MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCOPE OF TEST CODE # 37 – HORTICULTURE
PERCENT OF TEST:
10 % Health and Safety
- Practices that will prevent personal injury, maintain a safe workplace, and protect the environment.
25 % Technical Skills
- Scientific Principles important to the growth, maintenance, and commercial production
of plants in the industry.
10 % Proper Plant Health Care Practices
35 % Proper Installation of Plants Using Current Industry Recommendations
15 % Maintaining Plants Using Industry Recommended Methods
5 % Horticulture Related Mathematics
THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION IS ALIGNED WITH THE MATCHING MASSACHUSETTS VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATOR FRAMEWORKS. SOME QUESTIONS REQUIRE A SYNTHESIS OF KNOWLEDGE BASED ON VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND MAY NOT BE FOUND IN ANY BOOK. HOWEVER, CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO STUDY FOR THEIR EXAMS BY REVIEWING CURRENT TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL WHICH CAN USUALLY BE FOUND IN THE LIBRARIES OF MOST VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS WHICH OFFER CHAPTER 74 PROGRAMS.
*You may refer to http://www.doe.mass.edu/cte/frameworks for the Massachusetts Vocational Technical Educator Frameworks.
THE FOLLOWING LIST OF REFERENCE MATERIALS WAS DEVELOPED AS A GUIDE
FOR WRITTEN EXAM CANDIDATES:
Ornamental Horticulture: Science, Operations & Management, 2nd Edition, Jack E Ingels, 1994.
Landscaping Principles and Practices, 5th Edition, Jack E. Ingels, 1997.
Introductory Horticulture, 6th Edition, Edward H. Reiley and Carroll L. Shry, Jr., 2002
YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY FOR OBTAINING THESE RESOURCES THROUGH THE INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROGRAM.
SCOPE OF TEST CODE # 37 – HORTICULTURE
- PAGE 2 –
The written exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Each question consists of one incomplete sentence or a questions followed by four choices. Listed below are several sample items:
The mower type that gives the best cut:
a. rotary.
* b. reel.
c. flail.
d. all cut the same if properly sharpened.
Which tree group does not have opposite branching?
a. Maple
b. Dogwood
c. Ash
* d. Oak
* indicates correct answer
THE TEACHER TESTING PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE NON-PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATORS FOR USE IN COMPLETING THE WRITTEN EXAM. DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THESE CALCULATORS WILL BE INCLUDED IN YOUR ADMISSION PACKAGE.
Updated: 6-2007
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL TEACHER TESTING PROGRAM
SCOPE OF TEST CODE #37 HORTICULTURE
PERFORMANCE EXAM
TIME ALLOWED: 4 HOURS
PERCENT OF TEST:
17% Health and Safety
Read a Pesticide Label
Use MSDS to Determine Hazardous Material Information
11% Plant Science
Identify Plants
Identify Leaf Types and Arrangements
17% Maintaining Plants
Prepare Soil Samples for Testing
Mix and Prepare Liquid Fertilizer
29% Plant Production
Select and Plant Seeds Following Planting Directions
Calculate Lawn Area for Seed or Fertilizer Requirements
Transplant Seedlings, Plugs, and Cuttings
Install Trees and Shrubs
26% Horticulture Equipment
Demonstrate Pre-operation 4 Cycle Engine Check
Identify Components of Small Engines
Operate a Power Line Trimmer
Identify Standard Tools, Equipment, and Safety
Use Operator’s Manual to Determine Equipment Information
THE PERFORMANCE EXAMINATION IS ALIGNED WITH THE MATCHING MASSACHUSETTS VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATOR FRAMEWORKS. SOME TASKS REQUIRE A SYNTHESIS OF KNOWLEDGE BASED ON VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND MAY NOT BE FOUND IN ANY BOOK. HOWEVER, CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PREPARE FOR THEIR EXAMS BY REVIEWING CURRENT TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL WHICH CAN USUALLY BE FOUND IN THE LIBRARIES OF MOST VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS WHICH OFFER CHAPTER 74 PROGRAMS.
*You may refer to http://www.doe.mass.edu/cte/frameworks for the Massachusetts Vocational Technical Educator Frameworks.
SCOPE OF TEST CODE #37 HORTICULTURE
-Page 2 -
CANDIDATE MUST WEAR APPROPRIATE ATTIRE:
Work boots – no sneakers
Long Pants
No loose clothing or jewelry; long hair pulled back
Clothing appropriate for outdoor work and weather conditions
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn as appropriate
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES CANDIDATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING:
Pens/pencils |
Earmuffs or disposable ear plugs |
Permanent marker (i.e. Sharpie®) |
Pocket or utility knife |
Calculator |
Vinyl/latex gloves (3-4 pr.) |
Clipboard |
Work gloves (optional) |
ANSI approved safety glasses or goggles |
|
THE FOLLOWING LIST OF REFERENCE MATERIALS WAS DEVELOPED AS A GUIDE FOR PERFORMANCE EXAM CANDIDATES:
FFA Plant Identification List
Landscape Principles and Practices, 5th ed. 1997. J.E. Ingels
Ornamental Horticulture, 2nd ed. 1994. J.E. Ingels
University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory
www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/
Umass Extension Fact Sheet: Planting and Maintaining Trees and Shrubs
www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/plantculture.html
YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY FOR OBTAINING THESE RESOURCES THROUGH THE INTERLIBRARY LOAN PROGRAM.
3-2008