ACE Study Materials
There are several options offered on ACE's website. I chose one of the least
expensive ones which included the ACE Personal Trainer Manual, the
Master the Manual study guide, and a practice test. Later I also ordered the
ACE Personal Trainer online practice test. With these materials alone I
passed the test. (Note for AARP members: If you put in the code AARP you
get a discount when you order the materials!)
ACE Personal Trainer Manual
Warning! If you start with the first 3 chapters it can be very intimidating.
When I first sat down to study chapter one, I read and highlighted the major
points worth remembering. Then I answered the first chapter's questions in
the study guide. I did not open the book again for 2 more months! The
material seemed way over my head. I glanced at the questions in the
practice test and felt overwhelmed. I was frustrated and I quit!
Two months later I decided to give it another try. I thought maybe I should
start with chapter 4 which was Nutrition. Those concepts were much easier
for me to understand. I highlighted the major points and answered the
chapter 4 questions in the study guide. I felt a sense of accomplishment and
moved on to the next chapters. By the last chapter I was ready and
confident to tackle the more difficult subjects of anatomy, exercise
physiology and kinesiology which are the first three chapters of the book.
Things started to make sense now.
Study Method
The above process which took me through the whole book took about a
month. I was lucky to have the time to be able to study several hours a day.
Before starting a new day of studies I would review the questions/answers in
the study guide from previous chapters, thus reinforcing the learning. I had
also highlighted major points in the book.
I then went through the entire book and study guide a second time. This
time I wrote out the definitions of all the words that are listed on the first
page of each chapter in the study guide. This process of writing out the
definitions really reinforces the material in your brain. As I went through the
book looking for the definitions I was actually reading the book a second
time. I also used the glossary in the back of the ACE Personal Trainer
Manual for definitions. Then for further reinforcement I again read the
questions and answers in the study guide.
Time to take the practice test
Now I felt more ready to tackle the practice test. I used the test as a study
material as well, taking the test a few times even though I knew the answer
from seeing it before. Nevertheless, it's funny how sometimes knowing the
answer before still doesn't help! There is a written simulation test as well.
This definitely helps in answering the simulation questions that you will get
on the test. I also tried out my online test at this time. My first time around I
passed it but still missed quite a few questions. The great thing about it is
that it gives you an explanation of all the answers along with why all the
other options are wrong. Very helpful and well worth the $29. I also took this
test a few more times.
3 weeks to go
I had already digested all of the material but still had 3 weeks left to take the
actual exam. I am glad I gave myself this extra time. If there were days that I
was just too tired to study I could now take a break, knowing that most of the
pressure of learning all this material was off of me. Now that I was not in
such a rush to learn all the material so fast, I could relax a little and study it
again in less time. I went through the book one more time, noting all my
highlighted material, reading my definitions, and going through my answers
in the study guide. It took about half the time now to do this as before,
because I understood the material so well. Each time I went through the
book the material made more and more sense. Things that seemed so
overwhelming before suddenly clicked!
Special Attention to Formulas
There are several formulas that you should study for the ACE Personal
Training Certification exam. They include Karvonen formula, BMI index,
calculating body fat percentage and desired weight change, calculating fat
calories and carb calories from a food listing, calculating 1RM and amount of
reps, etc. With my extra time I could now go over these formulas. During the
last week before my test date, I went over them every day. I wanted to know
them to the point that they were automatic. You cannot bring in a calculator
to the exam so you should get reacquainted with your manual multiplication
and division skills by practicing them on paper.
Other Resources
The website, acefitness.org, has a discussion board and one of the
categories is ACE exam candidates. I got alot of helpful tips from the friendly
people on this board about what to expect on the test. Some people try to
remember the questions and post them. The problem with this is that the
exam does not stay the same. The exam I took had hardly any of the same
questions as one of the posters on the board. Still it does help to know
those questions and learn the answers.
Time to Relax!
I found that during the last week, relaxing and not studying day in and day
out was more beneficial than cramming like crazy. It gave my brain some
time to assimilate all the information and definitely took some of the stress
away. I still studied and reviewed all the material a few more times but just
not every day and all day long.
Test Taking Strategies
The test had 150 multiple choice questions along with a series of questions
related to 2 simulation problems. You have 3 hours to take the first part and
another hour to take the second. When taking the test, read the question
and then read all the options given for the answer. You can usually eliminate
2 of them. Then you can spend your time deciding which of the two is most
likely to fit the answer. Reading the question carefully is important. Look for
the key words in the question that are in caps and in bold such as MOST,
INITIAL, or BEST. If you find you are taking a great deal of time on one
question you can either mark it to go back to it (the demo you take before
the exam will show you how) or take an educated guess. There were some
questions that I really did not know, and I just picked one that seemed right
to me. I found it was better to just pick an answer than to dwell on it a long
time. The time dwelling on a question that I did not know seemed to drain
me, but if I just took an educated guess and moved on, I was in a better
frame of mind to answer the questions that I did know.
