CSCS Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: D

About 160 W: This calculates 100 kg × 0.8 m ÷ 0.5 s using mass instead of force (weight). Force = mass × g = 981 N.

About 392 W: This multiplies work by time (784.8 J × 0.5 s) instead of dividing. Power = work ÷ time.

About 785 W: 784.8 J is the work done, not power. It still needs to be divided by the 0.5 s duration.

About 1,570 W: Correct. Force = 100 × 9.81 = 981 N; work = 981 N × 0.8 m = 784.8 J; power = 784.8 J ÷ 0.5 s ≈ 1,570 W.

Work (J) = force (N) × displacement (m); power (W) = work ÷ time. Convert mass to force with g = 9.81 m/s².

Answer: D

A football lineman blocking at the snap of the ball: Gross, forceful skills like blocking tolerate, and often benefit from, higher arousal.

A weightlifter attempting a maximal back squat: Maximal-strength efforts are simple, gross-motor tasks with a relatively high optimal arousal level.

A sprinter accelerating out of the starting blocks: Explosive gross-motor tasks like a sprint start generally have a moderately high optimal arousal.

A golfer attempting a short putt to win the event: Correct. Fine, complex skills that need precision and steadiness, like putting, have a lower optimal arousal level.

Inverted-U: performance peaks at a moderate arousal level, and the peak is lower for complex or fine skills and higher for simple or gross skills. Arousal regulation is matched to the task.

Answer: B

About 72 g per day: This is the general adult RDA (0.8 g/kg × 90 kg), which is below recommendations for athletes in heavy strength training.

About 135–180 g per day: Correct. Strength and power athletes are commonly advised to take about 1.5–2.0 g/kg/day: 90 × 1.5 = 135 g and 90 × 2.0 = 180 g.

About 315–360 g per day: This would be 3.5–4.0 g/kg, far beyond typical recommendations, with no added benefit for most athletes.

About 45 g per day: This is only 0.5 g/kg, below even the general adult RDA.

Protein: RDA 0.8 g/kg; strength and power athletes about 1.5–2.0 g/kg/day, spread across meals. Multiply by body mass in kilograms.

Answer: C

About 105 kg: 105 kg is 75% of 1RM, which corresponds to about 10 repetitions.

About 112 kg: 112 kg is 80% of 1RM, which corresponds to about 8 repetitions.

About 119 kg: Correct. NSCA's table pairs 6 reps with about 85% of 1RM: 0.85 × 140 kg = 119 kg.

About 126 kg: 126 kg is 90% of 1RM, which corresponds to about 4 repetitions.

NSCA %1RM ↔ reps: 100%–1, 95–2, 93–3, 90–4, 87–5, 85–6, 83–7, 80–8, 77–9, 75–10, 70–11, 67–12, 65–15. Load = % × 1RM.

Answer: C

The athlete bends the elbows to start pulling the bar upward early: Bending the arms early is a common fault. The elbows should stay extended until the hips, knees and ankles have fully extended.

The knees lock straight so the hips can drive the bar from there: Locked knees stop the athlete from repositioning under the bar and weaken the second pull.

The hips thrust forward and the knees re-bend, moving under the bar: Correct. In the transition, the hips move forward and the knees re-flex and move under the bar. This puts the torso more upright and sets up the explosive second pull.

The athlete rises onto the toes and shrugs before the bar passes the hips: Rising onto the toes and shrugging belong to the end of the second pull, after the transition. Doing them early is premature.

Power clean sequence: first pull (floor to knees) → transition/scoop (knees re-bend, hips forward) → second pull (explosive triple extension, then shrug) → catch → recovery.

Answer: D

1.5-mile run, 1RM back squat, T-test, 40-yard sprint: The fatiguing aerobic test should come last. Running it first would impair every test that follows.

40-yard sprint, 1.5-mile run, T-test, 1RM back squat: The aerobic test in the middle fatigues athletes for the agility and strength tests that follow.

1RM back squat, 1.5-mile run, 40-yard sprint, T-test: Agility should come before maximal strength, and the aerobic test belongs at the end.

T-test, 1RM back squat, 40-yard sprint, 1.5-mile run: Correct. NSCA order: non-fatiguing tests → agility → maximum power and strength → sprint → local muscular endurance → anaerobic capacity → aerobic capacity.

Test order runs from least to most fatiguing: non-fatiguing (anthropometrics, vertical jump) → agility → max strength/power → sprint → muscular endurance → anaerobic capacity → aerobic capacity.