Landscape Horticulturist - Exam Information
Table of Contents
Self-Assessment
This tool can be used to reflect on your own experience and knowledge in the trade compared with what is on the exam.
Exam Breakdown
Each Red Seal exam's questions are developed to assess the activities laid out in the Red Seal Occupational Standard. This trade's Red Seal exam has 120 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:
Major Work Activity A – Performs common occupational skills - 23 questions
Major Work Activity B - Applies horticultural principles - 29 questions
Major Work Activity C – Performs landscape construction - 40 questions
Major Work Activity D – Performs landscape maintenance - 28 questions
Major Work Activity E – Works in production of plant material (Not Common Core) - 0 questions
Types of Exam Questions
All Red Seal exam questions are written in multiple-choice format. A multiple-choice question consists of question followed by four possible responses (A, B, C, D). Every question has exactly one correct answer and three incorrect options. They are not misleading or trick questions, but the incorrect options are not always obvious.
There are three types of questions that you will see on Red Seal Exams:
- Knowledge and Recall
- Procedural and Application
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge and Recall
This type of question tests your ability to recall and understand definitions, facts and principles.
For this trade, between 20 and 30% of questions that are this type.
Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:
What is the scientific family, genus and species name for Snow-in-Summer?
- Asteraceae Artemisia schmidtiana.
- Caryophyllaceae Cerastium tomentosum.
- Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia cyparissias.
- Lamiaceae Stachys byzantina.
Answer: B
Procedural and Application
This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.
For this trade, between 65 and 75% of questions are this type.
Example of a Procedural and Application Question:
How is a cedar hedge prepared for winter?
- By saturating the root zone before freeze up to prevent winter desiccation.
- By shearing the hedge in the fall to stimulate new growth in the spring.
- By applying a plastic barrier on the road side to protect it from salt.
- By spraying an anti-desiccant to the root zone in the fall.
Answer: A
Critical Thinking
This type of question tests your ability to interpret data, solve problems and arrive at valid conclusions.
For this trade, less than 10% of questions are this type.
Example of a Critical Thinking Question:
Under ideal environmental and site conditions, what causes Syringa vulgaris to fail to bloom?
- Lack of a pollinator.
- Animal urine damaged the flower buds.
- The plant has excessive suckers.
- The flower buds were all pruned out.
Answer: D
Try more sample questions for this trade and check out the Exam Preparation Guide. It will give you practical insights on what goes into Red Seal exams, and how you can best prepare yourself to do well.
For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.