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Fooled by the NASM exam

by Charles
(Utah)

I don't like to admit that I failed the NASM exam, even after get 100% on the practice exams. No matter how confident you might feel, there is always a chance that your going to fail.

I walked into that air tight room, looked at the first test question, and knew I was going to be beaten down.

Here is a cool tip though:

They give you three practice tests, right?
Well it's only three if you click the finish button at the end of the test. Write down the questions you got wrong, then search for the answers in your book. That way, all you have to do is close the window, and if you just close the window before finishing, then its as if you never had taken a practice test at all!

So you get unlimited practice tests.

The downer is that I only noticed about eight questions that were from the practice test.
Also memorize the muscle imbalances (overactive/underactive) and the whole nutrition section, ugh!

You'd think that after getting 100% on a practice test you'd pass the real one.
I got 69 on the real one.

Very frustrating!

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Were you really fooled?
by: Mac

Were you fooled by the exam, or did you underestimate the comprehensiveness required to pass the final NASM exam?

I did fairly well on the practices and barely passed the final test. One thing I realized is that you must really study the NASM materials and understand the theory behind the information.

It's almost like learning to troubleshoot a system; the instruction can't give you everything you may have to troubleshoot. Instead, you have to apply the theory to find the practical solutions that aren't just handed to you in the study materials and the NASM practice exam. Instead of trying to take as many practice tests as you can, you are better off really learning the information. Better luck next time.

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interesting
by: Anonymous

Very informative

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NASM exam
by: Ursula

I didn't pass yesterday, by 7 points (63). I'm so frustrated. I studied for 3 month, read all the material, watched all the DVD 2-3 times and did 4 online Practice Exams, which I scorred in the upper 80,s. I sure thought I had a good chance passing. I don't know what to do from here!

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Failed NASM
by: Anonymous

What a mess! The practice exam is a sham! I saw questions on the exam that i swear i didn't read about in the text! They really go at you full force! I was so pissed while taking my exam. I wrote down the questions while i took the exam that i thought were just completely ridiculous! Not mentioned once in the text and videos. Then they want to charge 300 bucs for the live assessment training! Sorry This thing is really hard. I don't think it's possible to know everything just by reading everything and watching the videos. This material needs to be learned in a class.

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Real Exam Questions
by: Drew

I just took the NASM exam 2 hours ago. I failed it. After paying for the the class, the study guide, the DVD, the online study guide here, I still felt the test was something different.

The read the reviews that the online exams were shams and nothing compared to the real exam. So I used a combination of this, the book, and online practice exam to study. I did learn a lot through this method but I bet NASM staff go out of their way to counter all our study guides to make a difficult test. Even before finishing the test I knew I probably had failed because the test was nothing what I remembered from the class, book, or anywhere I was being taught the material.

Here is my new game plan for my retake and I wish to share it w/ everyone frustrated by the deception or the worried people going into it:

Study the following: Assessment, Program Design, Exercise Technique.

Nutrition, Client Relations/ Administration and Professional Practices are borderline common sense but still check those out too.

Lets address this to the fullest and work as a team group.

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two hours away
by: Midnight rider

two hours away and i feel good not allfreaked out ill tell you what happened later

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BS TRICK QUESTION $$$ MAKING SCAM
by: Anonymous

I studied for my NASM CPT since the beginning of May. I read the entire book front to back and used the online program as well. I wrote down and studied the study guides, made notes for everything I was learning, listened to Rick Richie's NASM podcast, watched youtube videos, had people test me with flash cards and I repeatedly kept taking the practice exam.

I used the practice exam as a guideline to figure out where I was at and what I needed to brush up on, and what areas are my weaknesses. I did not book my exam until I started repeatedly getting 90's on the practice exam. I felt so proud of myself, because I never worked so hard for something in my life. I truly felt so confident.

It is now the end of September and I took my exam today. It's 120 questions. 20 of them are "research questions" that do not get graded and are to help the third party makers of the NASM exam help formulate future tests. Some of the research questions are intended to be really difficult so keep that in mind. They make you show your ID, AED/First Aid and use a compact mirror to show them the front of your screen for online proctor.

After consistently getting 90's on my practice test. I was POSITIVE that I would pass and start living my dream life pursuing my dream career. This was the only thing left in my way.

Upon the first question of the test, I was like WTF! Is this one of those crazy research questions?? Then the next one, and the next one and so on... I KNOW my stuff, studied my ass off.. I was so sure I was thoroughly prepared for any questions they would hit me with. I say this not to scare you, but I fully prepared gave it my 150% all. and there was not a SINGLE question the same as the practice exam and the real exam.

There were a lot of questions on mine about progression & regression of workouts... (except It was all trick wording) Questions about motivation, goals, sales and agonist and antagonist muscles from what I remember.

Long story short, I was devastated heart broken because after months of dedication, hard work memorizing and studying I FAILED.

I've been crying all day because I worked harder for this than I have anything in my entire college career. I couldn't understand why I felt so confident and prepared. After beating myself up, I realized there was absolutely NOTHING I could have done differently to improve and prepare for this exam with the NASM program.

I thought NASM was an excellent program before I took the actual exam, I thought they were really trying to set us up for success, but the truth is, they do not prepare you for the exam.. because if they did, the practice test would not look the way it does. the practice test is a bunch of BS. they just want you to fail to get your money.

You can ask me almost anything about what is in that book and I can recite and explain it to you.

I have 7 years of experience working for the fitness industry, and 13 years of gym experience. I was a varsity soccer player. I don't think a BS TRICK QUESTION MONEY MAKING exam should be the determining factor of my capabilities to be a great trainer.

Anybody could take an exam and pass it, it doesn't mean you're a good trainer. You need real time experience.

If you failed your exam too, Im so sorry. I feel your pain. My heart is broken and dreams are crushed. I will take it again, we can't give up and let NASM crush our dreams.

I have one more retake. I just am not sure how to go about preparing for this BS exam this time around. I feel like there's nothing I could have done differently.

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Dont Rely on the NASM practice exam!!!!

by DeSean
(Vancouver,washington)

Ok so i just took the exam the other day, and after reading everything on this site heres my take on everything.. But let me back it up for a minute first. So here I am 3 months ago deciding to become a trainer, since I spent so much time at the gym I believed this was my next career move so i bought the NASM course with no prior knowledge in anatomy, muscle function, frontal, saggital , nothin!!. I was overwhelmed to say the least, but I had COMMITTED to it and looking back on everything this is what helped me pass my test the FIRST time taking it.

