How to pass the ACSM-CPT

[pinoykcin]

How to Pass the ACSM-CPT

I figured that if there is a 'How to pass the NASM' thread, and there isn't a ACSM thread, why not? Plus I know a lot of people have been PMing be about the exam and I cannot quite get to everyone and I am not on here as often because of school and work. I hope this thread will help many of you.

Anyway, background information...I am an exercise science major, so I have a good background on anatomy and physiology. I took the exam on December 27th 2013, 6 months after ACSM changed their Domains. Here are the NEW domains, that changed on July 1st, 2013. I also chose the ACSM over the NASM because it is more credible in the medical field since it is a more clinically based certification.

Domain I: Initial Client Consultation & Assessment 26%
Domain II: Exercise Programming & Implementation 27%
Domain III: Exercise Leadership & Client Education 27%
Domain IV: Legal, Professional, Business & Marketing 20%

My first score was a 537/800...You need a passing score of 550> to pass, I was quite angry because a lot of the material on the actual exam was NOT covered in the Certification Review, Resources for the Personal Trainer, nor the ACSM Guidelines. I knew most of the Domain 1/2 but did poorly on Domains 3/4. So I decided to study right when I got home to recall any information I had in my head, and luckily I did. This exam was pretty difficult. My friend took it in December 2012 and said it was easy, I then realized that MOST of the Domain % that were covered was Anatomy/Physiology. Also a lot of the stuff on the exam were not in the books! For Example, spotting technique; I got those right because I lift, I will include those here as well. That is why I did not do too well on this new exam. I also took a class in my major (which helps for graduation) that went over the first two domains of the CPT exam. That is why I did so well on Domain 1/2. I studied about 3 weeks for Domains 3/4 though.

The second time around, scored 667/800, a full 130 points over my last score! Most questions were the same, however a handful were also nothing at all what I covered on my own. The first time I took it, I took 120 minutes to finish, the second time, only took me an hour. I scored over 90% on Domains 1/2, and around the mid 70% on both Domains 3/4, which I think are the harder portions of the four total Domains.

To study I used the three recommended books, the Cert. Review, Resource for personal training, and the ACSM GTEP. They can be found on the ACSM website, probably cheaper on Amazon or something.

http://certification.acsm.org/acsm-c...rsonal-trainer

I mainly used the Resource for personal trainer WITH my certification review book, using the study guide list in the end portion of the CPT. I also did the practice exam for the CPT AND HFS (Health and Fitness Specialist) because there are questions that apply to both, and I did find one question on the exam that was in the HFS portion of the practice test. Also, I highly recommend just reading the whole book of GTEP because there is useful information in there, easier to read, and shorter than the Resource for personal trainer. If you read a chapter a day, you would finish in 11 days (11 chapters).

From here is a list of what I could remember and what you SHOULD know for the exam. Most are given because you SHOULD know them from the charts and readings in the GTEP

- Muscles that move the trunk (flexion/extention)
- Environmental Conditions (exercise in cold/heat conditions)
- Heart rate intensity for a cardiovascular program (40%-60% HRR)
- Know difference between Muscular endurance/power/strength
- Know Periodization/specificity/overtraining/reversibility
- Know what type of exercise prescriptions to prescribe to sepcial populations
- Know plyometrics/PNF/progression
- Types of learning (visual/auditory/kinesthetic)
- Know client pre-participation screening procedures
- Know posture and alignment
- Anaerobic glycolysis, how it works, what product is made
- Downhill walking/jogging, what muscle group eccentric activation
- Know responses to blood pressure (acute/chronic its in the Certification Review Book appendix)
- Difference between eccentric/concentric contractions
- Difference between isometric/isotonic contractions
- Cardiac output = HR x SV
- Muscle of Rotator Cuff
S - Suprspinatus - ABducts arm
I - Infraspinatus
T - Teres Minor
S - Subscapularis
- Variability for any age Max HR - 10-12bpm
- Know Antagonist and Agonist muscles in simple exercises (leg extension)
- Know how to calculate HRR and
[(220-AGE) - resting x %intensity ] + Resting HR

