100+ Free FMS Level 1 Practice Questions

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Question 1

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During the Deep Squat, the dowel drifts forward of the feet at the bottom of the rep. The client also performs the rep with feet flat. What score is given (assume no pain)?

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Key Facts: FMS Level 1 Exam

Exam Questions

Multiple-choice

~80%

Passing Score

FMS (not publicly specified)

Open-book

Exam Format

Online untimed

$599

Course + Exam

FMS Level 1 Online

Movement Screens

Plus 3 clearing tests

0-21

Composite Score

14 = injury risk threshold

The FMS Level 1 exam is an open-book online multiple-choice test of approximately 50 questions with a passing score around 80%. Content focuses on standardized administration and scoring of 7 movement screens and 3 clearing tests, the 0-3 per-pattern and 0-21 composite scoring framework, and the screen-assess-correct philosophy from Gray Cook and Lee Burton. Course tuition is $599 and includes the exam.

Sample FMS Level 1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FMS Level 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) was developed by which two clinicians?

A.Mike Boyle and Eric Cressey

B.Gray Cook and Lee Burton

C.Stuart McGill and Pavel Tsatsouline

D.Mark Verstegen and Mike Clark

Explanation: The FMS was developed in 1997 by Gray Cook and Lee Burton as a screening tool to identify movement limitations and asymmetries that may predispose individuals to injury.

2Which phrase best summarizes the core FMS philosophy?

A.Move heavy first, then move often

B.First move well, then move often

C.Stretch first, then strengthen

D.Train hard, recover harder

Explanation: The FMS philosophy is captured in the phrase "first move well, then move often." Quality of movement must precede the quantity of movement to reduce injury risk and build durable performance.

3How many fundamental movement patterns are included in the Functional Movement Screen?

A.5

B.6

C.7

D.10

Explanation: The FMS consists of 7 fundamental movement patterns: Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, In-Line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight-Leg Raise, Trunk Stability Push-Up, and Rotary Stability.

4How many clearing tests are included in the Functional Movement Screen?

A.2

B.3

C.4

D.7

Explanation: There are 3 clearing tests in the FMS: shoulder impingement clearing, spinal extension (press-up) clearing, and spinal flexion (posterior rock-back) clearing. Each is a pain-provocation test.

5What is the maximum possible composite FMS score?

A.14

B.18

C.21

D.28

Explanation: The maximum composite FMS score is 21, achieved by scoring 3 on each of the 7 movement patterns (7 patterns x 3 points). The minimum possible score is 0.

6What composite FMS score threshold did Kiesel, Plisky, and Voight associate with elevated injury risk in NFL players?

A.12 or below

B.14 or below

C.17 or below

D.20 or below

Explanation: The 2007 study by Kiesel, Plisky, and Voight established that NFL players who scored 14 or below were significantly more likely to suffer a serious injury during the season. The cut-point of 14 has been widely cited as an injury-risk threshold.

7A score of 0 on any FMS test indicates what?

A.The client could not complete the movement

B.The client used compensation

C.The client felt pain during the movement

D.The clinician was unsure of the score

Explanation: A score of 0 is reserved exclusively for pain. Any pain during a movement or its clearing test results in a 0 and triggers referral to a qualified medical professional for further assessment.

8A client reports sharp pain during the Deep Squat. What is the proper next step?

A.Have them try the modified squat with the heels on a board

B.Score it a 1 and continue with Hurdle Step

C.Score it a 0 and refer for medical assessment

D.Skip the test and average the remaining 6 scores

Explanation: Pain always scores 0 and indicates the client should be referred to an appropriate medical professional. The FMS is a screen, not a diagnostic tool, and pain is outside the scope of the screen.

9When a movement is performed bilaterally and one side scores 2 while the other scores 3, what score is recorded as the total for that test?

A.3 (use the higher side)

B.2.5 (average the two)

C.2 (use the lower side)

D.1 (use the difference)

Explanation: For bilateral tests, the FMS records both left and right raw scores, but only the lower of the two contributes to the composite total. This rule penalizes asymmetry and reflects the higher injury risk associated with side-to-side differences.

10For which FMS tests are both left and right sides scored separately?

A.Only Deep Squat and Trunk Stability Push-Up

B.Hurdle Step, In-Line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, ASLR, and Rotary Stability

C.All 7 patterns

D.None - all tests have a single score

Explanation: Five of the seven tests are scored bilaterally (left/right): Hurdle Step, In-Line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight-Leg Raise, and Rotary Stability. Deep Squat and Trunk Stability Push-Up have a single score.

About the FMS Level 1 Exam

The FMS Level 1 Certification, developed by Gray Cook and Lee Burton, certifies professionals to administer and score the Functional Movement Screen. The curriculum covers the 7 movement screens (Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, In-Line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight-Leg Raise, Trunk Stability Push-Up, Rotary Stability), the 3 clearing tests (shoulder impingement, spinal extension, spinal flexion), the 0-3 scoring scale, the lower-side asymmetry rule for bilateral tests, the 0-21 composite score, and the screen-assess-correct framework. The certification is held by athletic trainers, strength coaches, personal trainers, physical therapists, and chiropractors.