I followed the course instructions almost to the "T", which means I read every page sometimes ahead of schedule followed by the dvds, and Ipod couses in bed if I couldn't stay awake watching the dvds. I was going to pass this test no matter what. I also believe my passion for training was a driving factor in learning the material for personal advantages as well as Business advantages. as I began reading the material I quickly realized I have forgotten how to study since I haven't studied since high school almost 17 years ago so I was having to read things two and three time just for it to sink in, but thats what i did cause i was COMMITTED to passing this test no matter what. By the time i finished the course 45 days precisely I remember telling myself there's no way I'll remember what i've just read in a million years. I was dumbfounded but I keep pushing on.

The first practice exam I took I made a 58!! This made me feel great here I did this course exactly how it was designed to be taken from the reading to the study guide to the dvds, and I didn't learn squat. Frustration set in yet was determined to do well. On top of this everyone I talked to, and mind you these were master trainers Im talking about, said they all failed the test the first time. Here I am thinking there's no way i can fail this test I've already sunk 600.00 that i had to borrow in the first place just to buy the dag on thing re-taking a test as well as paying a 100.00 re-test fee was not in the plan!!!

So my COMMITMENT to not only learn the material but pass the test the FIRST time was put into over drive. The next thing i did was learn the exam prep material, well when i began to do that it was so much I thought just say KNOW the whole book cause there was no read this, know that specifics they want you to know basically every chart, and acute variable ever created. IMPOSSIBLE!! BUT I did the next best thing for me and that was to WRITE OUT every chart and acute variable because my brain is wired funny like that, if i write it down then I retain it subconsciously.

Anyway after taking 2 1/2 days to do that I took the practice exam again this time I made a 68. Wow 10 points higher I am making progress right.. So in between reading my notes, watching ipod cpt entries, which by the way are an ingenious use of technology , I began taking the practice exam daily multiple times. After about three weeks of that my scores were consistently above 90. I was determined to hit a hundred and didn't want to schedule my exam until i did to assure myself of a passing score.. EXERCISE IN FUTILITY!!!!

Thinking since I am doing so well on the practice exam then Im golden for the real thing. Fast forward to the night before the exam. I feel super confident I make either a 100 or 98, 99 only missing a question cause i was rocketing thru the questions or just didn't read the question right cause I knew the answers to just about everything they threw at me I got this i the bag.

So I show up to the testing facility say a quick prayer in the car that my brain works and i don't screw this up. I get to my station sign in, and begin the test. The very first question I almost lost my mind, I had NO idea what the answer was for a brief moment I panicked cause if this was the first question and I didn't know the answer what is to say about the other 119 question.. So i sat there for a good three minutes trippin. You only get 120 minutes to take the test 1 minute per question so I had to get going. I then shuffled thru about 30 questions to realize I have yet to see even 1 question on the freakin practice exam what's going on, I don't remember reading anything I am being questioned on, Nothing. Now at this point I realized all I prepared for was not going to apply so i've got to pull this off..

The only thing I remember from this website was to think about what there asking you and know that the answer is right in front of you just think it thru and you will do fine. So thats what I did. I took almost the whole time to take the test I also flagged every question I felt unsure about. After finishing the test I went back to every question I flagged and thought about them even more deeply, once i was comfortable with my answers I then went over every other question one more time or all the ones I could before my time was up. With about 5 minutes to spare I turned in my test. All things considered I felt I did my best, and at that point was all i could do. As I turned my test into the proctor I anxiously waited for the results, with my heart beating fast she tells me" well congratulations Mr Ray" I let out a well deserved voiced sigh of relief thanking her and god for the test results. I felt a great sense of accomplishment and a weight being simultaneously removed from my shoulder..

In short don't rely on the practice exam, pay attention to stressed material, and study.. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS so don't expect them. Your also learning a field that teaches acquired results through belief, and hard work. You only cheat yourself remember that. Plus they have like fifty cameras watching you any way so you can't cheat.

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Thanks for your post .
by: Jim (Boston)

Just want to say congrats & thanks for your post. I'm taking my exam in Nov. and the same as you were real overwhelmed with some of the stuff. I'm working hard studying & hoping I pass the 1st time as you did. . Good luck with training. Jim

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Thank you
by: Christin

Your post made me feel alot better! I was going to take the test next week. Took the practice exam yesterday and got a 48% and nearly had a breakdown. I knew the areas I needed to brush up on, and they all happened to be on the practice exam. but it severely diminished my confidence and now I am sortof freaking out! Its a great reminder to take my time, read the questions thoroughly and truly pick the most logical answer!!

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THANK YOU
by: Anjelika

Idk when you posted this comment but I am reading this in Aug 2018 and thanking you so much! Your comment is so real but also encouraging. Congrats for your hard work paying out! I hope the same for me in a week's time!

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Don't Rely on the NASM practice Test

I took the NASM test this week and if it was not for this site and the mention that the practice test wasn't on the test, I think I would have failed. The advice about how many questions are in each section helped a lot. Some of the questions on the test are on the practice but that was very few. It was tough, it took an hour. I have 3 months experience as a trainer and certified through ISSA also.

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tommorow im taking nasm
by: davagirl

so im getting ready to take nasm tommorow and im nervous ive been studing for 5 months and going to school and working so i have a full scheduel...i feel okay with the info but im still extreemly nervous about the test....i get opt model but i still want to ace...im trying to work at golds so we shall seee.....ahhhhh help anyone

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Keep studying
by: Joe

The NASM exam is very different then the practice one. It really doesn't evaluate how well of a program you can put together. If you want to pass it study all terms and know them front and backwards.

Take it from someone who did well on the practice exam time and again and failed the real exam. However, don't get scared of the exam just focus on the terms and you will do fine.

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NASM Test

by Rob
(Key West, FL)

Just a warning for anyone taking the NASM examination. I aced the practice exam, knew everything that I had studied on, knew every single muscle and its actions, everything, and the exam still was the hardest test I have EVER taken in my life.

The exam is NOTHING like the practice test that NASM allows you to take. It is hard to explain and I don't even know why it is SO different than the practice test, but it is, and I am not the only person who has this same opinion. I did pass though.

I have not worked at a gym yet because there aren't too many here in Key West, but I have been doing at home training.

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NASM - It's not that hard
by: ilka

I have to agree that the NASM practice test is quite different than the actual test, but it does give you a hint where you need to study up a little bit more.

