NASM CPT Client Relations & Behavioral Coaching Practice Questions
Client Relations & Behavioral Coaching makes up 7 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest NASM CPT practice test. Here are 10 of the 28 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on NASM's CPT7 exam blueprint. Original questions, not affiliated with NASM; 50 per test with a 70% pass line.
1. A client says, "I know I should exercise, and I plan to start in the next few months." Which stage of change is this?
- A.Action
- B.Contemplation
- C.Precontemplation
- D.Preparation
Answer: B. Contemplation means thinking about change within about six months. Preparation means planning to start within the next month, often with small steps already taken.
2. A client has trained consistently for more than six months. Which stage of change are they in?
- A.Preparation
- B.Termination
- C.Action
- D.Maintenance
Answer: D. Maintenance follows six months or more of the new behavior. Action covers the first six months of regular exercise.
3. A person has no intention of exercising in the next six months. This stage is:
- A.Precontemplation
- B.Preparation
- C.Contemplation
- D.Relapse prevention
Answer: A. Precontemplation is not yet considering change. The trainer's job here is to raise awareness, not to push a program.
4. A client has joined a gym and plans to begin training next week. This stage is:
- A.Action
- B.Maintenance
- C.Preparation
- D.Contemplation
Answer: C. Preparation means intending to act within the next month, often with first steps such as joining a gym or buying shoes.
5. In SMART goals, the "M" stands for:
- A.Maximal
- B.Moderate
- C.Measurable
- D.Motivating
Answer: C. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. A measurable goal can be tracked, such as walking 8,000 steps a day.
6. Which is the best example of a SMART goal?
- A.Walk 30 min, 5 days a week, 8 weeks
- B.Lose as much weight as I can
- C.Train hard whenever there is time
- D.Get in much better shape by next summer
Answer: A. It is specific, measurable and time-bound. The others give no number or deadline to track.
7. "Attend three sessions a week" is an example of which kind of goal?
- A.Long-term goal
- B.Outcome goal
- C.Performance goal
- D.Process goal
Answer: D. A process goal is about the behaviors a client controls. Outcome goals are results, such as losing 10 pounds.
8. In motivational interviewing, the acronym OARS stands for open questions, affirmations, reflections and:
- A.Self-talk
- B.Summaries
- C.Solutions
- D.Scheduling
Answer: B. OARS is open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening and summarizing, the core skills for drawing out a client's own reasons to change.
9. Which is an open-ended question?
- A.Is your knee feeling better today?
- B.What makes exercise hard for you?
- C.Did you manage to train this week?
- D.Do you like running?
Answer: B. Open-ended questions invite more than yes or no, helping the client explore their own motives. The others can be answered in one word.
10. Restating what a client said in your own words to show understanding is called:
- A.Goal setting
- B.Directive instruction
- C.Affirmation
- D.Reflective listening
Answer: D. Reflective listening mirrors the meaning of what the client said. Affirmations recognize strengths and effort.
Practice all 28 client relations & behavioral coaching questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free NASM CPT training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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