Questions

50 scored questions

Time Limit

Untimed (open-book online)

Passing Score

~80%

Exam Fee

$599 (course + exam bundle) (Functional Movement Systems (FMS))

FMS Level 1 Exam Content Outline

25%

FMS Philosophy and Principles

First move well then move often; FMS vs SFMA; screen-assess-correct sequencing; pain protocol and referral; standardized administration including barefoot, no-warm-up, up-to-three-attempts rules

35%

The 7 Movement Screens

Deep Squat with 2x6 board heel modification, Hurdle Step at tibial tuberosity height, In-Line Lunge with tibial-length board spacing and three-point dowel contact, Shoulder Mobility with hand-length reference and fist-to-fist measurement, Active Straight-Leg Raise with dowel at mid-thigh landmark, Trunk Stability Push-Up with forehead-or-chin/chin-or-clavicle hand positions by sex, Rotary Stability with ipsilateral and contralateral patterns over a 2x6 board

15%

Clearing Tests

Shoulder impingement (hand-on-opposite-shoulder elbow lift), spinal extension (prone press-up), spinal flexion (quadruped posterior rock-back); positive findings score the underlying pattern as 0 and trigger referral

25%

Scoring and Interpretation

0 pain / 1 unable / 2 compensated / 3 clean; bilateral lower-side rule; 0-21 composite; the 14-point injury-risk threshold from Kiesel, Plisky, and Voight (2007); the corrective hierarchy pain > asymmetry > 1-score > bilateral 2-score; documentation of left/right raw scores

How to Pass the FMS Level 1 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: ~80%
Exam length: 50 questions
Time limit: Untimed (open-book online)
Exam fee: $599 (course + exam bundle)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

FMS Level 1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the exact setup landmarks for each test: dowel overhead for Deep Squat, tibial-tuberosity hurdle, tibial-length board spacing for In-Line Lunge, hand-length reference for Shoulder Mobility, dowel at the midpoint between ASIS and mid-patella for ASLR, and thumb-at-forehead vs chin start positions for TSPU

2Drill the 0-3 scoring criteria for each pattern until you can score from memory; pay special attention to the score-2 modifications (heel board on Deep Squat, lower hand position on TSPU)

3Practice the lower-side asymmetry rule with worked examples; for any bilateral test, the lower of left/right contributes to the composite, but raw left and right scores must both be documented

4Know the 3 clearing tests cold: which screen each follows, the exact movement, and the consequence of a positive finding (score becomes 0 and the client is referred)

5Memorize the corrective hierarchy: pain (0) first to medical referral, then asymmetries, then 1-scores, then bilateral 2-scores

6Understand FMS vs SFMA: FMS is for asymptomatic clients (screen); SFMA is for symptomatic clients (clinical assessment by qualified clinicians)

7Study the Kiesel, Plisky, and Voight (2007) NFL study and the Minick et al. (2010) inter-rater reliability study; these are the most-cited research papers in FMS Level 1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FMS Level 1 certification?

FMS Level 1 is the entry credential from Functional Movement Systems that certifies professionals to administer and score the Functional Movement Screen. Developed by Gray Cook and Lee Burton, it covers the 7 movement screens, 3 clearing tests, the 0-3 scoring scale, the 0-21 composite, and the screen-assess-correct framework. It is widely held by athletic trainers, strength coaches, personal trainers, and physical therapists.

How many questions are on the FMS Level 1 exam?

The FMS Level 1 certification exam has approximately 50 multiple-choice questions, delivered open-book through the FMS online learning portal. The passing threshold is approximately 80%; FMS does not publicly publish the exact cut-score. The exam is included with the $599 course.

What is the FMS scoring scale?

Each of the 7 FMS patterns is scored on an ordinal 0-3 scale: 0 = any pain during the movement (triggers referral), 1 = unable to perform the pattern, 2 = pattern performed with compensation, 3 = pattern performed cleanly with no compensations. The composite score is the sum of the seven test scores (0-21).

What is the FMS asymmetry rule for bilateral tests?

Five of the seven FMS tests (Hurdle Step, In-Line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight-Leg Raise, Rotary Stability) are scored on both the left and right sides. The lower of the two side-scores is what contributes to the composite. Asymmetries (different left vs right scores) are flagged as independent injury-risk indicators.

What does a composite FMS score of 14 mean?

Kiesel, Plisky, and Voight (2007) found that NFL players who scored 14 or below on the FMS were significantly more likely to suffer a serious injury during the season. The 14-point cut-point is widely cited as an injury-risk flag, prompting prioritized corrective work before high-load training. Predictive validity varies across populations.

How are the 3 FMS clearing tests scored?

The shoulder impingement, spinal extension (press-up), and spinal flexion (posterior rock-back) clearing tests are pass/fail pain-provocation tests. A positive finding (pain) means the underlying movement screen score becomes 0 and the client is referred to a medical professional. A negative finding leaves the underlying score unchanged.

How long does it take to prepare for the FMS Level 1 exam?

Most candidates complete the FMS Level 1 Online Course (5+ hours of video plus the manual) in 2-4 weeks of part-time study, totaling 10-20 hours including practice scoring. The course access lasts one year from purchase, and the exam can be retaken multiple times within that window.