I am from Germany, so english is my second language and for me studying the NASM book was like learning chinese. I I have to admit I really thought I wasn't prepared enough, but I passed the test the first time and have to say that it wasn't that hard at all.

I think if you love fitness and everything that has to do with it and you enjoy learning about it, than taking the test won't be hard. With difficult question you just have to use common sense sometimes.

I am not saying it is easy but if I can do it in a foreign language that you can do it, too. Good luck.

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N.A.S.M. Is the authority in Fitness
by: Anonymous

With this cert you will gain more respect than any other really. I studied for three months and passed by the seat of my pants. NASM has developed one of the safest, functional, and cutting edge modules out there.

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I have to agree
by: Anonymous

I just took the NASM test this week and passed. You do need to prestudy. I am so glad I watched the videos and used the book. I think there are only a few quetions on the practice that are on the test.

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I took the test this morning!
by: Anonymous

December 20th 2008. I took the test this morning and passed. It wasn't anything like the practice test...BUT it wasnt any harder. It was just different than the practice test, not any harder. I took the practice several times and made mid 70's each time and i still passed the NASM exam. Know which workouts go in which phase and that is about it. You dont need to know all the muscles and everything like that. There was maybe one question on the test over the muscles.

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Easier than expected.
by: HIZZLENATION

You most likely got a harder version, in which NASM curved to make the grades fair. It doesnt matter which version you get, the harder ones are like I said graded on a curve. I passed my test today and it was not difficult. UNDERSTAND CHAPTER 5 THROUGHLY. 12 QUESTIONS ON entire test was based on that. also pay attention to specific numbers.

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Studying now to take Exam
by: Anonymous

I have been reading and doing my study guide for a few months now. I guess i want to know what to expect on the test and how the test is layed out? Is it all multiple choice? and I guess what things i should focus most on to pass this test. thanks

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NASM test is harder than practice test
by: Kansas City, MO

I agree. I took the 6 month training class, aced the practice test and then got to the testing site and failed it. Be prepared for trick questions. I would advice taking some other type of degree for training. All degrees are the same when you walk into the gym.

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Huh?
by: Hello!

All degrees are not the same walking into the gym. Even if you have a Bachelor's in Kinesiology, gyms will hire you pending you taking a CPT course and passing, preferably NASM. I think some of the people posting here arre trolls.

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Study these and you'll be set
by: Blah

Have a positive attitude, if you fail the world doesnt end.

Onto the important stuff:

Dont do the practice thinking if you ace it you're good, instead watch the videos, read the book and do the study guides for and you should be good. Dont skip any chapters and while some are more important than others you might get caught off guard with a question if you dont cover everything once (the CPR section I almost didnt read but am glad I did).

Muscle imbalances: tight, weak muscles, how to correct, do this for all postural distortions; that table 6-? in the book is a lifesaver. memorize it. It may be a lot of work but believe me it will save you, DO NOT OVERLOOK IT!

Exercise technique: you don't have to memorize every muscle but get the gist of it and what things lead to others. if its a medicine ball its probably power; just use common sense and read to get an idea about what exercise goes in what level and how to regress and progress + know the different phases.

didnt see one question about bones or insertions. The only thing I remember is there is some biology (respiratory system,heart,neurons,study them)

The business: theres some stuff about this so even though it may seem like common sense read it and say what they want to hear.

Anatomy: there arent specific questions but you need to know all the muscles, what they do, where they are on the body. It won't ask you about them specifically but itll be in the question like if something is underactive or over you need to know where it is/does.

Dont be afriad to do stuff,I stood up and emulated the exercise and felt my muscles to see if anything felt tight, what was being used; you may look dumb but who cares if you pass(feeling muscles in any way helps)?

Nutrition: go over the videos for nutrition as they seem to be the most comprehensive,I learned a lot more in the video as it went into far more detail than the book.

Tempos,sets,rest: dont neglect these. I neglected but 2 days before decided to spend hours memorizing them and Im glad; without knowing them you're screwed no matter how hard you try to eliminate answers or use deduction you will just guess, you need to know them and try to apply them like 4/2/1 is slow/controlled so its stab., 2/0/2 is faster and rapidly pushing the weight so its probably strength etc.

Those are just a few tips but in the end study, read the book, watch the videos, do a couple of the study guides and you should be ready. I read many NASM test stories online that I went in set to fail thinking itd just be a learning experience but once I got into it I owned and walked out feeling better than I have in a long time. Good luck to everyone and dont worry much about it or take it too lightly.

Try to learn as much as you can in the book because all the info is really great and helpful for your career (cardio zones are on the test). Every chapter has a purpose,read it all.

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How to study for NASM test:
by: Emilio Avila

I used everyday I had to study for the NASM test and passed the first try.

Use your online resources on the NASM site and look up the test material. NASM tells you exactly what to study and all of the tables that need to be checked out.

But from what I could see, know ALL of the muscles that need to be stretched that are over/under active. Understand a few terms such as functional efficiency, and read the ENTIRE book. The practice test only has about 5 to 8 questions that are actually on the test.
anymore questions, just ask:

Emilio Avila NASM CPT,
superdawgd@yahoo.com

and, GOOD LUCK!
:D

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hard or easy
by: Anonymous

I didn't passed the first time. Next time i studied my ass off and i think i had everything correct, what helped me was this web site!!!
one guy from N.Y. made a summary of all questions so i studied his suggested stuff and passed...i passed b/c i studied hard....the test is tricky and NSAM raised the fee if you fail so do not go in just to try it it will cost you 200 bucks...

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Study!!!!!!!!!
by: NASM Killeen TX

It aint that hard stop reading these post about it being hard. It isnt I just took it this past weekend and past. Just be confident and read the questions thoroughly! Ill give you an example.
If a persons belt is higher in the back than the front what does this indicate? or Diastolic reading is when ? Just know your stuff and you will be ok and the underactive and overactive muscles! You will be fine!

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How many questions?
by: Anonymous

I heard the test is 125 questions or so and it's all multiple choice? Is that true?

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Passed!
by: Anonymous

It's not easy, but it's not too hard either. I kept a tally of my correct answers and made sure I was comfortable with at least 84 answers (about 70%). The rest I kept flagged until I was alright with my educated guesses. You only need 70% to pass.

