ISA BCMA study plan

Draw and label a woody stem cross-section from memory, naming pith, xylem, cambium, phloem, and outer bark, and state the function of each

Explain in writing how xylem transport, phloem transport, and stored carbohydrate reserves each constrain what a tree can survive after wounding, drought, or transplant

Compare compaction, poor drainage, and nutrient-poor soil as rooting constraints by describing the physical or chemical mechanism behind each

Determine texture class by hand-feel ribbon test on three field samples and record the result with a justification

List five soil properties worth measuring before planting and state what each measurement changes about the planting decision

Build a dichotomous identification key using leaf arrangement, leaf margin, bud type, and bark characters, and self-test to at least 90% accuracy on 30 species

Explain the compartmentalization of decay model and use it to justify why a pruning cut placed at a branch collar differs from one placed flush

Match ten tree species to site constraints (light, soil moisture, salt, space, hardiness) and defend each match in one sentence

Distinguish genus-level from species-level identification traps by naming three pairs of commonly confused species and the character that separates each pair

Write a species selection recommendation for five described planting scenarios, citing site constraint, mature size, and one liability of each choice

Describe the correct sequence of planting steps from root ball inspection through mulch placement, and identify the three most common installation errors and their consequences

Specify an establishment watering regime for years one through three that states volume, frequency, and how the schedule changes with soil texture

Decide when staking, trunk protection, and soil amendment are warranted and when each does more harm than good, giving the reasoning

Build a diagnostic decision framework that separates abiotic from biotic causes before naming a pathogen, and walk five symptom sets through it

Describe the signs and site conditions for eight common disorders and state one management action for each

Rank management tactics for a described pest or disease problem using the plant health care hierarchy from prevention to chemical control

Explain how treatment thresholds, application timing, and label directions interact, and identify what makes an application ineffective or illegal

Identify the three cut types and explain which one is the standard removal cut and why the others are limited to specific objectives

Write pruning specifications for three described trees that state objective, timing, and the maximum live tissue to be removed in one season

Calculate a critical root zone and a tree protection zone radius for a tree of a given trunk diameter and explain which area the fence must enclose

List eight tree protection measures for a construction site and state the specific damage each one prevents

Explain how pruning at the wrong time of year can create or worsen a pest or decay problem, citing two examples

Define tree risk in terms of likelihood of failure, likelihood of impact, and severity of consequence, and state why a large defect with no target is not a high-risk condition

Classify twelve described defects by type, failure likelihood, and the inspection method that would confirm each

Assign a risk rating to three described trees using a written matrix and give a mitigation option plus a reinspection interval for each

Explain the limits of decay detection tools, describing what they can and cannot tell an assessor about residual strength

Re-walk the diagnostic framework from the previous week and correct any errors found in that worksheet

Outline the components of an urban forest management plan, from inventory method through canopy goals and budget categories

Describe three ways to value a tree or a canopy and state the decision each method is appropriate for

Draft ordinance language that would protect trees during development, naming the measurable standard the ordinance relies on

Explain how records, work orders, and inventory data feed back into pruning cycles and pest response planning

Re-test the plant health care hierarchy by applying it to one municipal-scale pest scenario

Complete two full-length timed practice sets under exam conditions and log every miss by domain

Identify your three weakest domains from the error log and re-study each until you can explain the missed concept aloud without notes

Teach back one concept per domain in a recorded or written two-minute explanation to prove retention

Re-attempt every previously missed item and confirm the reasoning, not just the answer