WSI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield WSI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the primary purpose of conducting a pre-activity safety check at an aquatic facility? → To identify and correct hazards before patrons enter the water
2. What is the most effective way to improve the efficiency of swimming strokes? → Apply hydrodynamic principles
3. When teaching a student who is deaf or hard of hearing, which of the following is an essential communication strategy for the WSI to employ? → Establishing clear, consistent visual cues and demonstrating every skill.
4. Which of the following is an exit skill assessment requirement for Learn-to-Swim Level 5, Stroke Refinement? → Performing front and back flip turns
5. Diarrhea is the only acceptable symptom of illness in which swimming is permitted. → False
6. Which factor most significantly affects the appropriate swimmer-to-lifeguard ratio at an aquatic facility? → The skill level and age of swimmers and the complexity of the aquatic environment
7. The __________ is the part of the power phase of a swimming stroke in which the hand moves into position to begin to apply effective force. → catch
8. Draining any standing water from the pool/spa cover is very good practice to follow. → True
9. What does EAP stand for in the context of aquatic facility management? → Emergency Action Plan
10. Swimming lessons are the only way to ensure that a child will not drown. → False
11. What should be completed after any aquatic emergency or incident occurs at a facility? → A written incident report documenting all relevant details
12. Which chemical is commonly used to sanitize pool water and requires careful handling due to its hazardous properties? → Chlorine
13. When demonstrating a skill what is always a must? → All participants must be able to see
14. During a breaststroke, the power phase of the kick should ideally be timed to occur: → as the arms are extending forward into the glide.
15. Which of the following describes a common mechanical error in the back crawl that reduces propulsion? → The elbow bends and drops deep in the water during the pull.
16. What is the primary objective when providing care for a swimmer with a suspected head, neck, or spinal injury in the water? → To minimize movement of the head, neck, and spine using in-line stabilization
17. Which risk management strategy involves completely eliminating a potential hazard from the aquatic environment? → Hazard elimination
18. Which of the following teaching strategies is most effective and developmentally appropriate for a Preschool Aquatics class? → Implementing songs, rhymes, and imaginative games to teach skills.
19. In a Parent and Child Aquatics setting, the concept of "touch supervision" is critically important. Which scenario best exemplifies this principle? → A parent is in the water and remains within arm's reach of their toddler at all times.
20. Establishing and following rules is an important part of water safety. → True
21. A swimmer's legs tend to sink, causing an increase in drag. This is primarily due to the relationship between which two hydrodynamic principles? → Center of Buoyancy and Center of Gravity
22. Who bears primary responsibility for ensuring an Emergency Action Plan is activated during an aquatic emergency? → The first staff member to identify the emergency
23. You should remove pool covers completely before swimming. → True
24. In the flutter kick, where does the leg movement start? → With the hips
25. The Personal Water Safety, Fitness Swimmer, and Fundamentals of Diving options are all components of which Learn-to-Swim level? → Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
26. What type of risk management control involves changing the way a task is performed to reduce hazard exposure without eliminating the hazard itself? → Administrative controls
27. Pool drains are potential for disaster and should be checked regularly. → True
28. How frequently should an aquatic facility's Emergency Action Plan be reviewed and practiced? → At least annually, with regular drills throughout the year
29. For which two strokes are swimmers required by competitive rules to perform an open turn, touching the wall with both hands simultaneously? → Breaststroke and Butterfly
30. A swimmer is performing the front crawl with their head lifted too high. What is the most likely hydrodynamic consequence of this error? → It causes the hips and legs to drop, increasing form drag.