ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) — Practice Exam
Trees and construction: practice questions
Our ISA Board Certified Master Arborist bank has 21 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
Why are mature trees more vulnerable to construction changes, per the USDA Forest Service?
- They have deeper roots, so changes near the surface never affect them
- They are always healthier
- They have less ability than young trees to adapt to new conditions
Show the answer
C. They have less ability than young trees to adapt to new conditions — Their form reflects the site before construction.
Question 2
A mature, stressed tree has a 20-inch trunk. What is its PRZ radius per the Tree Owner's Manual?
- 20 feet, using the factor for young trees
- 30 feet
- 10 feet
- 60 feet
Show the answer
B. 30 feet — 20 × 1.5 = 30 feet.
Question 3
What do construction-damaged trees often show, per ISA?
- Damage from physical injury, compaction, severed or smothered roots, exposure and grade changes
- No symptoms ever
- Immediate death within one day of the injury, or no symptoms at all
Show the answer
A. Damage from physical injury, compaction, severed or smothered roots, exposure and grade changes — Remedial treatment must start promptly.
Question 4
How can a community reduce construction damage to public trees, per the USDA Forest Service?
- Remove street trees before any project begins and replant after it ends
- Leave it to contractors
- Adopt a tree preservation policy with guidelines
Show the answer
C. Adopt a tree preservation policy with guidelines — Infrastructure is repaired and expanded constantly.
Question 5
How far from a 15–19 inch DBH tree should soil augering or tunneling occur, per the USDA Forest Service table?
- 1 foot
- 50 feet
- 3 feet
- 12 feet
Show the answer
D. 12 feet — Over 19 inches: 15 feet.