Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exams Explained

Taking Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams can be an incredibly stressful process, but this article is designed to help ease those fears. 

We’re going to dissect OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor course and its exam process, spanning topics such as:

• How Will I Be Tested During A Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam 
• Examples of Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam Questions 
• OriGym Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course Module Breakdown
• Career Routes for Level 2 Gym Instructors
• How Can I Progress Following My Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam?
• FAQ

But before we begin, if you want to enter the fitness industry take a look at OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course or download our FREE prospectus here.

How Will I Be Tested During a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam

Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams are entry-level qualifications that will help to launch your career in the fitness industry. Once you have attained this certification you will be able to work in gyms, sports clubs, and fitness centers. 

OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor course is endorsed by CIMSPA and has been regulated by OFQUAL, certifying it as a professionally recognised certification.

Before we can elaborate upon how you will be examined on our course, we need to first discuss how our students can study with us, as this factor slightly influences how you are examined. 

You have the choice of three study pathways: full-time, online or 50/50 blended learning.

Full-time Learning

By choosing to study with us full-time you will be on the gym floor every day, as well as learning theory from one of our designated, custom-built classrooms.

This course will run for 2 weeks and requires you to attend classroom sessions from 9 am-5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Our team of experienced tutors will lead you through both these practical and theoretical sessions, where you will study in groups no larger than 12.

When choosing to study with us full-time you will be tested in the following ways:

• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on anatomy and physiology - 70% required to pass
• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on the principles of exercise and health - 70% required to pass
• Practical Assessment on delivering a gym-based induction -  Pass required 

Online & Blended Learning

Online Learning: Online learning is self-paced, meaning that you can take as long or as little as you wish to complete the program. Most providers, like OriGym, will give you a 2 year window to complete the course, which is more than enough time to work through the qualification.

While the course is delivered online, all OriGym students are still fully supported by our team of tutors who can be contacted by phone, email, or chatbox.

We advise all online students to utilise our award-nominated online learning platform. Here you will be able to find online learning resources such as Level 2 Fitness Instructor mock exams, e-books, PDFs, online lectures and training manuals.

With this study option, all exams and assessments are completed online, with the exception of the final practical assessment. This means that the online course is ideal for those with other commitments, as your physical attendance is only required for one assessment.

50/50 Blended Learning: Blended learning combines both in-person tuition and online studying. This is the most popular option that many OriGym students choose to study from as it perfectly balances learning from home and attending regular workshops, allowing students to graduate in as little as 6 weeks. 

These workshops will be entirely focused on practical work and operate out of all our 12 UK locations. The classes will consist of a small number of other students, in order to ensure that you get the maximum out of each training day.

By studying with us online or through blended learning you can expect your Fitness Instructor exam to look a little different. Students can expect to participate in: 

• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on anatomy and physiology - 70% required to pass
• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on the principles of exercise and health - 70% required to pass
• Practical Assessment on delivering a gym-based induction -  Pass required 

Whilst both theoretical elements stay the same, what changes when studying online or through blended learning is your Fitness Instructor Practical Exam.

Those who choose to study with us through these two methods must travel to the nearest OriGym venue in order to take their practical exam. 

Regardless of what pathway you choose to study, all students will have access to our e-learning platform. By using this platform you can revise and prepare for your future by taking Level 2 Fitness Instructor mock exams. 

By choosing to study with OriGym you can become a fully qualified Fitness Instructor in as little as 2 weeks. If this prospect sounds enticing please make an inquiry regarding enrollment on our Level 2 Fitness Instructor course here.

Examples of Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam Questions 

You may have selected this article looking for Level 2 Fitness Instructor Mock Exam questions. 

We are here to provide you with some examples of questions from past Anatomy and Physiology, and Principles of Exercise and Health exams. 

The Level 2 Fitness Instructor Mock exams featured below will be presented in the form of multiple choice. 

Level 2 Fitness Instructor Anatomy & Physiology Mock Exam

Level 2 Fitness Instructor Principles of Exercise & Health Exam Questions

We hope that our Level 2 Fitness Instructor Mock Exams have helped in your revision preparation. Remember to always revise thoroughly for all exams be they practical or theoretical. by using resources available on our e-learning platform.

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If you're enjoying learning about Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exams we think you would be interested in reading these other OriGym articles:

• How to Become a Fitness Instructor 
• What is a Fitness Instructor? 
• What Makes a Good Fitness Instructor?

