certified arborist question

Again to every one glad i joined this site unbelivably help ful.I ordered NEW BIOLOGY BOOK AND Itergrated management harris book.As far as id i think i will find out about that trail and other sites you gave me here in new jersey.I want pass one time thanks
 
Most of the tests I've seen in TX used photos for the tree ID's (I did see one with cuttings). It can be a real challenge on a couple just because the photography ain't so great.

It pays to know your local list, too. Some recurring ID's I've seen list a couple of very similar trees as possible answers and the only way you can get it right is by knowing that one is on our list and one is not.

i.e., it pays to spend a little time looking into test-taking strategies as well as the required information. As others have said, you should have plenty of time to go back to the questions you don't know right away and try to reason out the correct answers.

k
 
One thing I noticed about the tree ID questions is some of the Latin names were not in the right context. juglans Nigra or juglans nigra or Juglans Nigra the only right answer would be Juglans nigra. Capital on the genus and little letter on the species. Also a few of the common names didn't match the Latin name. You can use this to eliminate one or two of the four choices.
 
I really think that one can pass with the sudy guide, few years of practical knowledge and a few good id books. Though I agree with that the test is on a jumping point for the knowledge that is out there in other books and forms of education. Good Luck.
 
You say you memorized 300.So far i got about 32 memorized just keep saying them over and over.I think i dont want to move on to more till i know i have these 32 memorized.I called ISA and asked about MCA and she told me that there is no test for for example 94 that i have to learn now.Im not sure if she meant for example.If you get certified first then when you take the MCA i guess you passed it once so they dont make you do it.Are you certified now and if not maybe that is why you have to take 300 just curious i dont know thats why im asking.WOW 300 my head would explode and i have 94.
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You say you memorized 300.So far i got about 32 memorized just keep saying them over and over.I think i dont want to move on to more till i know i have these 32 memorized.I called ISA and asked about MCA and she told me that there is no test for for example 94 that i have to learn now.Im not sure if she meant for example.If you get certified first then when you take the MCA i guess you passed it once so they dont make you do it.Are you certified now and if not maybe that is why you have to take 300 just curious i dont know thats why im asking.WOW 300 my head would explode and i have 94.
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I am asuming this is towards me? There was no direction to your post?

And I am VERY confused as to what the question is, could you re-type that post please? I would be more than happy to answer all questions!
 
Yes im sorry this is about common names and scientific names memorizing or know all of them.Sorry i was not more clear.Just wanted to find out from you your method for memeorizing any points.Memorizing latin words to common words for trees thanks
 
When I first started in the tree industry I was intent on learning, still am.
What I did back then was pick a family of trees. I would learn ALL the names of the trees in that family in Latin and common. I would also try to memorize facts about that tree.
For the test it was simple. I wrote all the name on flash cards Latin on one side and common on the other. You will be amazed at how fast you learn them this way. I then went through the study guide CD and looked at the pictures and tried to name them, looked only at the Latin and tried for the common, only looked at the common and tried the Latin, you get the point.
I am unsure how the ISA is but we were tested on Trees, shrubs and vines.

Here is a page from the Massachusetts Arborists Association website.
http://www.massarbor.org/certification/MCA_brochure.pdf
 
sharkfin, I wrote the test last spring and the ID part was not a big deal. There were pictures of trees, leaves, or twigs and muliple choice answers that had both the common and Latin names together. So you don't even need to spell the latin name.
 
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sharkfin, I wrote the test last spring and the ID part was not a big deal. There were pictures of trees, leaves, or twigs and muliple choice answers that had both the common and Latin names together. So you don't even need to spell the latin name.

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Thats too bad! There should be NO multiple choice on the ID section, and you should have to have BOTH names with spelling VERY close if not perfect.
 
Yeah I thought it was pretty easy. I'm not sure if this is the case for all tests. Some of the other replies said they had actual twig or leaf ID depending on the exam proctor. I am pretty sure they would all be multiple choice. If anyone else had a different experience writing the exam send a post so I dont give out the wrong info for people about to take the test
 
Im serious about learning scientific names and common names so far i have 42 took me about 3 days.I have original page i was sent and i wrote all common names and try to group genus together.Keep all acer close and quercus and so on.I just keep looking at common names and after awhile starts to sink in.I did not think i could memorize because the scientific words are so mixed up sounding but its pretty cool.To maintain after the test i think i should keep on doing it.Also i want to look at all the pictures for all ninety four species.Im waiting for my harris book and new tree biology should be here by monday.My test is march 3rd i intend to pass 1st time.Again thanks every one
 
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What I did back then was pick a family of trees. I would learn ALL the names of the trees in that family in Latin and common.

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Yes, why don't you start with say....Fabaceae
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I would focus on learning the most common landscape trees and shrubs in your area. Be able to recognize them by site (in various forms such as a shrub or tree or small potted plant) and memorize the latin names for each. It helps to be able to associate the family with each species to give you general cues to go by.

One method that works well for me (visual learner) is to take pictures, print them out and then type up a notecard size piece of paper on everything you know about the plant (latin name, common name, venation patterns, reproductive characteristics etc.) and paste it on the back of the pic. Then run through them like notecards.

Not sure about other tests, but the CA test I took here in Hawaii was pretty basic. There were ten plant ID questions, and four different Latin names were given for each plant. It seemed to me to be a test of competance rather than of expertise.

jp
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re learning the scientific names, it helps a lot to know what they mean--acer means sharp, etc. Learning a few root words in latin and greek can get you going a long way.

The word meanings also give a view of the history of trees, and how their culture affects our culture. Fascinating stuff, even if you're not a word geek.
 
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