ISA test change? how is it different?

[summit583guy]

I took my isa a few years ago and failed with a 68% overall and failed 2 domains, apparently now they changed the test to a 72% overall and the domain retake thing is non existent now? The way i see it is I can write the test and pass with a 72 even though i might fail a domain or two?

 

[Sunrise Guy]

I took my isa a few years ago and failed with a 68% overall and failed 2 domains, apparently now they changed the test to a 72% overall and the domain retake thing is non existent now? The way i see it is I can write the test and pass with a 72 even though i might fail a domain or two?

From the ISA site:

Attainment of Certification

If you achieve the overall passing score of 72%, you will receive the designation of ISA Certified

Arborist and will be sent a certificate, an ID card, an advertising logo sheet, a hard-hat decal, and a patch.

When you receive your results, please remember that the domains are weighted and the average of the ten domains WILL NOT be equal to the overall score.

If you do NOT achieve an overall passing score, you must retake the entire exam.

Yeah, I think you have it right. A 72% total correct, ie. 144 questions right, gets you your CA. It would appear that you could fail a domain, or two, and still pass. They have dumbed down the test, a bit, it would seem, but tried to balance that off by raising the passing grade from 70% to 72%.

 

[RacerX]

For the guys who have takes the test, did you study on your own or do you really need classroom instruction to pass? All things considered, how hard is the test?

 

[Sunrise Guy]

I studied on my own for about three months. I used the ISA study guide and a few other books.

The test is tricky as the questions are very poorly worded to the point where you cannot, at times, even understand what they're asking or looking for.

FWIW, I got an 89%, overall, with three 100% domain scores. To this day, I do not know eleven of the questions I missed out of the 22 off, as ISA does not let you know. I wrote out all of the questions I thought I missed, as soon as I got back to my truck, and then looked up the answers, at home. I knew I missed eleven, that way, but the other eleven will remain a mystery.

 

[lxt]

Used the study guide & that was it, answered all the test questions at the end of each chapter & that was more than enough!!

I wish they wouldnt have changed it to be easier , bad enough it was not that hard to begin with, I attained an overall passing score but missed the biology domain by 1%....did a retake & got a 92% which upped my overall % rate!

instead of ISA trying to get more people certified I would rather there be less CA`s with a higher level of competancy.


LXT.............

 

[ChiHD]

I took my isa a few years ago and failed with a 68% overall and failed 2 domains, apparently now they changed the test to a 72% overall and the domain retake thing is non existent now? The way i see it is I can write the test and pass with a 72 even though i might fail a domain or two?

how did you fail you must of been really hungover and didn't study at all?

anyone whose taken the arb program should pass fairly easy I think.

opcorn:

 

[summit583guy]

I took it in ottawa a few years back with andrew when i was working for tree $#AP%, passed the test overall but failed 2 domains and didn't retake the domains within the year. So I now have to retake the whole test, I feel alot more confident now anyways, I was still in school when i wrote it the first time.

 

[ChiHD]

I took it in ottawa a few years back with andrew when i was working for tree $#AP%, passed the test overall but failed 2 domains and didn't retake the domains within the year. So I now have to retake the whole test, I feel alot more confident now anyways, I was still in school when i wrote it the first time.

yeah he failed too I guess. still was advertizing himself as certified, but he passed second time.