- What a 1RM is
- Minimum bout daily of aerobic activity (10 min)
- FITT(E)VP (Frequency/Intensity/Time/Type/Enjoyment/Volume/Progression)
- Know RISK Stratifications (Age/Family History/Cigarette smoking/Cholestorol/Glucose/BMI/lifestyle)
- HDL >60 = negative risk factor
- Sequence for fitness testing (body composition, cardiorepiratory endurance, muscular fitness, flexibility)
- Know sites for skinfold (know where/diagonally/how many cm away) and how its used
- Calculate BMI (weight/height^2) x 703 (this is in inches and lbs) and what is BMI
- Know where to take HR (carotid/radial/femoral/brachial) and the differences between them all
- Know spotting techniques (barbell squat/shoulder press/lunge etc)
- RICE (Rest/Ice/Compression/Elevation)
- Know anatomy of the HEART (also the electrical system SA/VA nodes/perkinje fibers/bundle of his)
- Unit of muscle contraction (Sacromere)
- Curves of the vertebrae and any disease (Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar/Sacral/Coccxy and Scoliosis/Kymphosis/Lordosis)
- Know what muscles do what (ex. muscle that extends forearm = triceps)
- Submaximal tests (sit and reach flexion/bench stepping etc)
- Types of stretches (Static/PNF/Ballistic)
- Know the joints
- DOMS (why it happens)
- What major muscles are used in an exercise (ex. lateral raise = middle delts)
- Type 1/2 fibers
- Know the Aerobic/Anaerobic/Oxidative pathways
- Anatomical Planes
- Valsalva Maneuver (know what it is and when to use it)
- Know what Hypertrophy/Hyperplasia/Atrophy is
- In the GTEP book, know the tables that gives the FITT for resistance/aerobic exercise
- Karvonen Formulua
- Special Populations (older adults/children/pregnant - use GTEP for this info)
- Know why cool-down is important
- Know circuit training/pyramids/supersets/volume training/interval/split/negative)
- Know basic calories (fats/carbs/pro) and how to calculate them
- Know injuries especially shoulder impingement
- Order of exercise session (Warmup/endurance/cooldown/stretch)
- Know how to calculate body fat, and desired body fat (202lbs @ 24% --- wants to be 17%)
- Basic ACSM Recommendations for muscular strength and endurance
- Know about the Transtheoretical Model
- Borg Rating Scale
- METS - (1 MET = 3.5)
- Know Motivational Strategy
- Health Belief Model
- Social Cognitive Theory
- Attribution
- Difference between Intrinsic/Extrinsic motivation
- Hip/Waist Ratio
- Dehydration
- How/when to use AED
- Type 1/2 diabetes, what to do in an emergency
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Female Triade
- BMI ranges
- Food Pyraimid
- Fat Soluble Viatmins (ADEK)
- Negligence and Omission
- Risk Management
- Informed Consent
- Ankle Edema (symptoms)
- Tachycardia (abnormal HR>100bpm)
- What HDL does
- What bronchodilator does
- Stretching when to inhale and exhale
- Stroke volume in the supine/prone position
- What someone with Hip Replacement should not do
- essential amino acids
- Altitude (2-5 weeks to adjust to height)
- HIPPA
- Asthma (warm air is NOT associated with asthma)


Anyway hope this helps brahs!

[antbanks]

haha nice job! super comprehensive list of exam topics. those planning to take the exam should be excited to see this!

[pinoykcin]

haha nice job! super comprehensive list of exam topics. those planning to take the exam should be excited to see this!

Thanks man! The exam is harder now and people that took the exam before the new domains were able to have more insight from people that took it. I've taken it twice, so I know a lot whats on it, and can help people that are going to take it.

[SammerJam]

Thank you thank you thank you for this!!
I am taking the exam in 3 weeks and get overwhelmed at how much information there is to know. I have been studying every chance I can and read the main text book cover to cover and gone over the review questions from the current review book and also the last edition of the review book (for the chapter quizzes).
Anyhow, I understand the FITT guidelines for each population but am worried about how specific the questions are about them. Any guidance on how specific to memorize the Exercise Rx?
Also do you need to calculate work rate/metabolic calculations?

Thanks again, this will hopefully get me a passing score

[pinoykcin]

Thank you thank you thank you for this!!
I am taking the exam in 3 weeks and get overwhelmed at how much information there is to know. I have been studying every chance I can and read the main text book cover to cover and gone over the review questions from the current review book and also the last edition of the review book (for the chapter quizzes).
Anyhow, I understand the FITT guidelines for each population but am worried about how specific the questions are about them. Any guidance on how specific to memorize the Exercise Rx?
Also do you need to calculate work rate/metabolic calculations?

