatomy and physiology I & II, elective I took weight training I & II, Health and Nutrition, and Dietetics: Intro to Clinical Nutrition. I took them part of my pre-requisites before applying to the BSN (Bachelor in Science of Nursing) program Plus all the reading of research/data online or here in bb.com. Should I try to get certified under the NASM? If so, which product package did you purchase? Or should I just try to do ISSA? Thanks in advance.

With your level of experience id recommend just getting NASM, the packages are not much different but at least make sure you get a book and online practice tests with study tools.


I recently applied for a job and out of 37 applicants was the only one interviewed and hired because of my NASM training. It is just an amazingly well recognized certification.

[BigMammoth]

Hi, I'm 17 years old right now and recently ordered the NASM book to study off of during the next year until I am 18 years old to order the $600 package. Do you think that is a good route to take? I do not want to spend more than $600 for the extra material. Are they necessary or could I get them else online? Thanks!

[Bradster101190]

Hi, I'm 17 years old right now and recently ordered the NASM book to study off of during the next year until I am 18 years old to order the $600 package. Do you think that is a good route to take? I do not want to spend more than $600 for the extra material. Are they necessary or could I get them else online? Thanks!

If you are 100% sure training will be your career path and willing to study hard NASM is a great choice.

The way NASM sells the programs its best to get the material from them, but you can buy the book and study guide off amazon pretty cheap but then they still charge near the same for just the test.

[BigMammoth]

If you are 100% sure training will be your career path and willing to study hard NASM is a great choice.

The way NASM sells the programs its best to get the material from them, but you can buy the book and study guide off amazon pretty cheap but then they still charge near the same for just the test.

Thanks for the response, I am not looking for this to be my career. I am pursuing this for my interests in fitness and helping people out as a job during undergrad when I go to college. I will be studying something in the science related field, possibly premed.

[Bradster101190]

Thanks for the response, I am not looking for this to be my career. I am pursuing this for my interests in fitness and helping people out as a job during undergrad when I go to college. I will be studying something in the science related field, possibly premed.

Well NASM is the most in depth certification relating to anatomy, medicine and the general population so it could prepare you for college.

But dont buy it taking it lightly, studying for both it and college simultaneously would be tough.



Goodluck in whatever you choose though, its great to hear someone young focused.

[BigMammoth]

Well NASM is the most in depth certification relating to anatomy, medicine and the general population so it could prepare you for college.

But dont buy it taking it lightly, studying for both it and college simultaneously would be tough.



Goodluck in whatever you choose though, its great to hear someone young focused.

I plan to utilize my summer atm and senior year to study for it and take the test when I am 18 year olds which is around June of 2013.

[alfred18]

With your level of experience id recommend just getting NASM, the packages are not much different but at least make sure you get a book and online practice tests with study tools.


I recently applied for a job and out of 37 applicants was the only one interviewed and hired because of my NASM training. It is just an amazingly well recognized certification.

Thanks. Looking forward on getting Certified under NASM.

[LoveLove0824]

Hi! I just joined BodyBuilding.com solely for this thread. it's great! The posts have helped me tremendously on my (2nd time) quest to pass the NASM exam. (arigato!! )

One question I was wondering... how much do the quizzes on nasm.org actually help? If your test score is 85% and above on the 120 question pre-test exam...

how likely are you to pass?

and how much did the quizzes help you guys??
^_^ thanks!

[Bradster101190]

Hi! I just joined BodyBuilding.com solely for this thread. it's great! The posts have helped me tremendously on my (2nd time) quest to pass the NASM exam. (arigato!! )

One question I was wondering... how much do the quizzes on nasm.org actually help? If your test score is 85% and above on the 120 question pre-test exam...

how likely are you to pass?

and how much did the quizzes help you guys??
^_^ thanks!

The quizzes are very helpful, IF you do not memorize them. And a 85% is great if you did not memorize a lot of questions by taking the test over and over.


Good luck on your studying, and I am glad you joined bodybuilding.com because of this thread. You will find the rest of the forum is extremely helpful as well!

[fitflexbootcamp]

Your story is pretty similar to mine. I thought that by perfecting the practice exam then that would prepare me for the real thing. The first time I took it I failed miserably. So for the next week I commited an hour of my day to studying and took it a month later and passed it easily.

[LoveLove0824]

akhem.... well. then.... WISH ME LUCK because I'm taking it on Friday!!! ::fear grin:: (look it up in the Gleitman psychology text book, if you don't know what a fear grin is)

XD

[LoveLove0824]

I Passed!!!I was so happy I cried!!

Thank you to everyone on this thread, I couldn't have done it without you guys!!

[Bradster101190]

I Passed!!!I was so happy I cried!!

Thank you to everyone on this thread, I couldn't have done it without you guys!!

Congratulations!

It is an amazing accomplishment and I am very proud for you.


Goodluck in your fitness career, athlough I know youll do great with that passion for success

[xRibs]

How did you guys go about learning the acute variables for each of the 5 phases? There is plenty of overlap between phases 2, 3, and 4, but learning sets, reps, tempo, rest, # of exercises, etc is fairly overwhelming at first.

Also, how detailed do you need to know the muscles? I saw in the original post about grouping them together but do I need to know the individual muscles that make up the quads, rhomboids, hamstrings, etc?

