Feeling ready for your fitness practical assessment? If you don’t feel ready then this blog will help you get prepared for your practical assessment, whether it is for a Level 2 Gym Instructor, Level 3 Personal Trainer, Yoga or Pilates courses.
There 6 clear steps to follow to be fully prepared…
Start watching the video and reading the notes, then test your readiness and knowledge with three mock questions.
Watch: How to Prepare for a Fitness Practical Assessment?
1.What assessment is it?
The first thing you need to become aware of is WHICH assessment you are focusing on first. There are 3 practical assessments as part of the Level 2 Gym Instructor Certificate at the moment, and the criteria for each is very different.
Be clear on the one assessment you are focusing on first (even if you do multiple assessments on one day). If you don’t know this you’ll need to contact your training provider to get clear.
2.What’s the criteria for your Fitness Practical Assessment?
Once you know the assessment you are working towards, you need to find the criteria checklist for it. this is usually in your Learner Achievement Portfolio (LAP or LAR) which might be physical or in PDF format.
Look through the criteria, what tasks do you need to complete
In the example in the video we have an Intro, Warm up, Main, Cool Down and a closing to the session. However this might be different for your assessment, so you need to check.
Have a look at the criteria. This is what the assessor will use to grade/ score you. You can make sure that you are familiar with the needs and then apply this to HOW you instruct on the day.
We use the IDEA principle to help remember all of the key criteria points in a natural and fluid way:
Introduce
the exercise, name the exercise, the benefits of the exercise in relation to the client goal, what muscles are working and the training system you are using.
Demonstrate
the exercise if necessary. It’s always wise to provide a small brief demo for your assessor even if the client does know what to do! Keep the demo short and use a light weight as this is not your training session.
Explain
any further details, reinforce the training system and any key postural points.
Action
get the client moving asap. Don’t let them cool down because of a long introduction.
3. Plan it and make it easy to follow
Now you know what you need to do to pass the assessment, PLAN your session, and unimportantly make it really easy to follow on the day. This will mean you don’t get confused or miss anything out.
Your assessment is not a memory test, so make sure you have your plan ready to take it with you, and use it as a reference tool to guide you throughout.
4. Practice your introduction and rehearse the first few minutes
The chances are you are going to feel nervous and anxious in the first few minutes of your session, so it is really helpful to rehearse what you are going to say when you introduce your session and the client.
This means that you can feel more in control and more prepared as you head into the warm up, without feeling stumbled and lost for words.
5. Check your plan on the day
Make sure you show your plan to your assessor on the day of the assessment. This is a good chance to iron out any planning issues or any assumptions you’ve made.
The assessor can help you get the plan perfect before the session, so you are only getting assessed on your instructing skills.
6. Ask your assessor what they expect
An assessor should do an assessment brief and go through the criteria with you, so you know what to do. This might be part of a group or for you as an individual. This is a good time to ask them what they expect of you, and if there is anything else you need to know before you start.
This is the perfect time to make sure everyone is on the same playing field.
Are you ready?
You should now feel much more prepared for your fitness practical assessment and ready to go and do your best. You may feel nervous, anxious, frustrated…
and thats ok
It just shows you really want the outcome.
Just know you’ve done everything you can to prepare and all you need to do now is relax, enjoy it and be the best version of you 🙂
Let us know how you get on, by commenting in the comments box below.
Need help with planning your sessions
The foundations to good instruction is creating a safe and effective plan for your client that will guarantee results. Our FIT-Progressions online programme breaks down each training system, how to write a session plan and how to periodise for logical progressive overload so your client can get their goal every time.
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- struggling to complete your coursework for PT, Yoga, or Pilates
- a newly qualified FITPRO that feels stuck or overwhelmed
- unsure where to start when planning a client session
- worrying about applying your course knowledge with a real client
- doubting you could get results and lack structure to client packages
- anxious and confused about how to get found and get busy
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Test your knowledge with today’s planning mock questions:
[NOTE: The answers are below the 3rd question]
Q1: Is it normal to feel nervous and anxious for my fitness practical assessment?
A. A few other people will be nervous, but most are confident
B. No one else feels like this, you must be rubbish
C. Yes, it shows you want it
D. No this is just you
Q2: What topics should you include in a session introduction?
A. Welcome, Health and Safety, Client PARQ and overview of the session
B. How to stretch the quadriceps
C. Just an in depth health and safety brief, include all fire exits and hazards
D. Tell the client that the session may be too hard for them
Q3: What does D in the IDEA principle stand for?
A. Damage limitation
B. Dress appropriately so you look professional
C. Don’t look down, only look at your client
D. Demonstrate clearly from multiple angles
Answers to the mock questions are :
Question 1= C, Question 2 = A, Question 3 = D
If you want more mock questions like this, then you can download more Free Mock Questions: DOWNLOAD NOW
Dedicated to More
Hayley “How to Prepare for a Fitness Practical Assessment?” Bergman
Parallel Coaching
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