Don’t wait until tomorrow! Let’s take a look at what procrastination is all about and equip you with a six-step plan to successfully prepare for your ACE certification exam!
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Many candidates often wonder if practicing through the sample tests will truly help them on the “big day.” Learn more about how the sample tests are structured and how they compare to the actual exam in terms of format, content and difficulty.
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Did you know ACE has a FREE Study Coach program that can help you as you prepare for your exam? ACE knows that everyone has felt overwhelmed at one point or another while preparing for any of the four ACE certification exams. Learn more about the Study Coach Program and how it can help you.
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Perhaps you have heard or read the term ‘Exam Content Outline’ but do you know what it is and how to use it to be successful in studying for your ACE Exam?
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A speed bump on the cruise to studying for the ACE certification exam through hundreds of pages of text and information is bound to happen. Not everyone can breeze through all of the ACE study materials without hitting a bump or two. I know I did. At times, the volume of material is overwhelming…and that’s normal. Since ACE understands that not everyone enjoys learning out of a book at home on their own, we have a solution for those who want that live education aspect. Find out more.
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Are you looking for an edge in passing the exam? Although there isn’t a magical pill or some special flash cards with all the answers available for purchase, I do hope to provide some valuable insight and directions. Hopefully, this will help improve your odds and make your preparation – and professional journey – more enjoyable. I hope my 10 steps will help guide you through the process and get you confident that you will be successful in taking the ACE exam. If I can do it, I know you can as w
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After ordering your study materials, it is common to be excited – even anxious as you wait for them to arrive. But when you receive and open the package to find all the books, flashcards and DVDs, those excited nerves may turn into wondering, “Now what? Where do I begin?” Find out how to best use all those study materials!
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The Fick equation. You may have read about it in your Essentials of Exercise Science for Fitness Professional’s book (page 228) or heard about it on the street, but do you really understand it?
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While some candidates plan their studies so that they take their certification exam immediately after week 12 (or 20) of their studies, other candidates may have more breathing room before their certification exam. For some candidates it can be tempting to let your studies slide a little, to relax in that final week or two so you are well rested and ready for your certification exam. Other candidates see that last couple of weeks as an opportunity to cram all the information they possibly can in
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Sometimes one is the loneliest number. And what if you are one of those people who learn best in a group? Or with a partner? Maybe you need someone holding you accountable for your studies. What are your options then?
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I know we talk about anatomy a lot on this blog (see here and here) but that is because anatomy is a challenging and anxiety producing subject for many candidates.
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Are you an average healthy adult? Or an apparently healthy individual? Do you know what those phrases mean and why they are important?
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ACE offers several of pre-exam testing opportunities for candidates. There is the paper sample test, the online diagnostic test (or tests depending on your certification) and the short quizzes at the end of each module of the exam review
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You’ve read your manuals…you’ve reviewed your flashcards…you’ve even memorized a whole bunch of muscles…but can you talk about what you know?
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When you get stuck in your materials – or frustrated with a concept you just can’t grasp – there are several places you can turn to for help.
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Many ACE exam candidates begin their studies while balancing work, home and the books. For some it is the first return to the academic world of studying, reading and note taking since high school or college. Except this time around it seems more challenging because instead of just your studies, there is family to take care of, work to go to, dinner to cook, kids to pick up, etc.
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Did you know that ACE has partnered with colleges and universities around the country to help candidates prepare for their certification exam? There could be a college near you that is offering an ACE exam prep course!
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The Exam Prep Blog has been up and active for a year and a half so far. That’s about 70 entries – a whole bunch for candidates to go through, especially the first time you encounter the blog (hint, you aren’t supposed to read it all at once, some posts aren’t relevant until later in your studies).
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Ahhh, anatomy…everyone’s favorite subject. It may be because anatomy comes first in your studies, or maybe because it’s so in depth, but anatomy seems to be the first and sometimes biggest frustration for candidates.
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We all know how it goes. You’re trying to find the time to read your manual, review your flashcards, cook dinner, walk the cat, get to work on time…and it never ends. Next thing you know you’re falling behind your Study Coach program.
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Are you reading and reading and reading your materials but they just aren’t sinking in? Have you read that one chapter so many times you’re starting to see it when you sleep? Does it seem like no matter how hard you try you just can’t get the information to stick?
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So the day has finally come. Your exam preparation materials have arrived on your doorstep. You carry them inside, carefully rip into the box, and start unpacking. And the materials keep coming. Like clowns out of a VW. And you sit down, and stare, and wonder…where should I start?
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Considering taking your fitness career to the next level? Get some tips on passing the LWMC certification exam.
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Find out more about the 3rd vs 4th edition of the ACE Personal Trainer Manual.
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So why the range of 3 – 6 months? And where do you fit in that? It depends on what you bring to the study table.
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The first part of your manual – be it the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Manual or the ACE 3rd edition Personal Trainer Manual – is packed with four chapters of background science. These chapters include information on exercise physiology, anatomy, biomechanics and applied kinesiology, and nutrition. All of which is great information to know, but can be a lot to take in when you’ve just started preparing for your exam.
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Vocabulary is an often overlooked study tool. The thing to remember is that vocabulary is essential to understanding the questions on the exam. If you don’t know what the question is asking, it’s hard to choose the right answer.
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There are several different combinations of materials you can purchase from ACE to prepare for your exam. As you are studying just remember…there’s no rule that says you can only read the materials once!
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Program development (how to start a client) and program progression (how to advance a client) are key issues to study when preparing for your ACE certification exam.
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The first step with programming – for personal training, group fitness, etc – is to remember that you begin in your own head. You don’t need to have someone in front of you to do this.
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Less of the what and more of the how and why!
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With two different study guide options, what the difference?
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Find out all of the options to get sample questions before the big test.
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Do you know what's on your certification exam content outline? It's the blueprint to passing the exam!
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So where do you turn if you don't want to study for your ACE certification exam alone?
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Help! I don’t know how to start studying. All this material…all this information…what should I do?
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Wait a minute, there’s math on the exam? And I’m not allowed to bring a calculator?
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