Thanks again, this will hopefully get me a passing score

Of course! All you need to know for calculations is HRR and THR. Also know how to get Percent body fat, and calculate calories.
For exercise Rx know the tables fro mthe GTEP

[RyanSx1216]

Thanks a lot man. You've been a big help thus far. One more day til test time!

[pinoykcin]

Thanks a lot man. You've been a big help thus far. One more day til test time!

of course man! howd you do?!

[csupnes]

Great info it helped me pass my first go this morning!

[laurenbr]

Where did you find a practice exam? Im taking mine on valentines day and am almost done with Resources for the Personal Trainer. Im going to take these next 2 weeks just memorizing everything! Thanks for all your help with the list above too!

[SammerJam]

I've been re-reading nearly the entire book and review book for a month and I'm still nervous about my test on the 4th! This does help, I printed it out and went through anything I didn't feel comfortable with. It probably doesnt matter at this point but what are the questions like? I know they are multiple choice but do they do like a case study then ask about it or is it straight up questions with multiple choice answers?

[pinoykcin]

Great info it helped me pass my first go this morning!

great! good to know this helped man!

Where did you find a practice exam? Im taking mine on valentines day and am almost done with Resources for the Personal Trainer. Im going to take these next 2 weeks just memorizing everything! Thanks for all your help with the list above too!

The practice exam is in the first part of the certification review booklet.

I've been re-reading nearly the entire book and review book for a month and I'm still nervous about my test on the 4th! This does help, I printed it out and went through anything I didn't feel comfortable with. It probably doesnt matter at this point but what are the questions like? I know they are multiple choice but do they do like a case study then ask about it or is it straight up questions with multiple choice answers?

Yes, there are like case study questions. I had about 3 in my exam. So they give you a case study, then some multiple choice questions about the study for example, how many risk factors?, what should you prescribe them for exercise, should they do submax/max testing? Etc. You really just have to know it inside and out

[SammerJam]

Yes, there are like case study questions. I had about 3 in my exam. So they give you a case study, then some multiple choice questions about the study for example, how many risk factors?, what should you prescribe them for exercise, should they do submax/max testing? Etc. You really just have to know it inside and out[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this. I've gone through the case studies in the book and fully understand how to place each person in the appropriate risk category and have memorized the recommended medical or physical exam flow chart, but when going over the test questions it almost seems subjective. I'll definitely focus on this over the weekend!

[MattRiseFitness]

This is exactly what I have been looking for! I'm also an exercise science major graduating in may. I'll be taking my cert exam at the end of February. Even though much of the info has been covered in classes at one point or another I'm still pretty nervous. Mostly because I'm horrible at taking exams, no matter how well I know the information, I still have trouble sitting down and actually taking an exam. I'm sure this will help greatly!

[laurenbr]

Your client is a 59 year old sedentary female with a body mass index of 33 kg/m2. She has no history of heart disease herself, but her mother had a myocardial infarction at the age of 66. She is an ex-smoker who quit 15 years ago, blood pressure is consistently 135/85 mm Hg, total cholesterol is 180 mg/dL (4.6 mmol/L) with an HDL level of 30 mg/dL (0.8 mmol/L), and blood glucose is 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L). She has come to you for advice because she wishes to
improve her overall health and fitness.
How many risk factor thresholds for coronary artery disease does this client possess?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five


The answer is B but why? These are the only two I could comprehend A to be the answer

*age (above 55)
*Secondary activity

[pinoykcin]

Your client is a 59 year old sedentary female with a body mass index of 33 kg/m2. She has no history of heart disease herself, but her mother had a myocardial infarction at the age of 66. She is an ex-smoker who quit 15 years ago, blood pressure is consistently 135/85 mm Hg, total cholesterol is 180 mg/dL (4.6 mmol/L) with an HDL level of 30 mg/dL (0.8 mmol/L), and blood glucose is 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L). She has come to you for advice because she wishes to
improve her overall health and fitness.
How many risk factor thresholds for coronary artery disease does this client possess?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five


The answer is B but why? These are the only two I could comprehend A to be the answer

*age (above 55)
*Secondary activity

BMI > 30 or greater is obesity so +1 risk factor

youre welcome for the help guys, glad it helps you study

[SammerJam]

Passed on Tuesday with a 638! Tough exam, you really need an solid understanding of all aspects to apply them to many of the questions. With this study guide and the cert. review questions you will be good though.

[pinoykcin]

Passed on Tuesday with a 638! Tough exam, you really need an solid understanding of all aspects to apply them to many of the questions. With this study guide and the cert. review questions you will be good though.