OriGym Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course Module Breakdown

If you’re looking to learn how to be an effective fitness instructor, you’ll need to have knowledge on a variety of topics such as:

• Which machines are best for which muscle groups
• How to confidently support large groups of people at once
• Anatomy & Physiology 

At OriGym, these teachings will be split up into 6 modules, all of which will help you learn how to become a fitness instructor.

#1 - Motivating Groups and Individuals

Regardless of their existing skill level, everyone struggles with fitness motivation at some point. 

As a Fitness Instructor, you should be looking to keep your clients both engaged with the training at hand, and motivated to push themselves towards their end goals. This can be a somewhat difficult task to perform, especially if you’re dealing with large groups for the first time.

Through studying this module you will learn fitness instructor skills, tips, and techniques that will assist you in teaching fitness classes that are both engaging and beneficial to the clients who participate in them. 

#2 - Tailoring Training Sessions 

The most important thing to remember when working as a fitness instructor is that every client is different.

Whilst two clients may share the same goal such as to lose weight, the process of getting each client to achieve said goal will differ. This can be influenced by a variety of factors such as a client’s motivation and existence skill level.

A good fitness instructor will know how to tailor workout sessions and classes to each individual client. Without the skills and knowledge that come with this role you simply won’t be able to sustain a career in this industry. 

By learning how to develop this skill you will ensure that your client’s fitness experience is as fun and rewarding as possible, which in turn will positively influence your class attendance and client retention levels.

#3 - Human Anatomy & Physiology 

This module is designed to teach you how the human body functions when exercising. This particular module will provide you with information on how to keep your client’s training programs safe and effective.

This is achieved through covering topics such as the heart and circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. 

This knowledge acquired in this module is particularly important as at the end of the course you will attend a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Anatomy & Physiology exam.

#4 - Principles of Exercise and Fitness

This is another module that will be a focus of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams, so be sure to pay close attention. 

As the name of the module implies, this topic will help you to develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of exercise. This includes learning about:

• Effective warm-up/cool-down exercises
• Cardiovascular activities
• Bodyweight and free-weight movements
• Resistance training benefits and ideas

As an aspiring Fitness Instructor, you will learn how to include each one of these teachings into your client's workout plan. This will ensure that their program is both effective and varied, meaning that they won’t get bored of your teachings or become unsatisfied and drop out. 

#5 - Health, Safety, and Welfare

Creating a safe environment for your clients is paramount when operating in a Fitness Instructor role. This is why during this module you will learn how to identify and control risk factors that may arise during your sessions/classes.

This module is particularly useful if you’re an aspiring instructor who wishes to work with specific demographics that require more assistance than able-bodied adults. This will include how to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. 

Additionally, you will learn all about the current emergency procedures that exist within gyms and fitness environments.  

#6 - Learning The Business 

Any Level 2 Fitness instructor course that has been endorsed by CIMSPA and regulated by Ofqual must teach a business module. We would advise all aspiring instructors to be wary of courses that do not provide this module, as it could potentially mean they are not professionally recognised. 

At OriGym we believe that it's important to teach you about the business side of the fitness industry. It's all well and good teaching you skills and knowledge, but if you don’t know how to transfer this into a career following your final fitness instructor exam, then the whole qualification would be worthless. 

Whether you’re looking to start a fitness business from home or enter full-time employment at a gym, this particular module will help you to learn how to maximise your business potential. 

This includes developing an understanding of advertising, marketing, and self-promotion essentials, all of which will be fundamental for maintaining a successful career within the fitness sector.

Career Routes for Level 2 Gym Instructors

Following your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams, you will be able to enter the fitness industry professionally. Be sure to put your education and training to good use, don’t squander your qualification by being lazy, as this will only result in a loss of your time and money.

Which career you decide to pursue is entirely up to you, if you require some assistance in this area we can provide you with a list of careers that we deem to be a suitable pathway to follow.

#1 - Fitness Instructor

A Fitness Instructor (also referred to as a Gym Instructor) is one of the most commonly seen faces in the gym and can be typically found on the gym floor.

The roles and responsibilities of a fitness instructor are the general day-to-day running, maintenance and oversight of the gym. In this role, you will ensure that everyone’s gym-going experience runs as smoothly and safely as possible. 

This will require you to perform tasks such as: 

Monitoring The Use of Gym Equipment

When working on the gym floor a fitness instructor will have to ensure that all the equipment is in working order and in its correct place. 

While this sounds somewhat basic, completing this role ensures that gym operations run smoothly, as clients won’t have to perform activities such as carrying a kettlebell across the entire floor.