Other things you may want to know
It takes some of the stress off just knowing a few things ahead of time. One
is know the exact directions to your testing center and leave plenty of time to
get there. I actually arrived 45 minutes early so I did a little last minute
studying in the car. You are not allowed to bring in your purse or cellphone
but the testing center that I went to had secured lockers where you could put
your belongings and have a key to the locker. You can bring snacks and
water with but you have to leave them outside the testing room. You can
take breaks but you will need to sign in and out of the log book each time
you leave. Personally I did not take any breaks. I finished the test in 3 hours
- I just wanted to get it done already! After you finish selecting your answers
and click submit, a short survey comes up. You will take the survey and click
submit again and a page with your test scores will come up. Then you print
the page and the proctor will hand you the page. ACE will mail to you a
certificate in 4-6 weeks. I actually sat in front of the computer screen for an
entire minute after my score page came up. I just kept reading the words
over and over: "Congratulations, you passed!" (I also had visualized
this moment several times during my studies!)
In Summary - My Tips for taking the ACE Personal Trainer
Certification Exam
There are several options offered on ACE's website. I chose one of the least
expensive ones which included the ACE Personal Trainer Manual, the
Master the Manual study guide, and a practice test. Later I also ordered the
ACE Personal Trainer online practice test. With these materials alone I
passed the test. (Note for AARP members: If you put in the code AARP you
get a discount when you order the materials!)
ACE Personal Trainer Manual
Warning! If you start with the first 3 chapters it can be very intimidating.
When I first sat down to study chapter one, I read and highlighted the major
points worth remembering. Then I answered the first chapter's questions in
the study guide. I did not open the book again for 2 more months! The
material seemed way over my head. I glanced at the questions in the
practice test and felt overwhelmed. I was frustrated and I quit!
Two months later I decided to give it another try. I thought maybe I should
start with chapter 4 which was Nutrition. Those concepts were much easier
for me to understand. I highlighted the major points and answered the
chapter 4 questions in the study guide. I felt a sense of accomplishment and
moved on to the next chapters. By the last chapter I was ready and
confident to tackle the more difficult subjects of anatomy, exercise
physiology and kinesiology which are the first three chapters of the book.
Things started to make sense now.
Study Method
The above process which took me through the whole book took about a
month. I was lucky to have the time to be able to study several hours a day.
Before starting a new day of studies I would review the questions/answers in
the study guide from previous chapters, thus reinforcing the learning. I had
also highlighted major points in the book.
I then went through the entire book and study guide a second time. This
time I wrote out the definitions of all the words that are listed on the first
page of each chapter in the study guide. This process of writing out the
definitions really reinforces the material in your brain. As I went through the
book looking for the definitions I was actually reading the book a second
time. I also used the glossary in the back of the ACE Personal Trainer
Manual for definitions. Then for further reinforcement I again read the
questions and answers in the study guide.
Time to take the practice test
Now I felt more ready to tackle the practice test. I used the test as a study
material as well, taking the test a few times even though I knew the answer
from seeing it before. Nevertheless, it's funny how sometimes knowing the
answer before still doesn't help! There is a written simulation test as well.
This definitely helps in answering the simulation questions that you will get
on the test. I also tried out my online test at this time. My first time around I
passed it but still missed quite a few questions. The great thing about it is
that it gives you an explanation of all the answers along with why all the
other options are wrong. Very helpful and well worth the $29. I also took this
test a few more times.
3 weeks to go
I had already digested all of the material but still had 3 weeks left to take the
actual exam. I am glad I gave myself this extra time. If there were days that I
was just too tired to study I could now take a break, knowing that most of the
pressure of learning all this material was off of me. Now that I was not in
such a rush to learn all the material so fast, I could relax a little and study it
again in less time. I went through the book one more time, noting all my
highlighted material, reading my definitions, and going through my answers
in the study guide. It took about half the time now to do this as before,
because I understood the material so well. Each time I went through the
book the material made more and more sense. Things that seemed so
overwhelming before suddenly clicked!
Special Attention to Formulas
There are several formulas that you should study for the ACE Personal
Training Certification exam. They include Karvonen formula, BMI index,
calculating body fat percentage and desired weight change, calculating fat
calories and carb calories from a food listing, calculating 1RM and amount of
reps, etc. With my extra time I could now go over these formulas. During the
last week before my test date, I went over them every day. I wanted to know
them to the point that they were automatic. You cannot bring in a calculator
to the exam so you should get reacquainted with your manual multiplication
and division skills by practicing them on paper.