Don't rely on the practice tests alone...study the flashcards too!! Surprisingly, I passed without reading the last fews chapters completely. Just used common sense when answering. Know whether or not you would throw a ball in a training stage. Meaning, you would never do a woodchop throw in any stabilization phase. So, if there are four exercises to choose from, you can already eliminate one.

Good luck! The goddesses must have been smiling on me that day.

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Study guides, DVD, and workshop
by: Ultrarun

From reading the posts, I saw that study "GUIDES" was mentioned. Are there multiple study guides? I'm only familiar with one (as seen at the NASM site).

Do you recommend spending the money and buying the Premier Study Materials (for a beginner like me)?

Also, is there just ONE DVD (mentioned in the posts)?

Lastly, did anyone go to the 2-day workshop? Recommended for a newby? If you went, was it worth it?

Thanks and good luck to all!!

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Dear Anonymous (hard or easy)
by: KD

Hello!
Do you by chance still have the summary of questions the guy from New York compiled? I'm getting ready to take the test and I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks so much!

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recently took the test
by: Anonymous

so i checked this site out prior to testing and the only thing it really did was freak me out, so any noobs reading this just relax and study. ive been working out for 15 plus years and to be honest i hated studying for this test, its relevant i suppose, but the extent they push there "opt" model is f ing annoying. i know my stuff, but you still need to read and study the book, because even though i know that if i want strength gains i have to do less reps at higher loads, but its there numbers (ie: "maximal strength training" 4-5 sets at 1-5 reps) you need to know.

i graduated college, but it was painful, in not unintelligent by any means, but just way too much energy sitting around studying. so would say the hardest part is studying the material, i watched the vids, read the book and the workbook was just ok, mainly know all the vocab and try to really memorize the tables. the practice test will be worded more like the material in the book, the questions are more or less the same, but worded a bit trickier, but if you know the stuff shouldnt really make any difference. last thing is i wasnt going to study the muscles, but really is important to know where they are and if you know your body, you dont need to know the acceleration and deceleration stuff. good luck ppl. not sure if i said, but i passed. unlike others on this site i felt the material was typical, only reason i got certified with nasm was because its of the higher caliber certs, for whatever reason i have no clue.

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How long should i study
by: Anonymous

I really do not want to over shoot my confidence of my intelligence level. But I am thinking about just taking the test I'm 3 weeks I just got my material a week ago. I have previous knowledge of anatomy and physiOlogy through school what are you reccomendations?

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retest, retest, retest
by: Anonymous

Wow - I did not pass - 2x's total taken - but I will take it again and again - until I past it - the first time I got a 67, then the 2nd time (4 mths later) I got a 66 - I truly believe if you are just starting in the fitness world, it is a very hard test - but if your have been working in the field it's a little bit easier - I am in the 3rd version text material - I will not let this test beat me, lol - I am more determined to past, then the first time I started this new career......I am using the online material, class room and 120 hrs of internship with clients - so I have had hands on training.....did you know that when you are testing - 12% is test anxiety? Just something to think about when you test. Good Luck....I will keep on testing until I pass the dang test, lol.

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NASM exam not what I expected...

by Carl
(Tampa, FL, USA)

I studied forever for this test. Took the practice test every night for a week and the morning of the test also. I was scoring around 90% on it. I get to the Nasm testing center which is an airplane field and score a 58%. I have no clue what happened, everything was different from what i studied and the questions are so in depth to where you will never use them when training a client....seriously though.

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NASM Prep
by: Katie - Admin

Hi Carl,

I am sure you are very frustrated. Make sure you read many of the great tips people have posted in other threads on this page. Many people have said that the NASM practice exam is not a good indicator of preparedness.

You should also check out our exam prep course which guarantees you will pass the NASM exam or double your money back. Yes, thats not a typo.

good luck

Katie

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Don't give up!
by: Anonymous

I studied the nasm content and also used the exam prep. Completed the test at the same flight training school in Lutz. The staff there was very nice. Passed

Be sure to study what is weighted the heaviest on the exam!

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i FAILED BY FOUR POINTS :(
by: Emily

I studied almost everyday almost up til the last minute I had.Took practices tests everynight and stayed up late last night and got up early this morning.One question one I knew i was in for it.The practice exams are NOTHING like the test.I thought i failed even worse than I did,but point is I missed it by four points.I am really upset I have to pay another 200 bucks to take it again.This test was super hard,and don't know how the next one will be :(

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NASM has too many right choices

by Beth
(Bakersfield)

I have taken the NASM test multiple times and have yet to pass. It seems that when asked about which muscles are tight, they offer 4 choices and 3 out 4 seem to be the right one. I feel that even if I could take my book in with me, I still wouldn't know which one to pick. I am very frustrated to say the least. If there is anyone who has any advice on passing the NASM test. I would be grateful.

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QUESTION
by: Anonymous

I Failed my test. and will take my retake next month. are the question the similar to the first time or do they completely change the questions?

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NASM IS A RIP OFF
by: Anonymous

I have failed the first time too and they even ask you questions that aren't in the book!! ALSO THE FREAKING NASM PRACTICE TEST IS A RIP OFF BECAUSE THEY IS HARDLY ANY INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL TEST FROM THE PRACTICE TEST. I passed the practice test like 8 times before taking the actual test and didn't help a bit. Someone will soon sue NASM for their PHYSICAL THERAPY TEST!! You just absolutely have to know ALL the material in an 18 chapter book.

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NASM said do NOT take the practice test a lot of times
by: Anonymous

Yep, I called NASM for help and they said to take the practice test 1 time - it doesn't really match the test. Why would you have a practice test that doesn't mirror any of the real test? HUMMMM ??

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The exam is fair
by:

I bet none of you actually read the book. Why would you take a practice exam over and over, when you know the final exam will ask different questions? I thought the practice exam was a big help. Using common sense, I realized if the practice exam asked about a certain topic, then I better know what the book says about that topic. If you read the book, and grasp the material the exam is easy.

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Thank god
by: LoL@U

Thank god the exam is hard! So morons dont pass it and misstrain clients and get people hurt! NASM makes sure you have put the time and effort understanding and applying the material provided. Put in the time and the effort or move onto lesser Certs. period

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Passing NASM is worse than failing
by: Anonymous

Not much good comes from passing NASM, as I did in 2004, as it simply is a marketing tool that mega-gyms use to conjole new members into buying lots of personal training. The OPT model is designed to delay results for clients AND to promise them results if they buy more training. It makes the clients question their commitment to training. Some clients see right through this scam and never want anything to do with personal training again, so this hurts everybody in the industry. If you purchased the NASM package and are trying to pass the test, go ahead and take it. But just be careful and know that NASM is a marketing tool, not a personal training tool.

