Last summer I took the CSCS exam. The exam is broken down into two parts: scientific and practical. The scientific part is based on scientific principles of exercise: muscle movements, muscles of the body, concentric and eccentric movements. Also, the bodies' reaction to exercise wither that be resistance training or aerobic training. After taking that portion, you take a 15 min break then conduct the practical side. The practical involves testing procedures, workout routines, how to of certain tests, exercises, plyometrics, etc. All in all, it is a beast to take
My preparation was not all that great. I would study, but only if it fit into my schedule. I took a lot of evenings off due to feeling tired, not feeling like it or the rationalization of having a bad day. I completely underestimated the exam. I thought perhaps my baseline fitness knowledge was enough. I was able to squeak by on the scientific portion and barley fail the practical. It was like a gut punch. I started studying right away for the practical, re-reading the text, making flash cards and writing down each segment of the book. Mentally, I wasn't confident. I feared taking the test again. Doubt crept in my mind as I struggled to pay and schedule the test.
I made a decision. I would schedule the test and pour everything I had into test preparation. I made a schedule. I would go into work early and study then in the evenings I would study again. Over and over again I would write down formulas, implement the lifts. I also started to train folks at the gym. I would design a workout then have my clients conduct those exercises. The night before I would write down the workout, look at the book, watch YouTube videos to fully understand the material. After a few months of this I was able to work through every exercise, every work to rest ratio and every physical test. I used my clients as Guinee pigs to study.
The day of the test I was nervous-nervous to the point where I became sick. I could not stop using the bathroom. Driving to the testing center was a chore because I started to become nauseous. After checking in I was able to use the restroom, clean myself up and wait for my turn.
The testing proctor came out and said there was a delay in testing as the system was down and no idea when it would come back up. This bought me time to use the bathroom again. After what seemed like forever the systems came back and up, and we were told 15 min then the test would begin. Feeling better I went out to the car and stuffed my face with food. I felt re-energized. Starting the test is fairly simple to go through. You read the rules, sign a NDA and do practice questions to familiarize yourself with the controls. This of course is timed. I took that time to brain dump everything on the provided scratch sheet. Every formula, every work to rest ratio, every detail I wrote down. I took the entire time to do this.
Once the test began, I was able to reference every note I took. Basically, it was like studying all over again. Any time I was not sure I looked at my notes and found the answer. This in itself only makes your 67% confident as each question has three answers. One you can eliminate right away and the other two are close enough to doubt yourself. This makes it extremely challenging as an argument can be made for one or the other. The entire test is 115 questions. I had questions about 15 of them that I wasn't sure. That could make or break you. After completing the test, I was confident that I passed but again your never sure until they give you the results.
When I exited the room two other people were checking in, so I had a few moments. I again went to the bathroom (this time just to pee). I came back, retrieved everything out of my locker (Did I mention they make your take everything off before the test?) Yep, it's that serious. Walking back, I tried to read the test protector's body language to see if that would tip me off. Nope she was extremely professional and handed me the results upside down. I flipped it over and saw the PASS. I did my best Tiger Woods fist pump and celebrated. It wasn't a celebration it was a sense of relief. It was that athlete that poured everything into a competition and winning. It's not the winning its the gratification of all those hours of studying meaning something