Other Resources
The website, acefitness.org, has a discussion board and one of the
categories is ACE exam candidates. I got alot of helpful tips from the friendly
people on this board about what to expect on the test. Some people try to
remember the questions and post them. The problem with this is that the
exam does not stay the same. The exam I took had hardly any of the same
questions as one of the posters on the board. Still it does help to know
those questions and learn the answers.
Time to Relax!
I found that during the last week, relaxing and not studying day in and day
out was more beneficial than cramming like crazy. It gave my brain some
time to assimilate all the information and definitely took some of the stress
away. I still studied and reviewed all the material a few more times but just
not every day and all day long.
Test Taking Strategies
The test had 150 multiple choice questions along with a series of questions
related to 2 simulation problems. You have 3 hours to take the first part and
another hour to take the second. When taking the test, read the question
and then read all the options given for the answer. You can usually eliminate
2 of them. Then you can spend your time deciding which of the two is most
likely to fit the answer. Reading the question carefully is important. Look for
the key words in the question that are in caps and in bold such as MOST,
INITIAL, or BEST. If you find you are taking a great deal of time on one
question you can either mark it to go back to it (the demo you take before
the exam will show you how) or take an educated guess. There were some
questions that I really did not know, and I just picked one that seemed right
to me. I found it was better to just pick an answer than to dwell on it a long
time. The time dwelling on a question that I did not know seemed to drain
me, but if I just took an educated guess and moved on, I was in a better
frame of mind to answer the questions that I did know.
Other things you may want to know
It takes some of the stress off just knowing a few things ahead of time. One
is know the exact directions to your testing center and leave plenty of time to
get there. I actually arrived 45 minutes early so I did a little last minute
studying in the car. You are not allowed to bring in your purse or cellphone
but the testing center that I went to had secured lockers where you could put
your belongings and have a key to the locker. You can bring snacks and
water with but you have to leave them outside the testing room. You can
take breaks but you will need to sign in and out of the log book each time
you leave. Personally I did not take any breaks. I finished the test in 3 hours
- I just wanted to get it done already! After you finish selecting your answers
and click submit, a short survey comes up. You will take the survey and click
submit again and a page with your test scores will come up. Then you print
the page and the proctor will hand you the page. ACE will mail to you a
certificate in 4-6 weeks. I actually sat in front of the computer screen for an
entire minute after my score page came up. I just kept reading the words
over and over: "Congratulations, you passed!" (I also had visualized
this moment several times during my studies!)
In Summary - My Tips for taking the ACE Personal Trainer
Certification Exam
- Start with Chapter 4 (then do chapters 1, 2 and 3 last the first time
around) - Highlight notable facts
- Answer questions in study guide after reading the corresponding
chapter - After finishing the whole book, go back a second time and define the
words listed in the study guide's chapter heading page - Use the glossary in the ACE Personal Trainer Manual to help you with
the definitions as well as reading through the book again - Do the practice tests that come with the manual (including the
simulation problems) and do them a few times over - Order the additional online practice test and print out all the answers
after taking the test (which includes all the explanations) - Go through the entire book a third time, this time reading your
definitions, your highlighted facts and going over the questions and
answers in the study guide - Write out major formulas and practice them, multiplying and dividing
using paper and pen - Read the discussion board for ACE Exam candidates on acefitness.
org - Use the last week to relax your mind and review major points, facts
and formulas - When taking the test, read the questions carefully, reading each
option and eliminating the 2 obvious wrong ones - Take educated guesses on the ones you absolutely don't know
- Visualize seeing on your computer screen the words:
"Congratulations, you passed!"
How To Study for and Pass the ACE
Personal Trainer Certification Exam
Personal Trainer Certification Exam
I'm really glad I studied for the ACE Personal Trainer
Certification exam and became a personal trainer. It
taught me alot about the mechanics of the body during
exercise, about anatomy and working with people in an
exercise environment.
I've been teaching yoga and aerobics for awhile now
butlearning how to be a personal trainer forced me to
gain knowledge that is extremely useful especially when
student's come up to me after class with all their health
and fitness questions.
It is always helpful to get tips on studying for a major
exam so now that I have passed the exam I would like
to share with you how I studied for this exam in
approximately 2 months and passed it!
Certification exam and became a personal trainer. It
taught me alot about the mechanics of the body during
exercise, about anatomy and working with people in an
exercise environment.
I've been teaching yoga and aerobics for awhile now
butlearning how to be a personal trainer forced me to
gain knowledge that is extremely useful especially when
student's come up to me after class with all their health
and fitness questions.
It is always helpful to get tips on studying for a major
exam so now that I have passed the exam I would like
to share with you how I studied for this exam in
approximately 2 months and passed it!
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