ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) — Practice Exam
Plant health care: practice questions
Our ISA Board Certified Master Arborist bank has 18 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
How often should mature trees be inspected, per ISA?
- Every ten years
- At least once a year
- Only after storms
- Never if they look healthy
Show the answer
B. At least once a year — Check new leaf or bud formation, leaf size, twig growth and absence of dieback.
Question 2
Which structural warning signs does ISA list for mature trees?
- Straight, even taper
- Dense, dark-green foliage and an unusually heavy seed crop over several years
- Cavity openings, extensive twig dieback and fungal conks
Show the answer
C. Cavity openings, extensive twig dieback and fungal conks — Note and monitor abnormalities.
Question 3
Which regulatory practices does the BCMA outline list for pests?
- Taxation and licensing
- Topping and lion-tailing
- Quarantine, eradication, suppression and reporting
- Taxation, licensing and permit fees charged to nurseries that ship infested plants
Show the answer
C. Quarantine, eradication, suppression and reporting — Domain 8, Task 7.
Question 4
Which lab diagnostic tests does the BCMA outline list?
- Resistance drilling and sonic tomography
- Soil percolation
- ELISA, culturing and PCR
- Clinometer readings
Show the answer
C. ELISA, culturing and PCR — Field tests include resistance drilling and sonic tomography.
Question 5
Is there a standard PHC program for every landscape, per ISA?
- Yes, ISA publishes one fixed schedule for all sites
- No; programs vary, though they share common features such as monitoring
- Yes, ISA publishes one fixed schedule of treatments that applies to all landscape sites
- No; PHC never includes monitoring
Show the answer
B. No; programs vary, though they share common features such as monitoring — Monitoring frequency depends on size, diversity and goals.