Why is a written simulation problem no longer part of the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Exam?
The decision to cease administration of the written simulation portion of the ACE Personal Trainer Certification Exam was made after determining that the multiple-choice exam was effectively determining whether a candidate met the established level of competence required to pass the exam. ACE exam multiple-choice questions are written to test each candidate’s ability to apply knowledge to determine the most appropriate course of action in a variety of real-life scenarios, providing a practical assessment of a candidate’s ability to make safe and appropriate decisions related to personal training. The written simulation was rarely making a difference in a candidate’s pass/fail status on the exam; however, it was adding significant test taker burden in terms of additional time to test and unfamiliarity with the written simulation testing format. The American Council on Exercise determined that the additional burden to test takers significantly outweighed the value of the written simulati