This responsibility also limits the possibility of an injury occurring, as clients won’t have to carry heavy equipment to a designated area. On top of this, keeping an organised gym floor also means that equipment is less likely to become damaged, as it will remain in its designated area.

General Gym Maintenance, Cleanliness, and Safety 

This responsibility links to the one given above, as working in this role you will be expected to take care of the gym itself as well as its customers.

We have already discussed that as part of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor course you will learn about basic safety procedures. This includes how to evacuate a gym in the event of an emergency and a basic understanding of the principles of exercise and health.

We can see how some of these responsibilities come into play in the PureGym job advertisement featured above. Which clearly states that they are looking for a candidate who will uphold the gym's high standards of hygiene. 

All gyms that are looking to employ a fitness instructor will expect you to take great care of both the gym itself as well as its clientele.

Correcting Serious Posture Mistakes 

This is where your Fitness Instructor Level 2 Exams come in handy, as when operating on the gym floor you will be required to correct any posture mistakes that could potentially hurt the gym’s client. 

Easing the chances of injury is just one example of the benefits of good posture, but it can also help us to reach our desired fitness goal. Therefore, we can say that you can implement the knowledge acquired by your exams on the principles of health and fitness to your client's benefit. 

This correction process is usually only reserved for Personal Trainers, but that doesn’t mean that you should watch as a client struggles, be sure to help and intervene if this occurs on your shift. 

Offering Informal Advice On A Variety of Topics 

When working as a Fitness Instructor, customers and clients will often approach you on the gym floor looking for advice on a variety of topics.

You will have to use your experience and knowledge to provide an answer to these queries and questions. If done correctly you will gain the trust of a client, solidifying yourself as someone they can turn to at later dates.

This advice can range from topics such as:

• Nutrition 
• Sets and Reps
• Gear
• Ideas for Exercise Routines 

Keep in mind that this advice can only be general. If you’re interested in dispensing official advice you will need to become a qualified Level 4 Sports Nutritionist.

#2 - Group Fitness Instructor 

Alternatively, following your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exam you may choose to teach fitness classes either on a freelance or contracted basis. 

Gyms across the country are always looking for qualified instructors to lead classes such as indoor cycling, HIIT and Zumba. Due to the wide variety of classes available, you can follow your passions and teach a form of exercise that you genuinely care about.

This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, as clients feed off the energy that is provided by the instructor. Meaning that if you’re passionate about the class they will be too. 

Once you have completed your final Fitness Instructor Level 2 exam, you may choose to gain experience by completing additional courses before diving into this career.

Courses such as our online kettlebell course or medicine ball training is a great way to gain a deeper level of experience and get a feel for the specific classes you want to pursue. This also allows you to develop a niche and offer your services to a wider group of clients.

Leading classes can be a difficult skill to instantly master, but the additional knowledge and experience provided by courses like those mentioned above can make the process easier.

Acquiring additional knowledge and experience in niche subjects can greatly benefit your career, especially those who choose to pursue freelancing. This is because these qualifications will provide the opportunity to teach more classes.

This advertisement from Gold’s Gym in Harrow exemplifies why being a highly qualified Fitness Instructor will work to your advantage when operating as a freelancer. 

By achieving multiple qualifications you can teach more classes, increasing your working hours and overall pay. 

Using the example given above, let's say every class runs for an hour. As a freelance Fitness Instructor, you could potentially earn £100.00 every day, just from teaching 4 of the proposed classes, which will equate to just 4 hours of your time.

At OriGym, we provide you with this additional knowledge through our range of CPD courses. By achieving any of these certifications, you can instantly better your chances of teaching multiple classes.

#3 - Exercise Referral Coach

If you’re interested in using the knowledge acquired from your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams and putting it towards further education, then it may interest you to pursue our Exercise Referral course.

You may have also seen this job role referred to as a ‘GP referral specialist’. This occupation involves working with patients who suffer from injuries and have been referred to your service by their GP.

In the simplest of terms, as an exercise referral coach, you will work alongside medical professionals to tailor workout programs that will benefit an injured client.

Using the knowledge acquired from your Level 2 Fitness Instructor Anatomy & Physiology exam will be paramount here. As it is vital that the exercise referral process is adhered to diligently, this includes:

• Personally assessing a client's health and fitness in order to gain a better understanding of their condition.
• Doing additional research regarding the said condition in your spare time, should you be unfamiliar with it.
• Identifying an appropriate end goal for the client. This will help to determine short, medium, or long-term treatment. 
• Perform regular check-ups in order to see how much progress the client has made. 

