Sup y'all? I PASSED!!!
I don't usually to post on these threads, but I am constantly reading them. I thought I'd give you guys some tips and **** for the exam for those looking to venture down the same path
A little about me--I'm 19, I go to business school, I've been lifting for 5 years and about 3 years ago I lost about 50 pounds, which started my fitness journey.
Stats: Bench 275, Dead 380, Squat 350, Mile 6:15, BB Row: 250, blah blah blah.
Alright so the exam!!
I purchased ACE's least expensive package for about $500, which at this point I realized was sufficient. This comes with the ACE Personal Trainer Manual, the Essentials of Exercise Science book, a two hour study review session video, and an exam voucher.
The exam is 150 questions & 3hrs, of which 125 are scored and the remaining are experimental. You need a 500/800 to pass (I got a 630).
So, I purchased the book in June of 2013, and read both the manual and the exercise science book front to back throughout that summer.
Things to note: The exercise science book will OVERWHELM THE **** OUT OF YOU. Don't worry, it comprises like 4% of the exam. The most important sections of this book are Ch 3 +4 (Exercise Physiology and Nutrition)
FOCUS ON THE MANUAL. This comprises the greatest portion of the exam. All of these chapters are important, but the most important is for sure Chapter 7 (stability&mobility).
The test is formatted as such: Client Interviews & Assessments (31%), Program Design & Implementation (33%), Program Design & Modifications (19%), and Professional Conduct, Safety, & Risk Management (17%).
Crucial subjects (TAKEN FROM PERSONAL-TRAINING-VOLLEYBALL.C O M)
· Any questions you see about supplements, you always want to answer by discouraging your client take them. Giving them more information as to why they do not need to take them.
· Eccentric vs. Concentric….Ex: what muscle is contracting eccentrically during a certain exercise???
· Need to know how many grams/kg of fat, carbs, & protein (Carbs =4; Protein =4; Fat =9)
· Know Client Assessments/Interviews…..the different phases of assessments (functional movement & cardiorespiratory training)
· Know what assessments to give during each phase of exercise & what a client should be doing in certain phases
· Know the Stages of the Client Trainer Relationship & when a client is in a certain stage vs. another
· Know the “tell, show, do” motor learning technique
· Know the TTM of Behavior Change & learn how to identify what stages people are in.
· Familiarize yourself with the behavior change strategies (ex: stimulus control, written agreements/contracts, cognitive behavioral techniques, etc.)
· Know what info you need to obtain from a client & what document you need to have a client sign.
· 4 Stages of a Successful Client-Trainer Relationship (rapport, investigation, planning, and action) (understand rapport!!!!)
· Know the different interviewing techniques (paraphrasing, reflecting, informing, etc.) so if you are given an example you can choose which technique is being used.
· Know what all of the evaluation forms are (don’t get liability waiver & informed consent mixed up)
· DON’T SKIM THROUGH CHAPTER 7 ….very important chapter!
· Understand lordosis and kyphosis very well and what those lead to.
· Understand Posterior Pelvic Tilt & Anterior Pelvic Tilt and what muscles are “tight”
· Know the different shoulder positions & what muscles are suspected to be tight
· Know the bend & lift screen, hurdle step screen, Thomas test, PSL raise test, shoulder flexion/extension, & should internal/external rotation test well. Understand what muscles are suspected to be tight & movement/limitations for each test.
· Be very familiar with Pregnancy & Exercise!!!!!!!
· For math: be able to calculate someone’s desired body weight & be able to calculate what percentage of carbs, protein, or fat is in a certain meal if given a food label.
· Know the 3 site testing locations for both men and women during the body fat test & know hand positioning when holding the calipers.
· Know how to evaluate & apply the results from the McGill’s Torso Muscular Endurance Test.
· Know that strength tests are all 1-RM test (bench press, leg-press, & squat)…anaerobic power tests standing long jump, vertical jump, & kneeling overhead toss……anaerobic capacity test is the 300 yard shuttle run
· Type I muscle fibers vs. Type II muscle fibers
· Know how to design a program (reps, set, weight, etc.) for muscular endurance, muscular strength, or muscular hypertrophy
· Know what to do and what is not appropriate when working with youth and young adults
· Know exercises and low-back pain well
· Percentage of Nutrient for your diet: Carbs = 45-65%; Protein =10-35%; Fat= 20-35%
· Becker Health Belief Model & Wolf’s Law
· BMI= Lean Body Weight / (100% - Desired % Body Fat)
· Body & Altitude
· Linear Periodization vs. Undulating Periodization
· Macrocycle—Mesocycle--Microcycle
· Fit’s & Posner 3 Stages of Learning = cognitive, associative, & autonomus (understand what each are and be able to give examples)
· Adherence to training program after 6 months = 50%
· Correct Squat Form (glute dominance vs. quad dominance)
· Read the case studies like 2 or 3 times that are in the manual
· Do the practice exams multiple times!!
Lastly, the most important, and I mean MOST IMPORTANT factor in passing is buying the ACE practice tests, and as well as the tests.com ACE practice test which has hundreds of similar questions. Without these tests, I would not have passed.
That's it guys!
Hope this helps, and good luck on your journey! I'm excited for all to come
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