[Bradster101190]

How did you guys go about learning the acute variables for each of the 5 phases? There is plenty of overlap between phases 2, 3, and 4, but learning sets, reps, tempo, rest, # of exercises, etc is fairly overwhelming at first.

Also, how detailed do you need to know the muscles? I saw in the original post about grouping them together but do I need to know the individual muscles that make up the quads, rhomboids, hamstrings, etc?

I recommend flash cards, make phass 1 cards then when you master those mix phase 2 in and so on. Also dont look at it as just a number, think why thats the best tempo, rest or reps so it sticks.


On the muscles, the groups I recommended should be all you need, you wont have to know each muscle of the quad for example.

[level760]

Hey All, Thanks for having this thread!

I was curious how good is the Upward Mobilty NASM app? I am debating on getting it. I am taking the test in August.

and What would be the main things I should focus on? OPT Model? Heart Rate? ETC?

My friend took the ACE and said they were tons of questions about clients heart rate and Vo2 max? I was never good with math.

Thanks again everyone who contributed to this thread!

[Bradster101190]

Hey All, Thanks for having this thread!

I was curious how good is the Upward Mobilty NASM app? I am debating on getting it. I am taking the test in August.

and What would be the main things I should focus on? OPT Model? Heart Rate? ETC?

My friend took the ACE and said they were tons of questions about clients heart rate and Vo2 max? I was never good with math.

Thanks again everyone who contributed to this thread!

NASM does have one or two that require you to calculate the VO2 max so make sure you can do it on pen and paper that they give you during the test.


You also need to calculate heart rate zones as well.

[vDa]

Took the test this Thursday. Version 4. Passed it. I didn't feel too great about it to be honest, but somehow I managed to pass it.

Heres MY experience.

I got the book back in December 2011, but haven't opened it until the beggining of June due to school. Anyway total time of studying for me was about 3-4 weeks, probably five days a week around two or so hours. My method was pretty simple, I read the book first to get alittle bit familiar with the material (actually for me most of the stuff was very familiar from my college anatomy course to simply common sense and my five year working out experience). Anyway, I read the book. Then I got the NASM mobile APP, started taking some questions and I wasn't feeling too great, so I went over to the book and read it again, this time taking notes on important information, MOSTLY reading the summary features of the chapters, they summarize the stuff pretty well. When I was finished with that I took the test on the mobile app and did pretty decent.

STUFF I THOUGHT WAS SUPER HELPFUL for me

http://www.nasm.org/examprep4study/ - This is kinda of breakdown of the book and what you need to know. Its good to follow this outline because they tell you exactly what you need to know. I just found this outline 3 days before the test, so I haven't followed it completely but I thought it was helpful.

NASM Mobile App - I think its like $6 or so from the Market, and its a great tool to have. It gives you a good idea on how the questions are going to be set up, and actually there were a few questions from it on the test.

This thread helped me alot too, make sure to read it especially the notes on the first page!!! Everything was spot on. I got like 5 questions on my test from PAGE 1 of this thread (the ones about the calories of protein/fats, pushing/pulling, Inner layer of muscle, and How people react to you 55% on physiology).

THERE WERE ABOUT 2-3 QUESTIONS ON CODE OF CONDUCT/ETHICS which can be found on the very beggining pages V and Vi-Vii. There were questions about record keeping, and about ethics.

Heres what I remember (some of it already stated in thread just going over it)

Alot of questions were on the Postural Distortion Patterns and quiet of few on inhibition.
Make sure to know READ, FITTE, etc
Also a good amount of questions were about the overactive/underactive muscles.
ALOT of questions were on exercises (know what type of exercises are for core/power etc etc)
Also know the exercises progressions/regressions.
I think there was like one question about the muscles in general, and their isolated function.
Quiet a few questions from the last two chapters of the book (Lifestyle modification/developing your succesful business)
And the rest were just random questions from different chapters and what not.

Anyway thats just what I remember, the test was pretty hard in my opinion, MAKE SURE to read the QUESTION TWICE before entering an answer, because alot of them are tricky.

Thats just my experience to add, of course tests might be different but I think some of the material is definitely on every test...

[Bradster101190]

Awesome tips, maybe JustIntense can edit it into the first posts like he did the others.

[Ray3]

Hey guys, couple questions for someone who plans on getting a NASM certification, but can't just yet.... I'm planning on buying a used book somewhere and start reading up ASAP, but don't have the cash or job situation to dish out for the whole package now.

There any sites I can browse and print stuff off now to study off off that are free and go along with what's in the books?

Is a six month time frame long enough for an average person who does work out routinely, but doesn't really know the science behind it and such?

How would one look to tie this in with nutrition in some way? I'm also pretty passionate about food, and healthy cooking, so it'd be awesome if I can tie the two together.

Basically, I'm a guy who us 25, always worked boring desk jobs that I absolutely hate, routinely gone to the gym since early days of middle school, don't need a high paying career to be happy, and would love a hands on job helping others. I just don't know a ton on the subject, and am in my beginning stages of gathering all the information.

[Goose102]

I'm planning on taking the test in a few months but have a quick question:

If I follow this - http://www.nasm.org/examprep4study/

The study guide for the newest version of the test, will it prepare me well?

How well should I know details other than what is on this study guide?

Thanks!