Am I in trouble for the ACSM-CPT? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Dante311]

Hey all - brand new, but found this forum by accident...

NOTE: I AM NOT TRYING TO BE SARCASTIC OR CONDESCENDING.. this is a legit post.. I am really nervous about this exam I have in 2 days and I have not read the ACSM book...

So here's the rundown on me... I'm a Masters student in my second year IN a Physiology/Metabolism Lab. I have a BS in Kinesiology and specialized in Metabolism. I am affluent in the role of metabolism at rest, exercise and during impaired metabolic states.

I have A&P I + II and their respective labs behind me.
I have Ex Phys + a grad level ex phys course under me.
I have biomech (undergrad)
An endocrinology class (grad)
biochem (undergrad)
biology (undergrad)
phys I + II and labs
chem I + II and labs
3 energy metabolism courses 2 undergrad and 1 grad
a personal training class (undergrad - and I hated the instructor)
I have worked with personal trainers before
I am a co-investigator on a training study that implements a generic exercise regimen @ 60-70% of 1RM for a metabolically impaired population (for resistance) and @ 60-70% of vo2peak...
I've worked in a fitness facility for awhile
I have the NSCA cpt & CSCS books and have skimmed both of them numerous times, but have no "rigorously" studied them.

And b/c of my background and fitness training (I am into bodybuilding) and knowledge of Kinesiology and both aerobic and anaerobic training and the FITT principle... among specificity.. overload.. progression... etc... I have a TP job making 20/hr in a rec facility part time while I finish my masters work granted I pass this exam...

I've looked at some 'practice' questions and some of 'em seem a bit farfetched to me... take one on the heart... "As soon as heart exits the left ventricle... where does it go?" The answer should be to the periphery to PV to right atrium to right vent etc... but it wasn't even an option and I was like WTF?


...how screwed am I and where can I look on what to focus on? I'm not sure what to look 'over'...

thanks in advance!!! sorry!

again this post is meant in ALL seriousness...

OOC: The reason I have he NSCA books is I originally wanted to do my CSCS and pursue athletic training, but since becoming a physiologist ... I enjoy working with clinical populations.

plus.. I go to ACSM conferences yearly... so I'm an ACSM member... it's cheaper for me to take the ACSM - CPT. I am no longer an NSCA member... heh

[Dinah]

Hey Dante,

I'm not a gambling woman, so I'm saying this based on your qualifications, experience and interests and...I think you'll do just fine. '-)

Certainly don't psych yourself out over one practice question. In your case, there are a few of things you can do to help you feel more prepared given your short timeframe:

1. Review the KSAs for the ACSM-CPT. They should be in the back of the textbook. Anything that you're not familiar with, look up.
2. Go over the myriad of tips offered on this forum. A real gem is this one: Brian's tips to studying effectively for the ACSM CPT
3. If you can get your hands on the ACSM Certification Review book (3rd edition). Flip through the first 10 chapters and then do the Health and Fitness Comprehensive Exam in the back. It's 100 questions. I think it's one of the best measures of how you're going to do on the test.

If you know your stuff, you can pass this test. I will say that I found the test a bit odd. It seemed to run the gamut from straightforward to real brain twisters. Of course, I have a very different background from you. I came in cold with virtually no knowledge (my background is corporate marketing and communications) except for that which I picked up in magazines, on the Internet and by talking to educated people / trainers.

After you've done those few things, go back to the practice question that messed with your head. The one thing you have to get comfortable with is how ACSM tests you. They certainly have their own unique style, but once you get the hang of it, the answer will become that much clearer to you.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

Dinah

[Dante311]

Thanks Dinah! Don't have access to the ACSM book in such short notice.. I'd have to purchase it online. Heh.. surprisingly NONE of my lab mates have it. They hate pting. lol



anyhow...

I can only imagine how the ACSM tests you. Ever been to an ACSM conference? Last ACSM conference I had a poster presentation on a submitted abstract... holy jesus the questions I received.

heh...

anyhow.. thanks. Where may I find the KSA's?

I may skim the NSCA CPT and CSCS books tonight again for a little while then again tomorrow. Too much to do with regards to my research to FULLY study

I'm going into this bad boy blind. I hope I score @ least 650... I know 550 is passing, but regardless.

thanks for the response and vote of confidence!

i'm so nervous.

[Dinah]

You mentioned you had an ACSM book. I guess I assumed it was the text book. The KSAs are in the back. Make sure it's a current edition b/c the KSAs changed last year.


You're gonna do fine.

[Penny1015]

Due a web search: acsm exam transition info
This provides information on the 2009 changes.

On your question about the left ventricle of the heart, the blood is oxygenated thus would proceed
through the aortic valve and into the aorta and coronary arties and to the rest of the body.

[Dante311]

Due a web search: acsm exam transition info
This provides information on the 2009 changes.

On your question about the left ventricle of the heart, the blood is oxygenated thus would proceed
through the aortic valve and into the aorta and coronary arties and to the rest of the body.

Yes, I know this. Periphery was an easier way of classifying that heh...

but thank you!

[Dante311]

Less than 24 hours. I'm so nervous.

going to crash course this tonight for 4-5 hours... get a good nights rest and hopefully rock this baby.

The one thing I have on my side is that I work with a CLINICAL population in an exercise training study....

heh I know ACSM's CPT is very clinically based.

[Dinah]

Ok, one last time -- you're gonna do FINE!!!

You've got the foundation. Don't overthink it. Hopefully you were able to find the KSAs, so you could be a bit more familiar with the scope of knowledge.

It's a hard test, but it is passable. Just take your time with the questions (not a whole lot of time though '-p ) -- there's a BEST answer and then there's others that look pretty good too. Work through it.

I expect to see here that you passed by tomorrow night.

G.L.!!!

[Dante311]

After reviewing the NSCA-CPT & CSCS books... not too in depth, I feel the ACSM guidelines are not too far off.. + everything I've learned considering my dept is affiliated strongly with the ACSM.. I feel a bit more confident.

thank you so much dinah!

[Penny1015]

Dinah--

Direct access to current changes ACSM KSA's:

http://www.acsm.org/examtransitioninfo

Excellent source: ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 8th ed. 2010
(full list of KSA's)