By choosing to pursue this career path following your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exam you can set yourself up for a fulfilling career, working alongside organisations such as the NHS or local health centers.

Additionally, this career has the potential to be incredibly financially rewarding. This sentiment is further reflected by Glassdoor, who reports that the average salary of an Exercise Referral specialist can be anywhere between £20-40K a year. 

How Can I Progress Following My Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam?

Once you have completed your final Fitness Instructor exam you may be questioning ‘what’s next?’. 

We have already touched upon one of these progression options in our previous point. You could choose to pursue a Level 3 Exercise Referral Course, which would qualify you to work in the aforementioned job role.

Alternatively, you could progress onward and become a qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer. Many often confuse this job role with that of a Fitness Instructor, but in actuality, they are very different.

As a PT you will be interacting with clients on a one-to-one basis, ensuring that they are following a tailored fitness program suitable for their goals and current skill level.

Ultimately, a PT job position allows you to have a greater sense of influence over a client's overall performance. This is due to the fact that you’re directly communicating and working with an individual, rather than a large group. 

What's more, with a personal training qualification you have the potential to earn more money. On average personal trainers will earn an average wage of £27,000 per year, whereas Fitness Instructors earn an average of £18,579. 

However, just because you’re a qualified Personal Trainer does not mean you’ll neglect your responsibilities as a Fitness Instructor. 

In fact, many gyms across the country hire applicants who are qualified to perform the responsibilities associated with both of these job roles, as seen in the Indeed application above. 

Therefore, we can say that if you wish to advance your career further beyond just Fitness Instructing you need to gain your Level 3 Personal Training certification. This will provide you with the opportunity to apply for more job roles. 

For this reason, it may be worthwhile to enroll in our Personal Training Diploma, a qualification which combines both our Level 2 Fitness Instructing and Level 3 Personal Training Course. 

FAQ

Can I Be a Personal Trainer With a Level 2 Qualification

Following the completion of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams, you will not be certified to operate as a Personal Trainer, You will only be qualified to operate in a fitness instructor capacity.

If you apply for roles on a contracted position you will be rejected for being unqualified to perform the obligations required of you.

However, should you try to get around the system with freelance work, you could face legal issues if it is found that you’re practicing Personal Training without the proper certifications. 

This is largely due to the fact that you won’t be able to receive PT insurance coverage without direct proof that you are professionally qualified. 

Insurance sites such as Insure4Sport provide trainers with Public Liability Coverage, which will cover legal costs should a member of the general public sue you or your business. This protects trainers against:

• A specific action is brought into question if a client is injured 
• You personally become injured and have to miss work
• You require physio treatment for a severe injury
• Your personal equipment is stolen or damaged by clients 

None of this will be accessible to you without holding a Level 3 Personal Training qualification. This means that, if a client sues you or your business, it will be down to you to financially support your legal case.

Instead, we can say that a Level 2 Qualification provides you with the opportunity to study Level 3 Personal Training, rather than working in the industry illegally. 

#2 - What is a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Qualified to Do?

When questioning ‘what can a Level 2 Gym instructor do following their exam?’, there is no one straightforward answer. This is because there are a number of things that fitness instructors are qualified to do following their graduation.

Once you have received your certificate you will be officially qualified to:

• Encourage clients to join the gym or fitness center 
• Identify issues relating to a client’s physical performance 
• Understand how the human body works - The Heart and Circulatory, Respiratory and Digestive systems.
• Provide Advice on How a Client Can Progress 
• Give Guidance on How Exercises Can Be Amended To Clients
• Lead Group Exercise Classes 
• Perform Gym Inductions 

This is just to name a few examples of the duties that you will be qualified to perform following the completion of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam. If you wish to take on further responsibilities you will need to take the next step in your education and pursue a Level 3 PT certification.

Before You Go!

When faced with your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams don’t panic - if you put in the time and effort to study you’ll be guaranteed to get the results you deserve. 

Remember, if you’re struggling with the revision you can make use of the Level 2 Fitness Instructor mock exams that we have provided in this article, as well as the other resources on our e-learning platform.

If you wish to use our learning platform be sure to enroll on OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course. By doing so you will gain access to a wide range of past papers, online lectures. E-books and so much more. 

Alternatively, check out this FREE prospectus and learn more about other courses that we provide.