ACSM ACSM Certified Personal Trainer: Client Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A trainer calculates a client's waist-to-hip ratio as 0.92 for a male client. How is this classified?
- Low risk
- Moderate risk
- High risk (Correct answer)
- Very high risk
Correct answer: High risk
For men, a waist-to-hip ratio ≥0.90 is classified as high risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease according to ACSM guidelines.
Question 2: Which of the following is the MOST accurate field test for estimating VO2max in a trained adult?
- 12-Minute Run Test (Cooper) (Correct answer)
- Step Test
- Sit-and-Reach
- Hand Grip Dynamometer
Correct answer: 12-Minute Run Test (Cooper)
The Cooper 12-Minute Run Test correlates strongly with laboratory VO2max measurements and is considered a highly valid aerobic field test for trained individuals.
Question 3: When performing a health history intake, a client reports taking beta-blockers. How does this affect exercise assessment?
- It elevates resting blood pressure
- It attenuates heart rate response to exercise (Correct answer)
- It increases perceived exertion
- It has no effect on assessment
Correct answer: It attenuates heart rate response to exercise
Beta-blockers blunt the heart rate response to exercise, making heart rate-based intensity targets inaccurate; RPE should be used instead.
Question 4: A client has a BMI of 31 kg/m². According to ACSM, this falls into which classification?
- Overweight
- Obese Class I (Correct answer)
- Obese Class II
- Normal weight
Correct answer: Obese Class I
ACSM and NIH classify a BMI of 30.0–34.9 kg/m² as Obese Class I.
Question 5: Which girth measurement site is recommended by ACSM to assess abdominal obesity risk?
- Hips at widest point
- Waist at the narrowest point between ribs and iliac crest (Correct answer)
- Mid-thigh circumference
- Chest at nipple line
Correct answer: Waist at the narrowest point between ribs and iliac crest
ACSM recommends measuring waist circumference at the narrowest point of the torso, between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest, to assess abdominal obesity.
Question 6: A 40-year-old male client's maximal heart rate is estimated using the age-predicted formula. What is his estimated HRmax?
- 160 bpm
- 180 bpm (Correct answer)
- 175 bpm
- 170 bpm
Correct answer: 180 bpm
Using the formula 220 − age: 220 − 40 = 180 bpm is the estimated maximal heart rate.
Question 7: During a push-up test, a female client is allowed to use which modified position according to ACSM standards?
- Standing wall push-up
- Seated push-up on bench
- Modified knee push-up (Correct answer)
- Incline push-up on a box
Correct answer: Modified knee push-up
ACSM permits women to perform the modified knee push-up position as the standard for the push-up muscular endurance test.
ACSM ACSM Certified Personal Trainer: Client Assessment 3
A trainer calculates a client's waist-to-hip ratio as 0.92 for a male client.
How is this classified?