NASM Exam No Worries

by Rob
(CT)

I used this site to get ready for the NASM, so I thought I would pay it forward so to speak. I just took the NASM today and passed. It really isn't that much different than the practice test. The questions are different, of course, but the style is similar.

I over prepared, but then again, I've always been a good test taker. If you're not, why don't you try something novel and um....learn the material. I read the book, watched the DVD's and was fine.

Questions that appeared on my test:

1. Questions about the squat/pulling assessments. Memorize the assessment charts and know how to relate to real life situations. For example, if someones shoulders elevate during pulling, which muscle should be stretched?

2. Specific numbers. I made a sheet with all the percentages on it to study and it helped. Here are a few:
How many quarts of water does a person need in a day?
How much protein does an endurance athlete need a day?
What % of communication is physiological? words?
I had a bunch of rep questions (how many for hypertrophy, maximal strength, stabilization, one leg stabilization)
Also a bunch of questions on intensity (30-45% of 1 RM for power level, etc)
How much carbs, fat, protein should be part of your diet?

3. Definitions. Although my test may be different, they really were similar to the practice test(autogenic inhibition, altered reciprocal inhibition, inter/intramuscular, functional efficiency, and assessment were all definitions that popped up)

4. Know the regressions and progressions....this is mostly common sense

5. Know what exercises go with what level, there are a bunch of these like "What's a core strength exercise?" and you're given four choices.

6. The muscles. While they get specific with certain numbers, they are far from it when it comes to the muscles. I took the time to learn every muscle, but I guarantee you they will not ask you if the adductor brevis concentrically accelerates hip flexion. I had one that asked, "In the lowering of a squat, what movement does the quadriceps perform? Concentric, Eccentric, Isometric, or Plyometric" If you don't know the answer to questions like that, maybe you should consider another profession.

7. My favorite question: "What's an acceptable thing for a fitness professional to do with a client? Talk to them about their goals, criticize them, offer them a diet, give them a massage" MASSAGE?

If you take your time and read carefully, there are really only a few tricky questions and a few hard ones (the one that comes to mind for me is "What is the innermost layer of muscle? Fascia, Endo/Peri/or Epimysium?" There are very few questions like that, however, and you only need a 70, right? It IS a shame they don't give you your score....GOOD LUCK. BE CONFIDANT AND YOU WILL PASS. I have faith in you :)