Took the CSCS for the 1st time today and going into it I had the mindset that it was going to be the hardest test ever. I spent the last couple months really getting down the A&P of the body and all the scientific terms. I then crammed with practice test APPs and online studying the past 3 full days.
Once finished with the test I realized it was more of NSCA based questions about ethics and how to deal with athletes in certain situations rather than scientific questions which I had put all my time into studying. Ended up failing both sections by 5 questions each.
Just sucks because while taking the test I quickly realized that I could've just bought the official NSCA book and nailed all the questions rather than studying nothing but A&P of the body and taking practice tests from 3rd party sights and apps. Overall the test was much simpler than I had imagained and almost all the questions had an answer bank which all included a correct answer, just had to pick out the best answer that the NSCA would say is most important.
Section 1 had 110 scored questions which I believe I scored a 74 on and needed 79 and section 2 had 95 questions which I had 51 questions correct and I needed 56 correct answers to pass. Each section had random questions which were not scored also so I don't remember the exact amount of questions I answered today.
Let me know if you're going to take the test and have any questions or if you have any tips for when I retest later this summer. Just had to vent regardless and also let y'all know that it wasn't as "scary" as most people make it out to be
|
-
02-22-2016, 09:52 PM #1
- Join Date: Jun 2010
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
- Age: 34
- Posts: 3,016
- Rep Power: 6104
Failed my CSCS today. Hold me brahs :(
/\^/\^Misc Colorado Crew^/\^/\^
lost 100 lbs in 8 months
CSCS- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
-
02-23-2016, 03:28 PM #2
- Join Date: Sep 2009
- Location: Pottsville, Pennsylvania, United States
- Age: 34
- Posts: 1,194
- Rep Power: 1440
-
03-06-2016, 08:41 AM #3
- Join Date: May 2013
- Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Age: 38
- Posts: 266
- Rep Power: 245
You might have better results purchasing all of the NSCA study materials - especially the text - and following some of the many strategies suggested by sites found through Googling "NSCA CSCS Exam Preparation".
Most recommend reading the text cover to cover at least once, taking (and retaking) official practice exams and self-assessments, and working through the audio symposium and accompanying workbook.
I come from an engineering background so I knew I'd need to go balls-to-the-wall. I read through the text twice (more for the sections I didn't understand as well), took the practice exams and self-assessments countless times until I consistently scored 85-90 on each test, listened through the entire audio symposiums 3-4 times, and worked through the workbook twice.
Overkill? Maybe, but it worked.
Does that help?“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha
"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable." - Socrates
NSCA-CSCS
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified Coach
Primal Blueprint Certified Expert
rob@arthurhealth.com
www.arthurhealth.com
-
05-14-2016, 10:44 AM #4
-
-
11-05-2019, 11:19 AM #5
Hope you passed man! For anyone else who might be wanting help here is what I did to pass and my CSCS study guide and recommendations:
At a glance:
Background: Medical School Student and MAG USAG Coach
Study Time: 2 weeks (few hours a day)
Primary Book: CSCS Prep Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Reference Book: Essentials of Strength and Conditioning (Fourth Edition) [Can find free link online - Used for exercise technique/60th percentiles for squat, bench, power clean. etc for each sport.
Testing Knowledge: 100 questions in CSCS Prep book and 5 questions at end of each chapter in Essenticals of S&C, just from a read through of CSCS prep was able to answer most of the questions and the ones I got wrong I reviewed and make sure I understood the equations and how to apply them to specific situations or made sure I memorized the 60th percentiles for each exercise. I will try and post a link to my study guide for the equations and parts you have to memorize for the exam. And would recommend reviewing each exercise and spotting technique as well as the questions in the books to test ensure you feel ready.
h t t p s : / / d o c s . g o o g l e . c o m / d o c u m e n t / d / 1 U - l _ w A w y u u r k l o a c 0 G p Q y t 8 _ s V M N x l F k 0 P n H S o l x C T c / e d i t ? u s p = s h a r i n g
If anyone even finds this or finds it remotely helpful I can post answers to the study guide as well, but knowing this stuff will cover the majority of the knowledge you will need to know and apply, and outside this I we read through CSCS prep, review spotting/exercise technique for each weight lifting exercise and do the 100 questions in this book and in the Essentials of S&C (4th edition) found online. The more experience you have the less you'll need to study, but I think 4 weeks would be sufficient for anyone especially following this study guide.
-
11-22-2019, 09:37 PM #6
CSCS Info
Its ok man. You were close considering the amount of time you spent to study for the exam. I recall speaking to someone at my gym who is a CSCS and was an athletic trainer following a masters degree from university of tampa and he stated that is a tough exam! He mentioned that he took it after graduate school and how that anyone with a bachelor's degree of science can be eligible to take the exam. He did mention that he would highly recommend myself and to other people to study up a ton before taking it. Himself he registered 3 days after getting the materials and passed with a B, but he also mentioned that there would have been no way he could've taken the exam so soon if he didn't go through as much schooling. Hope this helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94fe6xvYbVY
Follow my Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Journey on Instagram derock5996
Eat clean and train hard and keep it natural!
-USAPL Powerlifter in the 93KG weight class
-
12-21-2019, 12:24 AM #7
- Join Date: Jun 2010
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
- Age: 34
- Posts: 3,016
- Rep Power: 6104
Update since I finally came back to this section of these forums.
Passed the CSCS November of 2017 finally. Was a tough exam but read the book front to back twice while taking notes. Probably took me 20 mins at least per page since I was taking so many notes lol.
I’ve been a professional S&C coach for a sports team ever since (don’t want to say who to help me not get detectived). Was well worth it since I’ve been in a dream job ever since.
I’ll try to check back here more often and if anyone has any questions about the CSCS or what to do after, I’d love to help out. But the above replies were spot on. Basically, you can’t just cram for a few days and take it, you’ve actually got to know what you’re doing going into it or just be very book smart./\^/\^Misc Colorado Crew^/\^/\^
lost 100 lbs in 8 months
CSCS- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
-
12-23-2019, 07:00 AM #8
Bookmarks