CSCS Testing & Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which test most directly assesses an athlete's maximal anaerobic power output and fatigue index in the lower body?

Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2
30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test (Correct answer)
Vertical jump (countermovement jump)
3-minute step test

Correct answer: 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test

The 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test on a cycle ergometer directly measures peak anaerobic power (first 5 seconds), mean anaerobic power (30 seconds), and fatigue index, making it the standard for assessing anaerobic power and capacity.

The Wingate Anaerobic Test (Bar-Or, 1987) uses a mechanically braked cycle ergometer at a resistance of 0.075 kg per kg bodyweight. Peak power is measured in the first 5 seconds, mean power over the full 30 seconds, and fatigue index equals (peak power minus lowest power) divided by peak power times 100. Values are expressed in watts or watts per kilogram. The vertical jump is a valid field test of lower body power but lacks the detailed anaerobic capacity information from the Wingate. CSCS practitioners use Wingate data to identify fast-twitch fiber dominance, fatigue resistance, and energy system characteristics relevant to sport-specific conditioning program design.

Question 2: An athlete weighing 180 lb has a body fat percentage of 18%. What is her estimated lean body mass?

32.4 lb
147.6 lb (Correct answer)
162.0 lb
158.2 lb

Correct answer: 147.6 lb

Fat mass equals 18% times 180 lb, which equals 32.4 lb. Lean body mass equals total weight minus fat mass: 180 minus 32.4 equals 147.6 lb.

LBM equals total body weight times (1 minus body fat fraction): 180 times 0.82 equals 147.6 lb. Fat mass equals 180 times 0.18 equals 32.4 lb. This calculation is fundamental for CSCS practitioners to set appropriate body composition goals, calculate relative strength (strength divided by LBM), and monitor changes in fat versus lean tissue during training cycles. If an athlete's goal is to maintain LBM while losing fat, monitoring LBM across testing cycles ensures the training and nutrition program is preserving muscle mass while successfully reducing fat mass.

Question 3: Which is a key limitation of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for body composition assessment in athletes?

BIA cannot be used in athletes with high muscle mass
Hydration status significantly affects resistance measurements, altering results (Correct answer)
BIA is the most expensive method available in a laboratory setting
BIA cannot assess body fat percentage — it only measures total body water

Correct answer: Hydration status significantly affects resistance measurements, altering results

BIA measures electrical resistance through body tissues; hydration status is a major confounding variable. Dehydration increases resistance and overestimates fat mass, while hyperhydration decreases resistance and underestimates fat mass.

BIA is widely used for its low cost, portability, and ease of administration. However, valid results require standardized hydration status: athletes should be euhydrated, avoid exercise for 12-24 hours, avoid alcohol for 24-48 hours, and void the bladder before testing. The impedance equation uses height, weight, and resistance to estimate total body water, then estimates fat-free mass from water content based on the assumption that fat-free mass is approximately 73% water. This assumption may not hold for all athlete types. DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) is the practical gold standard for body composition assessment in sport science settings.

Question 4: The T-test is primarily used to assess which athletic quality?

Maximal sprint speed over 40 yards
Aerobic endurance at submaximal pace
Agility: multidirectional speed and change of direction ability (Correct answer)
Lower body explosive power

Correct answer: Agility: multidirectional speed and change of direction ability

The T-test measures agility — specifically the ability to accelerate, decelerate, change direction (forward, lateral, and backward), making it applicable to most team sport athletes.

The T-test involves sprinting forward 10 yards, shuffling left 5 yards, shuffling right 10 yards, shuffling back left 5 yards, and backpedaling 10 yards to start, forming a T-shaped pattern. Excellent scores: men under 9.5 seconds, women under 10.5 seconds (normative values vary by source). The T-test is distinct from pure speed tests (10 or 40-yard dash) and reactive agility tests. Its limitation is that it is a pre-planned (closed) agility test and may not fully reflect reactive agility demands in sport. Reactive agility tests incorporating a visual stimulus are used when reactive ability is the primary assessment goal.

Question 5: When performing a 1RM bench press test, what is the recommended number and structure of warm-up sets before the true maximum attempt?

1-2 sets at 90% of estimated 1RM
2-3 sets: one at approximately 50%, one at 75%, one at 90% of estimated 1RM (Correct answer)
5-6 sets progressively from 30% to 100% with 10 repetitions each
No warm-up sets to preserve maximal strength for the attempt

Correct answer: 2-3 sets: one at approximately 50%, one at 75%, one at 90% of estimated 1RM

NSCA 1RM testing protocol recommends 2-3 progressive warm-up sets at approximately 50%, 75%, and 90% of estimated 1RM with adequate rest, preparing the neuromuscular system without inducing fatigue.

NSCA 1RM testing protocol: Set 1 of 5-10 reps at approximately 50% estimated 1RM with 1-2 minute rest; Set 2 of 3-5 reps at approximately 75% with 2-3 minute rest; Set 3 of 2-3 reps at approximately 85-90% with 3-5 minute rest; then the 1RM attempt. If successful, increase load 5-10% and re-attempt after 3-5 minute rest. If unsuccessful, decrease 5-10% and re-attempt. The goal is to reach the true 1RM in 3-5 total attempts to minimize fatigue effects. Standardized protocol, verbal encouragement, and a trained spotter are required for valid and reliable results.

Question 6: What is the primary purpose of collecting normative data when conducting an athlete testing battery?

To design the athlete's nutritional supplementation plan
To compare individual scores against population norms and track longitudinal individual progress (Correct answer)
To calculate the athlete's 1RM for all major exercises
To determine the athlete's maximal heart rate for aerobic training zones

Correct answer: To compare individual scores against population norms and track longitudinal individual progress

Normative data allow the CSCS to contextualize an athlete's performance through percentile rankings compared to peers of the same age, sex, and sport, and to identify areas of relative weakness requiring priority in training.

Testing without reference data has limited utility for program design decisions. Normative data provide context: an athlete scoring in the 40th percentile for vertical jump relative to same-sport peers identifies power as a training priority. Sources of normative data for CSCS include NSCA publications, sport-specific databases (NFL Combine, NBA Draft Combine), and peer-reviewed literature. Normative data have important limitations including population specificity and testing protocol variation. Individual criterion-referenced standards (such as squat 1.5 times bodyweight) and intraindividual longitudinal comparisons are equally valuable evaluation tools that complement normative comparisons.

CSCS Testing & Evaluation 2

Which test most directly assesses an athlete's maximal anaerobic power output and fatigue index in the lower body?