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just let go relax
by: Paul

Regroup use the study guide from this site do not let the test win you over you take it over i failed twice im reading all these blogs and i ready to go so dont give up beth

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NASM Practice Test

by Natalie
(San Antonio, TX)

The practice test sold by NASM was a total and completely waste of study time and money! It absolutely did NOT "mirror" their exam! I'm so pissed that I saved up and spent so much money on the package and was deceived. They shouldn't be charging people for it. Its just totally ridiculous!

I've even emailed them twice and they still haven't emailed me back. If you'd actually seen their so called, "study material" you'd realize that its as bad as figuring out the tax laws, or testing someone over every detail in the Bible. The NASM questions are ridiculous and overly specific on everything which, while that can be good to have and read up on, is still incredibly wordy and confusing overall.

The NASM videos were helpful, I'll give them that, but overall I'm just really upset about the whole thing. Now I have to save up to afford another exam and I have no way to practice or have anyone tell me if my learning is incorrect. Being that a lot of these concepts are visual, its easy to make mistakes on judgment on the basis on assessment overall(which was my weakest point and 25% of the test!).

Natalie

Comments for NASM Practice Test

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NASM practice exam let me down too
by: charles

I know exactly how you feel.
It's a total waste of time, those practice tests.

I failed the NASM exam too, I feel for ya darlin.

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NASM practice test is a total waste
by: Anonymous

I agree. The NASM practice exam was nothing at all like the real test - it was like the real test took me for a loop which it should not. NASM went out of their way to make it different than the real NASM exam. The real questions were also very long and backwards I wish they just asked the question straight on.

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THE NASM PRE TEST IS A JOKE!
by: Anonymous

I THINK THAT THEY DECEIVE YOU ON THE STUDY GUIDES & PRE TEST, TO MAKE MORE & MORE MONEY. IVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE NOW THAT HAVE TAKEN THE TEST 3-5 TIMES, & THEY BELIEVE THE SAME THING, THIS HAS BEEN A RIP OFF, BUT NOW I HAVE SO MUCH MONEY & TIME INVESTED IN THIS CERT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DROP OUT & TAKE ON ANOTHER CERT. WHAT A RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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NASM test sucks!
by: Anonymous

I also failed the NASM test and feel much of it is due to the fact that I was not presented the correct study material. The test is absloutely nothing like the practice test. I mean how else can I go from 90s on the practice tests to a 55 on the real thing. It doesn't make sense, and no I do not have test anxiety. IT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Like many of you, I am very upset and have to pay to take the test again. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who feels that the test is a joke.

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???
by: Anonymous

I really didnt think it was that bad, I'm surprised so many people struggled with the test. I dont know about the practice exam because I didnt take it, but the study material was definately enough. Just make sure you read and understand the text book and watch the CD roms for clarification. I hope I dont sound like a jerk because it is definately a difficult test, but it has to be or it would be a joke to be a personal trainer

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NASM IS GR8
by: Anonymous

Guys the NASM programme is very straight forward and very well presented, I do concide that certain parts are wordy in nature. However if you failed the assessment please take some ownership of your situation and spend more time studying the materials rather than blaming the test. Only a poor trades man blames his tools

Having done numerous NASM and other courses I have found the assessments basic at best. For the money the NASM of detailed research driven frame work which can facilitate awesome results with clients, it is by no means the most advanced course but an awesome starting point.
We work in the health and fitness industry and should constantly strive for excellence to achieve our clients goals.

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NASM Study Suggestions
by: Anonymous

Took the test today and passed. If you are reading this site and have yet to take the exam, please don't panic!! I found the review materials offered by NASM to be MORE than satisfactory. Read each chapter, watch the videos, listen to the mp3 presentations (I did it while I ran), do the study guide, and take the practice exam A TON of times. Like someone else suggested, as you are taking the exam, review the sections that each question refers to. For example, if they ask, The hypertrophy phase uses what % of 1RM? Answer is 75-85%, but go back and review the percentages for all the phases. I found the online practice exam to be VERY helpful. Of course the questions weren't the same--but if you know and understand the concepts, you'll be way ahead by doing them.

A personal training certification is and should be a big deal. It's not something you can study for a limited time and expect to pass (especially if you don't have an educational background in it). If you don't have a background in this field, spend time with someone who does and ASK questions. Don't take the exam or your profession lightly. Sure, some of the questions were tough or poorly worded, but that's life! Relax, breathe, and study, study, study!! Good luck.

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NASM Practice
by: Anonymous

I just passed my NASM test on the first try last week. No, it wasn't easy...yes, I spent a LOT of time studying and mostly no, the practice exam wasn't exactly like the test. I did the practice 3 times and not well on any of them. However, it was very beneficial because it gave the layout of how the questions would be arranged and actually made me use my brain to think about what I have spent hours and hours studying. I am glad of its difficulty, in fact another co-worker of mine took 3 times to pass but still admits it not terrible. Reverse rolls, do you want someone telling you how to shape your body if they didn't go throught the efforts to study and learn some difficult things. I am glad for the practice exam and would tell anyone who asked to use it as a learning tool, not a mimic of the real test.

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nasm is a rip off
by: Anonymous

Yes, My husband has studied for months. Taken the test 2 times. That company is the biggest rip off. They make you pay every time you test. and also kick you off the program material that you pay for each time. what a waste of time and money

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Practice test....BOOOOOO
by: Anonymous

The practice test was nothing like the real exam!! I am so glad I found some people who are on my side!! I was taking the practice test and gettin 95's and then go the real exam and get a 67!!!!! The practice test should be there to give you a gauge of where you are in your studies!! If you do bad on the practice then you obviously need for studying. But if you do very well it should be to some level of how your going to do on the real exam!! I def think that they go out of their way to make the real test as different as possible so people will have to buy the retest over and over again!! I am gettin ready to take the test for the third time!! The first two times I received the same score a 67%!! So hopefully I will be able to rack up those THREE points that I need!!

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People that didnt pass
by: Anonymous

Did any of you apply the what you were studying to your very own training?

Before you retest you should try it make your own NASM program for your self. When you do a crunch think about what muscles you use and what they do. When you plank think about the benefits and what muscles it is working and why you are doing it. What tempo you are using?

