March 10, 2015

ACE Exam – Group Fitness Practice Exam Questions

The ACE Exam – Group Fitness Exam is a challenging and comprehensive assessment for men and women who want to enter the rewarding and rapidly growing field of exercise therapy. The test is developed by the American Council on Exercise in consultation with an expert team of test administrators.


The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are pretest questions used to develop future versions of the exam. Pretest questions are not scored, though it is impossible to identify them.

The ACE Exam – Group Fitness Exam has four content domains: exercise programming and class design (49 percent of the exam); group instructional methods (31 percent); group leadership methods (14 percent); and professional responsibilities (6 percent).

The raw score (the number of questions answered correctly) is placed on a scale of 200 to 800, using a formula that takes into account the relative difficulty of the exam version. The minimum passing scaled score is 500.

Candidates who take the exam via computer will receive their scores immediately. The results of paper-based exams take four to six weeks to be scored and sent to the candidate. Test takers who score greater than 500 will immediately receive confirmation of ACE certification. At present, more than half of those who take the ACE Exam – Group Fitness Exam pass it on their first try.

ACE Study Guide

Start learning how to be successful on your ACE exam. Our ACE study guide is guaranteed to help you get the results you deserve on your ACE test. Some test takers prefer to study using flashcards and so we have created the best ACE flashcards that cover everything you need to know for the ACE exam. Note that using multiple study aids will help you maximize the benefit from your study time.

ACE Study Guide
ACE Flashcards

ACE Exam – Group Fitness Exam Practice Test

1. The term distal refers to:

a. Position towards the front of the body
b. Position towards the back of the body
c. Position away from the where the limb is attached to the body
d. Position near where the limb is attached to the body

2. The type of blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart is called:

a. Vein
b. Artery
c. Arteriole
d. Capillary

3. The function of the trachea is:

a. Facilitates the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach
b. Allows air to pass from the larynx into the lungs
c. Provides a chamber where speech sounds are made in order for talking to occur
d. Allows for the exchange of respiratory gases

4. All of the following are true about synovial joints EXCEPT:

a. They are connected to bones with a continuous intervening fibrous tissue
b. They have a space between the bones that form the joint
c. They are surrounded by thick, fibrous connective tissue
d. The surface is lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant for the joint

5. What type of motion best describes the rotation for the forearm so the palm of the hand faces upwards?

a. Inversion
b. Dorsiflexion
c. Pronation
d. Supination

Answers

1. C: There are many terms that describe anatomic positions and these terms usually refer to a complementary structure such as a bone or a muscle. Distal means away from where the limb is attached to the body therefore, the distal radius refers to a location in the forearm close to the wrist. Proximal refers to a position near where the limb is attached to the body. Anterior refers to the front whereas posterior refers to the back. Superior is a term that refers to a position near the head whereas inferior refers to away from the head. Medial describes a position close to the center or midline of the body whereas lateral refers to a position away from the midline. Cervical refers to the area in the neck region. Lumbar refers to the lower back. Plantar refers to the bottom of the foot and dorsal refers to the top of the feet or hands.

2. B: Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood to the heart. Arterioles are smaller arteries that branch off from the arteries and bring blood to the smaller vessels known as capillaries. Arteries are thicker and more muscular than veins because the added strength is needed to drive the blood away from the heart. The aorta is the artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart into circulation. The pulmonary artery carries the oxygen deprived blood back to the lungs. Examples of arteries are the carotid, subclavian, coronary, thoracic, abdominal, brachial, mesenteric, iliac, femoral, popliteal, renal, radial, ulnar, and tibial.

3. B: The respiratory system is the system that supplies oxygen to the body and eliminates carbon dioxide and other waste products from the body. Air enters the body through the nostrils and enters the pharynx. The pharynx is a tubular opening that allows for the passage of food and air. The pharynx leads to the larynx which is the voice box. The trachea follows. This is an approximately 5 inch long tubule that allows air to enter the right or left bronchi. The bronchi further divide into bronchioles which is the location where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

4. A: A synovial joint is a joint that moves freely because it has a space between the bones. Thick, fibrous connective tissue surrounds each joint. The inside of the joint is lined with a thin membrane that secretes synovial fluid. This fluid acts to lubricate the joint. Types of synovial joints include gliding joints such as the carpal bones in the wrist, condyloid joints such as the radial carpal joint in the wrist that allows for hand movement, and saddle joints such as the carpal-metacarpal joint in the thumb. Other types include hinge joints such as the elbow, ball and socket joints such as the hip, and pivot joints such as cervical vertebrae nearest the head that allows for a safe range of motion of the head.

5. D: Supination describes the motion of the forearm rotating so the palm is facing upward. It would also apply to the movement of the leg and the foot rolling outward so the foot lands on the outer edge while walking. Pronation is the opposite of supination and refers to the rotation of the hand and forearm so the palm faces downward. Inversion describes the movement of the foot turning inward whereas eversion refers to turning or rotating outward. Dorsiflexion is the movement of the foot upwards towards the shin and plantar flexion refers to the movement of the foot or toes downward toward the sole of the foot.

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