ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST 2026 EXAMINERS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A tree that splits during a backcut in an upward direction is which of the following?
(A) Hinge cut
(B) Humboldt notch
(C) Internal fault
(D) Barber chair - ✔✔D
✔✔What is the most commonly appropriate length of a hinge?
(A) 50% of the tree diameter
(B) 80% of the tree diameter
(C) 10% of the tree height
(D) 100% of the tree diameter - ✔✔B
✔✔The correct location for a backcut on a conventional notch shall be:
(A) Even with the apex of the notch
(B) Above the apex of the notch
(C) Below the apex of the notch
(D) Even with the top of the notch - ✔✔B
✔✔A rope has a tensile limit of 15,000 lbs. What is the working load limit for a safety
factor of 10?
,(A) 1,500 lbs. (B) 5,000 lbs. (C) 7,800 lbs. (D) 10,000 lbs. - ✔✔A
✔✔What knot type is not commonly used as a climbing hitch?
(A) Tautline
(B) Figure 8
(C) Blake's hitch
(D) All of the above - ✔✔C
✔✔Which of the following is a false statement regarding the use of snaps for securing
the climbing line?
(A) Snaps are not permitted in all countries
(B) May be self-closing or assisted closing
(C) Must be compatible with the D-ring specific to the attachment (D) Required to have
double closing action - ✔✔B
✔✔What is the minimum required tensile strength in the United States for carabiners?
(A) 1,000 lbs. (B) 2,500 lbs. (C) 5,000 lbs. (D) 10,000 lbs. - ✔✔C
✔✔What rope type has the highest amount of elongation when loaded?
(A) Polypropylene
(B) Polyester
(C) HMPE
(D) LCP - ✔✔A
✔✔What rope type has a core that can share the load with the outer cover?
(A) 3-strand
(B) Double braids
(C) 12-strand
(D) 16-strand - ✔✔B
✔✔What statement below is true regarding the relationship between the magnitude of
loading and a rope's fatigue life?
(A) A higher load decreases the number of cycles to failure
(B) A higher load increases the number of cycles to failure
(C) The number of cycles to failure is a fixed number regardless of load magnitude
(D) The number of cycles to failure may decrease but not increase due to load
magnitude - ✔✔A
✔✔What knot type is commonly used for securing equipment to a tree?
(A) Timber hitch (B) Sheet bend (C) Prusik hitch (D) Tautline hitch - ✔✔A
✔✔What climbing technique uses a Prusik loop to increase safety?
(A) Footlocking
(B) Body-thrust
, (C) Single rope technique
(D) Mechanical ascending devices - ✔✔A
✔✔What climbing equipment is permitted only for use on trees which are to be
removed?
(A) Climbing line
(B) Spurs
(C) Ladders
(D) Mechanical ascending devices - ✔✔B
✔✔What is the minimum recommended main branch diameter for a tie-off point?
(A) 2" (B) 3" (C) 4" (D) 6" - ✔✔C
✔✔What rigging technique has a high anticipated shock-loading?
(A) Butt-hitching
(B) Running bowline
(C) Through natural crotch
(D) Use of a drop zone - ✔✔A
✔✔The most common recommended cut type for the removal of limbs is which of the
following?
(A) Snap cut
(B) Drop cut
(C) Hinge cut
(D) Vertical cut - ✔✔B
✔✔When making a snap cut, the second cut is located:
(A) Opposite and even with the first cut
(B) At the base of the limb
(C) Opposite and below the first cut
(D) Opposite and above the first cut - ✔✔D
✔✔For a rope that is 3⁄4" in diameter, what is the minimum recommended pully
diameter?
(A) 1"
(B) 2"
(C) 3"
(D) 6" - ✔✔C
✔✔Carabiners shall not be loaded in which of the following orientations?
(A) Sideways
(B) Against the gate
(C) Along the minor axis
(D) All of the above - ✔✔D
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A tree that splits during a backcut in an upward direction is which of the following?
(A) Hinge cut
(B) Humboldt notch
(C) Internal fault
(D) Barber chair - ✔✔D
✔✔What is the most commonly appropriate length of a hinge?
(A) 50% of the tree diameter
(B) 80% of the tree diameter
(C) 10% of the tree height
(D) 100% of the tree diameter - ✔✔B
✔✔The correct location for a backcut on a conventional notch shall be:
(A) Even with the apex of the notch
(B) Above the apex of the notch
(C) Below the apex of the notch
(D) Even with the top of the notch - ✔✔B
✔✔A rope has a tensile limit of 15,000 lbs. What is the working load limit for a safety
factor of 10?
,(A) 1,500 lbs. (B) 5,000 lbs. (C) 7,800 lbs. (D) 10,000 lbs. - ✔✔A
✔✔What knot type is not commonly used as a climbing hitch?
(A) Tautline
(B) Figure 8
(C) Blake's hitch
(D) All of the above - ✔✔C
✔✔Which of the following is a false statement regarding the use of snaps for securing
the climbing line?
(A) Snaps are not permitted in all countries
(B) May be self-closing or assisted closing
(C) Must be compatible with the D-ring specific to the attachment (D) Required to have
double closing action - ✔✔B
✔✔What is the minimum required tensile strength in the United States for carabiners?
(A) 1,000 lbs. (B) 2,500 lbs. (C) 5,000 lbs. (D) 10,000 lbs. - ✔✔C
✔✔What rope type has the highest amount of elongation when loaded?
(A) Polypropylene
(B) Polyester
(C) HMPE
(D) LCP - ✔✔A
✔✔What rope type has a core that can share the load with the outer cover?
(A) 3-strand
(B) Double braids
(C) 12-strand
(D) 16-strand - ✔✔B
✔✔What statement below is true regarding the relationship between the magnitude of
loading and a rope's fatigue life?
(A) A higher load decreases the number of cycles to failure
(B) A higher load increases the number of cycles to failure
(C) The number of cycles to failure is a fixed number regardless of load magnitude
(D) The number of cycles to failure may decrease but not increase due to load
magnitude - ✔✔A
✔✔What knot type is commonly used for securing equipment to a tree?
(A) Timber hitch (B) Sheet bend (C) Prusik hitch (D) Tautline hitch - ✔✔A
✔✔What climbing technique uses a Prusik loop to increase safety?
(A) Footlocking
(B) Body-thrust
, (C) Single rope technique
(D) Mechanical ascending devices - ✔✔A
✔✔What climbing equipment is permitted only for use on trees which are to be
removed?
(A) Climbing line
(B) Spurs
(C) Ladders
(D) Mechanical ascending devices - ✔✔B
✔✔What is the minimum recommended main branch diameter for a tie-off point?
(A) 2" (B) 3" (C) 4" (D) 6" - ✔✔C
✔✔What rigging technique has a high anticipated shock-loading?
(A) Butt-hitching
(B) Running bowline
(C) Through natural crotch
(D) Use of a drop zone - ✔✔A
✔✔The most common recommended cut type for the removal of limbs is which of the
following?
(A) Snap cut
(B) Drop cut
(C) Hinge cut
(D) Vertical cut - ✔✔B
✔✔When making a snap cut, the second cut is located:
(A) Opposite and even with the first cut
(B) At the base of the limb
(C) Opposite and below the first cut
(D) Opposite and above the first cut - ✔✔D
✔✔For a rope that is 3⁄4" in diameter, what is the minimum recommended pully
diameter?
(A) 1"
(B) 2"
(C) 3"
(D) 6" - ✔✔C
✔✔Carabiners shall not be loaded in which of the following orientations?
(A) Sideways
(B) Against the gate
(C) Along the minor axis
(D) All of the above - ✔✔D