This will go a long way. 3months is pretty good time to get through most phases of the OPT model.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

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Its not that bad
by: Gabe

I passed the first time and i lived and died by the practice exam. Yeah, its gonna be different from the exam but the info and the principles are the same. It is technical and involved but not overly difficult. Just lots of memorization. You need to find a study system that works for you and repeat it until all the stuff is memorized. Dont get discouraged, i have paid thousands for college classes that werent nearly as organized as the nasm stuff.

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NASM is a joke
by: Anonymous

I've been a trainer off and on for around 20 years. Throughout many of those years I've seen truly poor trainers all over the country, all of them certified. The worst trainers, by far, are certified from ACE and NASM. Now that I've finally broken down after all these years to take a certification, I see why the trainers have been so bad...NASM is a pitiful organization!

First off, the text book is absolutely full of incorrect and outdated information. It's also a remarkable exercise in over-compensation. They are so worried about not being taken seriously by the medical community that they've packed their textbook with loads of bogus jargon and made-up terminology (I have a b.s. in psychology and biology with many years spent in independent research and study in health, fitness and nutrition AND I write health & fitness articles as a freelance writer, so I know what I'm talking about here).

My two biggest complaints, besides the above, are that NASM focuses so much on core training. This is a fad who's time is over. Core training can be performed and built from regular exercises (recent studies conclusively prove this). NASM treats people like eggshells. Anyone dumb enough to follow their guidelines in training clients will find themselves without a client in short order. Also, new data is coming out regularly to disprove stability ball training (which is what I've been saying - along with many others - for years).

Finally, NASM is HORRIBLY off base with their nutritional recommendations. This was the section that I was most shocked by. They do nothing more than parrot the misguided guidelines of mainstream medical organizations like the AMA who have given the "fat makes you fat" song 'n dance to the American public for years...and yet obesity continues to grow.

Folks, fat doesn't make you fat and eating too much protein is not going to kill you. If fat made you fat, farmers would feed their cows lard, not grain...and pro bodybuilders would live on potatoes and pasta while cutting down for a contest. Their whole paradigm that you only need to eat less to lose weight is completely and utterly wrong because it doesn't take into account hormonal issues. Ignore these ridiculous NASM guidelines and do some independent study.

In closing, I can't say enough negative about NASM. Their guidelines are false and misleading, their training recommendations do nothing to prepare the novice trainer for actually training people, they rely too much on core training and teach little in the ways of actual REAL fitness training for beginners, and much of their data is grossly outdated (even their CPR guidelines are at least 3 years out of date!). I will never again spend a single penny on anything related to NASM!

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NASM Textbook A Farce
by: Charisse

I agree wholeheartedly with the commentator above. The guy who wrote the NASM textbook is full of himself and the nomenclature is confusing and mythical, since he made up most of it. From chapter to chapter the same terms are used but the meanings are switched.
I am very much above average intelligence and find myself staring at a paragraph over and over as if it's Greek. I have trained myself for years and get the gist of the OPT, but it seems like the writer went out of his way to make astoundingly simple concepts appallingly difficult. They just overcomplicate the concepts so that you feel like throwing the textbook against the wall. Sort of like they are setting people up to fail, unless you have an A & P background and/or kinesiology. The attitude of the guy who sets up your accout is brusque and he does not like to do anyhting but collect money. I am beginning to thing the whole CPT field is a farce.

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Addendum to my above post
by: Anonymous

Just wanted to make the point regarding the NASM test that both my wife and I passed it on our first attempt. Yes, it was tough. However, if you take the online practice test a few times, you'll understand what they focus on in the real test and can study with that as your guide.

The test is set up as it is to be difficult to pass, which is supposed to lend credibility to the certification. Unfortunately, the cramming required to pass their test will not in any way prepare a novice CPT for becoming an actual fitness trainer. It's my opinion that NASM focuses on all the wrong things in training clients and recommends completely inappropriate guidelines.

If you learn nothing from these posts and ignore everything else I say, understand this:

If a person comes to you to be trained, you should train them according to their specific goals, NOT according to what you (or NASM) THINK you should train them for.

NASM, however, would have you give them a positively ridiculous assessment and, based on those findings, potentially countermand their ambitions with your own. THIS IS WRONG AND WILL LOSE YOU A CLIENT!!!

You can always work on whatever postural deficiencies or muscular imbalances you find while still working toward their actual goals. In these tough economic times, no one is going to pay you for months on end to do anything OTHER THAN what it is they want!

A bit of advice for newbies:

Anyone who has not had anatomy and physiology along with some practical experience in a gym/health club should NOT be training others simply because they passed something like this NASM certification. Without prior hands-on experience, preferably working with someone who knows what they're doing, you will NOT be prepared to begin a career as a personal trainer.

If you don't have any practical experience, my recommendation is to go in to a gym and ask to speak with the most experienced trainer there. Introduce yourself, let them know you've either passed or are studying for your NASM CPT certification and would like to get some practical real-life experience. Simply ask them if it would be possible to shadow them for a few weeks, just to get a feel for how it all works...maybe get some pointers and generally pick up on the work as a whole.

More than likely, the trainer will be both flattered and impressed with you. It wouldn't cost them a dime to let you tag along, so it's unlikely they would flat out say "no". If they do, try another trainer or another gym. Sure, you won't get paid while doing your shadowing, but the experience you'll gain will be invaluable. And chances are, the trainer will gladly share with you a ton of pointers you won't get in a textbook and might take years to learn on your own.

Folks, this may sound cheesy, but it WORKS. If you're new to the field and are serious about starting a career as a trainer (and not just looking for a "cool" summer job), there is no better way to get FREE, real-world training.

Best of luck to everyone!

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Are you kidding me?
by: Mark

No offense but if you did not pass this personal trainer exam the first time either you did not study or you are just not meant to be a trainer. I did not even read all the chapters and still passed the test my first try. Maybe you need to think about not just taking the practice tests and actually study the material and answer the the study guide questions. Come on people, if the test was easy as can be then what value is the certification? I promise you this if i am going to spend $600 bucks on something i am going to make sure it was worth it.