Congrats! are you a trainer now? Im at a 24 location and its going well, getting a lot of good experience!

[SammerJam]

Congrats! are you a trainer now? Im at a 24 location and its going well, getting a lot of good experience!

Thanks! I've put some resumes out to places I'm really interested in and have my first interview on Monday Glad you're working and getting some good experience already!

[steveovig]

I want to thank pinoykcin for the awesome review! It really helped me on my exam this past Thursday. I felt like I really knew the info in the hardcover book, prior to reading this review. I was unaware of the changes to the domains until the day before the test when I read this thread and a couple others. I studied from the review all day Wednesday and it got me through the exam with a 660.

Many of the questions were exactly how the review mentioned, it was unbelievable. The test had plenty of easy questions and a few with confusing answers that make you think. I had studied all the metabolic equations for running, walking, etc. and finding VO2s and they weren't on there at all. There was 1-2 questions on HRR and that's it. I'd say the test was difficult but if you've read through the review book and the hardcover and this review, it's not too, too bad.

Now I just have to find a job. I have no previous job experience and I'll be starting fresh with this. Do I just try to find a desk job first to rack up experience? What are the odds of someone like me landing a CPT job out of the gate?

Thanks again!

[therealxception]

Completed the Test 6 hrs Back. Below is my score

704

Section Analysis

Initial Client Consultation & Assessment 90%
Exercise Programming & Implementation 100%
Exercise Leadership & Client Education 87%
Legal, Professional, Business & Marketing 75%

Its mentioned I would receive the kit and cert by a month , valid 3 yrs.


What' s the next step? Should I contact ACSM ?

Pl advice

[cellshot]

I'm taking the test on April 30th, just did the practice test with ZERO preparation/reading before hand and got 77/100 questions. Anyway to find out where that stands on the out of 800 scale lol

[pinoykcin]

I'm taking the test on April 30th, just did the practice test with ZERO preparation/reading before hand and got 77/100 questions. Anyway to find out where that stands on the out of 800 scale lol

hey brah, unfortunately, if you took the practice test from the manual that is only about 25% of what is actually on the exam. Everything i listed WILL be on the exam, maybe even abit more, but i covered majority of it. just takes notes on everything I listed and you will be fine!

[cellshot]

hey brah, unfortunately, if you took the practice test from the manual that is only about 25% of what is actually on the exam. Everything i listed WILL be on the exam, maybe even abit more, but i covered majority of it. just takes notes on everything I listed and you will be fine!

We ACSM-CPT now.

Didn't really study much after taking the practice test lol, was a bit tougher than I expected, but I got a 586.

[pinoykcin]

We ACSM-CPT now.

Didn't really study much after taking the practice test lol, was a bit tougher than I expected, but I got a 586.

nice brah, good luck where ever your cert takes you!

[Ahelm25]

This is amazing! I am total worrier and overthink things so I've been stressing about this dang exam for way too long! Time to go get it done! Quick question...do I need to know specific ROM numbers? And how in depth do I need to know the muscles and their movements? I am really confident in the major muscles...but it is the smaller ones that I wonder how much time I need to spend on those?

[pinoykcin]

This is amazing! I am total worrier and overthink things so I've been stressing about this dang exam for way too long! Time to go get it done! Quick question...do I need to know specific ROM numbers? And how in depth do I need to know the muscles and their movements? I am really confident in the major muscles...but it is the smaller ones that I wonder how much time I need to spend on those?

yes, know the main ones, ie. bicep curl, leg extension etc

[JFnK]

Thanks for this awesome thread. I am excited to have found it. I have a quick question regarding Domain III. I was able to associate each Domain with a page in the Resources for the Personal Trainer Text except for Domain III. What would you recommend? Thanks for your help!

[pinoykcin]

Thanks for this awesome thread. I am excited to have found it. I have a quick question regarding Domain III. I was able to associate each Domain with a page in the Resources for the Personal Trainer Text except for Domain III. What would you recommend? Thanks for your help!

Use the resource manual (practice test booklet), and go over the Domain III areas from there, then just read the chapters that the information is located in.

[mrsallejep]

Is the test a mix of true and false, matching and written? Its hard to believe that it would all be multiple choice...

[cellshot]

Is the test a mix of true and false, matching and written? Its hard to believe that it would all be multiple choice...

It was pretty much all multiple choice. I don't remember seeing any True or False (there MAY have been a like 2-3), but definitely no matching/written