The Best ISA Study Guides of 2024

The ISA stands for the International Society of Arboriculture. This examination is usually taken by those experts who have not yet acquired a certification or students who want to elevate their academic standing. Hence, you would like the best ISA study guides out there to prepare you for what’s ahead.

As the ISA Certified Arborist guarantees you professional recognition, preparing for the examination is not an easy feat. This step is the final one you will have to take to obtain your certification and is often a nerve-wracking time for its applicants.

This examination is of vitality because it sets its graduates apart from anyone else in the field. Not only does it provide you with knowledge and success as a weapon, but others will recognize your commitment and dedication.

That’s why, in this extensive article, we will discuss all the details regarding different study guides and tools you might require. Moreover, we provide you with insider input and minor tweaks to enhance your studying experience.

If you want to just get back to studying, get our top pick for ISA study guides here.

Our Favorites for Best ISA Study Guide

After extensive research and reviews from students all around, we have narrowed our top picks to two beautiful books. While there are numerous books out there that are more than proficient in arboriculture, we chose the ones that provide ample knowledge for its students.

ISA’s Arborists’ Certification Study Guide

We have realized that it really cannot get much better than the original ISA book, and it has been proven to be the best ISA study guide. Not only is it available as a paperback book, but it has recently been offered as a multimedia CD as well.

What Makes it Unique:

• There is a CD version of this book
• Incredibly easy to understand as it has simpler phrasing and ways of explaining different topics
• Comes with illustrations, pictures, and multiple different visuals to help you grasp hard concepts

Why Choose Best ISA Study Guide:

• It is reasonably priced
• If you prefer understanding concepts through the help of visual aid, then this book has multiple pictures for illustration, and contains everything you need about tree biology
• Students who want to get certified purchase this book, but even the general public interested in tree biology and pruning have explained how excellent and informative the book is

However, keep in mind that the book is quite lengthy. Hence, if you’re opting for the audio version, keep in mind that you need to be focused at all times to fully comprehend the information you’re listening to.

Last update: 2024-05-07

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Mometrix Certified Arborist Exam Secrets Study Guide

The Mometrix study guide had to be our second favorite due to its meticulous detail. This guide has everything you will need to prepare yourself for the Arborist Examination. Not only does it contain a detailed overview of how the exam is outlined, but it contains ISA practice test questions.

What Makes it Unique:

• The name contains the word “secret” for a reason; it has all the little hints and guides you need to successfully study for your examination
• Equipped with numerous ISA practice test questions that will more than prepare you for the exam
• You will find in-depth guides on different topics, including urban forestry and tree selection

Why Choose Best ISA Study Guide:

• Even experts who have passed the text many years ago have found this helpful guide as a revision guide. That’s because this guide contains all the information you need, and you can always use them for reference and revision

However, this guide lacks in the picture department, especially in critical areas. While that might not be an issue for some people, it generally is more visually appealing and easier to grasp if a book has pictures.

Last update: 2024-05-07

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Runner Ups for Best ISA Study Guide

While we have our personal favorites, we still need to mention our runners-up. While not as extensive as the previously mentioned guides, these are wonderful are mainly sets of questions and answers to prepare you for what is to come.

Bova Books Arborist Certification Practice Exam Version A

This excellent book comprises 200 practice questions designed to prepare you for the examination. It is an incredibly accurate representation of the difficulty level and the topics discussed in the actual test.

The 200 questions stated in the book make up one full-length practice exams, which is sufficient enough for you to use after studying. Remember that all practice questions guides are not meant to be explored alone; they will be used after extensive, individual studies.

Keep in mind that the questions on the actual examination will vary and will most likely not be identical to the guide. However, this book will give you a very similar style and format to the actual examination.

What Makes it Unique:

• It has 200 practice questions which are designed to illustrate how a full examination looks like
• Has the same format as the actual examination

Why Choose Best ISA Study Guide:

• If you’re looking for an additional resource on top of your main study book, then this is the ideal book for practice questions
• Looks exactly like the exam, so you can time yourself and see how you perform

Last update: 2024-05-07

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Mometrix Certified Arborist Exam Flashcard Study System

Suppose you’re not interested in listening to audiobooks to study for your Arborist Examination. In that case, flashcards could be the way to go. The thing about flashcards is that it’s incredibly convenient, as it’s easier to go through individual cards compared to a whole book.

What Makes it Unique:

• Provides you with all the vital information in the form of flashcards
• Has all the necessary information you need for revision

Why Choose Best ISA Study Guide:

• These flashcards provide an in-depth review of every vital piece of information from the Mometrix study guide. This way, you can also ask a friend or a family member to help you study and revise for the exam.

However, keep in mind that we advise you to purchase a study guide before purchasing these flashcards. The flashcards on their own are not sufficient for your studying, and you should use them simply for revision.

Last update: 2024-05-06

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How to Choose the Best ISA Study Guide?

First of all, you don’t want to skimp on the money simply to save up. This examination is one of the most essential cornerstones in your career, and we advise you to invest in yourself. However, to decide on which study guide is the best, let’s look at an ISA Arborist test breakdown:

• The Arborist exam lasts for 3.5 hours
• On each examination, there are 200 multiple choice questions, each 4 choices
• There are 10 areas of expertise found in the examination
• The topics included in each examination are as follows:
  -Pruning
  -Safe Work Practices
  -Tree Risk Management
  -Treatment and Diagnosis
  -Soil Management
  -Identification and Selection
  -Tree Biology
  -Urban Forestry
  -Installment and Establishment
  -Tree Protection
• During the examination, you’re not allowed to take in food, drinks, study guides, cell phones, or any other electronic device

Hence, to find out which study guide to purchase, following the below criteria:

What Does the ISA Study Guide Cover?

First of all, you need to make sure that the study guide you have in mind includes an explanation of each of the topics that will be included. These have been mentioned in the list above. However, the composition of each study guide will vary.

However, while the topics are not equally discussed throughout, you must ensure that the most vital issues have the more significant chunk of the study guide. For instance, we found out that pruning, safe work practices, and tree risk management are the top 3 most important topics to thoroughly study.

Is It Up-to-Date Resource?

Generally, you’d prefer to seek the up-to-date version no matter what you’re reading. However, that is not always available or has not been published yet. For the Arborist Certification, while the study guides might not have been published within the past 5 years, the ones mentioned above are sufficient for preparation.

Is It Comprehensive?

An incredibly lengthy book is not always the ideal study guide to buy. You should be looking for a guide that includes all the topics, is accurate, and provides a good representative of what the examination is.

Generally speaking, you don’t want a 500+ paged-study guide that will bore you. Instead, always opt for one who provides all the adequate information most straightforwardly.

If you’re still wondering how to study for the ISA test, another fantastic alternative is the ISA Online Learning Center. While it is a more comprehensive course, it is excellent if you want self-paced studying. It contains 750 quiz questions, interactive exercises, and numerous illustrations and photos.

Wrapping Things Up: The Best ISA Study Guide

To conclude, the ISA examination is not something to take lightly. It requires rigorous studying and concentration and adequate study material to help you out. However, acing the exam is not impossible. You simply need the suitable material and preparation to excel.

Keep in mind that there are numerous study sources online and in libraries. Still, many of them are either outdated or contain wrong answers. Even if you have no affinity for reading, you can choose an audiobook or even flashcards! Hence, we recommend you go through our list above to find out the ideal study guide for you.