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AVOID THE FLASH CARDS for NASM
by: Arbusto

WHATEVER YOU DO.......DO NOT BUY THE NASM FLASHCARDS FROM THE SITE CALLED 'FLASH CARD SECRETS/NASM'!!!! The company is Mometrix LLC in Beaumont, Texas, and they are NOT affiliated with NASM. They charge almost sixty bucks and all you get is an envelope full of 8 1/2 x 11 paper that is perforated with study subjects printed on them. Then you have to rip the dotted lines to create 250 flash cards, organize them by topic, and put them in this three-box system to memorize them. For sixty bucks this should arrive all set and ready to use but no, you will spend hours getting the system ready. Hours better spent studying. I got ripped on the flash cards but have opened a dispute with Paypal which is how I paid for them, and Paypal does deliver help. Then I posted a Rip Off report about Mometrix LLC and their fraudulent 'educational materials' plus left them some very barbed messages about refunding my money. I mean, the NASM course is a bitch as it is, who wants to sit around cutting up flash cards? They should already be shipped, organized and ready to use by topic according to the NASM textbook. AVOID Momentric LLC Beaumont, Texas' educational materials like you'd run from AIDS! Also, about the practice test: I think it's a fiar gauge about what you're gonna be asked. Better know that overhead squat assessment like the back of your hand.

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Flash Cards
by: Arbusto

and P.S. Mometrix LLC Beaumont, Texas, doesn't give you the boxes to put the flash cards in either! So you have to run around looking for little boxes to hold the cards that you had to sit down and make from perforated sheets of paper! What a joke. Then they give you this crazy memorization system where you juggle the cards from box to box until box # 1 is empty, which means now you know everything. Does this sound nuts enough to drive you crazy yet or what? Google 'Mometrix LLC Rip Off Report' to see details. Mine's not the only complaint but I want NASM students to really be aware of this company's tricks and not waste their money.

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Pass or Fail, The World Goes ON
by: GimmeABreak

The practice test that can be taken unlimited times is not really what NASM should be dishing out. I have taken the practice test 20 times and it is basically the same set of questions OVER and OVER, ad nauseum. Once in a while they throw a couple of different questions in, but this is not enough to really prepare you. They should change up the practice test so you can see what you are getting yourself into. Today I heard some stories about people trying to be trainers for 24 Hr Fitness and taking the test over and over but not getting in. 24 Hr turns people over like pancakes, so many come and go. The club I go to and hoped to be hired at has a real problem retaining trainers because the Master Trainer is a really hard person to deal with. I am taking the test next Friday.....once. That's it. All or nothing. If I fail, I will look at it this way: I learned alot about how to better train myself instead of hiring some hokey personal trainer that would cost three times as much and try to keep me as a client forever. No knowledge is wasted. NASM will not keep getting my $$$. Halfway through the course I really started to dislike it; also, the weird split schedules you work, etc. It's not like I went halfway through med school and dropped out. Now THAT would be embarassing. If I don't become a trainer life will go on. I really want a job that I don't take home with me and have people calling me on my cell phone all day. Prefer set hours and when I go home, that's it. Guess I made a mistake. Even if I pass the test on the one and only try, I will just hang the cert up on the wall somewhere. It's not a life or death issue; just another thing that sounded good until I got into it and began to see the crap.

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Maybe its you
by: Anonymous

Me, and 5 others from my high school sports medicine class passed the NASM certification test the first time right out of high school, with the help of the study guide.

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cert
by: Soras

Obviously a person that has never done any fitness in their entire life would not be able to just train someone after reading a book, a cert is just a cert, if a cert is what you need to get started then get it, get your foot in the door and improve from there

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NASM practice exam
by: Anonymous

For those of you thinking the practice exam is like the real exam, you didn't real the info well. It clearly states that the questions on the practice exam are nothing like the real exam and that there are a few questions unrelated to what you studied. These question help them with future exams and do not count against your score.

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exam
by: Anonymous

I purchased the workshop along with the exam,I read the entire book. Focus on fitness assessments chapter 5-flexibility training chapter 6- cardiorespiratory training chapter 7-core training chapter 8- balance training chapter 9- reactive training chater 10- resistance training chapter 12-(skip chapter 11) program design chapter 13- 14 15 16 17 18 as well. Exam is based on 25 questions on assessment, 25 questions on exercise technique, 25 questions on program design, 10 questions on nutrition, 10 questions on client relations, 5 questions on professional practice & responsibility.The other 20 questions are for future exams. They dont tell you what questions those 20 are, but they don;t count towards your test. exam based on 100 questions out of 120.

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Read the Material
by: Anonymous

Stop complaining about the pre test. The pre test is just a gauge to see where you are at. Of course its not going to be the same as the real test. If you know the material from the book, cd's, and workbook you will do fine. So stop blaming the pre test and read and know the material, if you do that you will do fine. Dont look for an easy way out.

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NASM Waste of Time
by: Anonymous

Ever wonder why the biggest names in the industry (i.e., Grey Cook, Juan Carlos Santana, Mark Verstegen, Tom Purvis, Mike Boyle...) are not NASM certified.
NASM claims to be an evidence based certification when in fact it's all made up jargon (their answer to everything is foam rolling and corrective exercises). A personal trainer is not licensed to be correcting anything!!!
If NASM had the best interest of a personal trainer they would be lobbying for trainers to be licensed professionals. Until that happens personal trainers will never be respected!!! That is why personal training has high turnover (no job security, very few benefits, long hours and poor pay)and gyms take advantage of trainers.

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Last poster off base
by: Anonymous

The person who wrote the last comment is misinformed. Tom Purvis was the head of NASM http://www.resistancetrainingspecialist.com/staff_tpurvis.html and Mike Boyle credits Mike Clark (NASM) for foam rolling. http://www.performbetter.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PBOnePieceView?storeId=10151&catalogId=10751&languageId=-1&pagename=225
Grey Cook is a Physical Therapist and does not need to be CPT certified
Many of these “Top Trainers” have been involved or influenced by NASM.
A personal trainer can correct a clients form and the way they move hence the term “corrective exercise”.

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Similar to the NASM practice exam

by Patrick Koohafkan
(Santa Rosa, CA)

I'm surprised that so many postings here insist the actual exam is completely different from practice tests. I found the opposite to be true. In fact, I'd say I'd already answered at LEAST 15% of the questions on practice exams. While studying for the exam, I read postings on this site stressing the questions are different, extremely wordy, weird etc. and got really freaked out. As a result, I studied like hell, trying to memorize the entire frickin' book, and probably got at least 80% of the questions right (they don't tell you your score if you pass for some inane reason.) I was kind of annoyed, actually, and was going to declare that these folks who didn't pass are full of bull; but now there are even more postings stating that point of view, too many to be shrugged off. I was especially taken aback by the guy who says he was regularly scoring 90% on the practice test and still failed the exam. I was actually going to say here that if you can score 90% on the practice test, you can pretty much rest assured that you'll pass the exam. I don't dare say that anymore.

I can't speak for everyone. All I can say is that for me, the exam wasn't especially harder for than the practice test. I got a lot of questions on which muscles are overactice/underactive based on the squat and pulling assessments. Luckily, I'd memorized all these and I suggest you do the same. It's hard, but using acronyms helps a great deal. I also got questions on the intensity zones, the heart, the number of calories in a gram of protein and pretty much everything, I guess.

What I can with certainty is that the key to passing the exam is memorizing all the tidbits of info in the book. Read the book twice and take notes the second time. Then dedicate yourself to memorizing your notes and scoring high on the practice tests. Also do the exercises in the study guide repeatedly until you get nearly all the questions right. This may seem silly, but this is how NASM designed it.

Even though I'm a certified personal trainer now, I'm not really pleased with the whole NASM experience. There are instances where the book contradicts itself and some segments seem incomplete. The chapter on nutrition is probably the most in-depth, but the chapter on human science movement basically sucks. The pictures that show you the location of all the muscles aren't very helpful and there are no images which show the degree of stress placed on each recruited muscle during various movements. I'd hoped the DVD would show animations of people lifting with the muscles being used in each phase of the movement highlighted; shockingly enough, the DVD doesn't show any images of the muscles at all!

I'm going to buy an in-depth book on muscle movement and get really smart about it so I truly feel ready to be a personal trainer. Understanding the individual muscle groups and knowing instinctively which ones are used in each movement and which ones risk injury when is the most important aspect of personal training; the fact that NASM doesn't teach you much about this is, frankly, pitiful.

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I can relate...
by: Amanda

Hi,

I have not taken NASM, but am certified through East Coast Instructor Training School (NY) and ACE. The ACE exam is basically to test your knowledge on test taking. It is all so silly... although you definitely learn the basics, it is only through continual study and hands on work that understanding a body and how to help it that you learn. And, you will find continual contradictions in what you worked so hard to memorize and the reality.

I am now going deeper into the world of structural integration and even learning more about cells and connective tissue... the science would blow your mind. I had thought of taking NASM as an additional certification, but am now thinking twice, only because it might make me angry!

Good luck!

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NASM Test
by: Anonymous

I found the only thing similar from the Practice test and actual exam was it was multiple choice. Nothing was the same for me. No kidding.

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thank you so much!!
by: Anonymous,NY

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT...I'M STUDYING AND OF COURSE COULD USE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THIS EXAM...I'M SURE I'M GETTING A GREAT EDUCATION FROM THIS EXPERIENCE...I'M SURE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING BETTER..MORE EFFECIENT,SPECIFIC AND APPLICABLE TO OUR NEEDS AS A TRAINER...I JUST KNOW THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS BEGINNING..I CHOSE THIS ROUTE AND I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST WITH IT...I'M SURE THAT THIS WILL ONLY INSPIRE ME TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO BE A BETTER MORE EDUCATED TRAINER...AND YOU'RE RIGHT...YOU LEARN 'HANDS ON'..BUT NEED A BASIC GUIDELINE...I DON'T THINK ANY OF IT'S A WASTE..BUT THE INPUT HELPS...THANKS AGAIN!!
I DO WISH THEY HAD MORE PRACTICE EXAMS TO HELP WITH EVERYONES SUCCESS...

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NASM exam
by: Anonymous

Well some things about your story are right. I find that the NASM exam is crap, I feel it has nothing to do at all of what I learned, except like 3 questions. One question asked me,"What animal has four legs." I just want to know what that has to do with training. But the experience is different for everyone, though your piece was good, I don't feel I will take much from that exam at all.

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SELL SELL SELL
by: Anonymous

Good for you now start working at a gym and SELL SELL SELL you will be the smartest sales person ever. Most people take this cert to become a great trainer and don't realize they have to sales people first and a trainer second in order to make it. It's weird that NASM requires you to know so much in depth detail to become a trainer when it really doesn't help you at all in your career. I think they should take it back a little on the unecessaries and spend more time on the OPT model.

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Passed (hints)
by: Anonymous

Hey everyone I just passed and this web site helped me out big time. Pay attention to everybody on this site. Make sure you take the practice tests. There will be at least 5 to 8 questions from them on the test and look further in depth to the whole areas of the questions. I found that the questions on the practice test might not be the same but they will give a hint to the area of what to know. Do the practice tests at least 5 to 6 times. Also pay close attention to these tips.

1) Page 169 Compensations and muscle imbalances. Memorize the whole page by heart. There will be at least 10 questions.

2)Intermuscular/intramuscular

3) Know acute varibles and acute varibles for exercises.

4) Have a good understanding of tempo for exercises. I had 3 questions on this.

5) Know how many calories are in fat, carbs, and protien.

6) How much rest do you need to get energy back for all percentages. (Rest Intervals)

7) Training volume

8)Heart rate zones for cardio

9) SCAMPI / READ

Remeber you need to study and read. I thought I was prepared and I used all these tips on this site and I still barely passed. When I say barley I mean 70%. These will only partially help u. In order to be a good if not great trainer you will need to study. I would love to give you more help but you need to learn other stuff on your own. Read the book 3 times and do the study booklet. Good luck and remember these were questions on my test. Your test may be completely different, but I guarantee page 169 will be a huge help.

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Passed the NASM test on first try
by: Anonymous

I admit I was quite surprised I passed on the first try after getting only 50's on the practice exams and I did pretty crappy on the Pocket Prep questions from the app I bought on my iphone - damn were those questions hard! I thought I was doomed. But as I sat down to take the test I found that some questions were very straight forward... like "How many calories are in a gram of fat?" or simple definitions like what does EPOC stand for? to more complicated situational type questions where I couldn't decide between two answers. Definitely know that muscle imbalance chart on page 196 there are at least 10 questions on the test from it. Bones you don't really need to know at all. Know all about blood pressure and the difference between systolic and diastolic readings. And know SMART goals and the phases of Change. I gotta say this forum really helped me a lot with narrowing down what info will be on the test. I started studying in October about 3 hours a week. then about 2 weeks before my test I went hardcore studying about 2 hours a day. Now to figure out how I am going to make a career out of this certification...

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