Illinois Pesticide Applicator Exam –
Complete Study Guide (Q&A)
SECTION 1 — Pesticide Fundamentals
1. What is a pesticide?
Answer: A substance used to prevent, destroy, repel, or control pests.
Memory Tip:
Pesticide = Pest + Kill/Control
2. What are the two main parts of a pesticide formulation?
Answer: Active ingredients and inert ingredients
Memory Tip:
AI kills – inert helps
3. What does AI stand for?
Answer: Active Ingredient
Memory Tip:
Think “Active = Attacks pest.”
4. What do inert ingredients do?
Answer: Help deliver or improve the pesticide but do not kill pests.
Memory Tip:
Inert = helper ingredients
5. What is a herbicide formulation?
Answer: The physical form in which a herbicide is sold and applied.
,Memory Tip:
Formulation = how pesticide is packaged for use
SECTION 2 — Formulations
6. What does 60WDG mean?
Answer: 60% active ingredient water-dispersible granule
Memory Tip:
WDG = granules that disperse in water
7. What does 4EC mean?
Answer: 4 pounds of active ingredient per gallon in an emulsifiable concentrate
Memory Tip:
EC = oil + emulsifier + water
8. What is SP formulation?
Answer: Soluble powder
Memory Tip:
SP = completely dissolves
9. What is WP formulation?
Answer: Wettable powder
Memory Tip:
WP = suspension, not solution
10. What risk is associated with wettable powders?
Answer: Inhalation hazard
11. What are DF or WDG formulations?
, Answer: Dry flowables or water dispersible granules
Memory Tip:
Less dust than WP.
12. What are granules (G)?
Answer: Dry particles with pesticide coated onto carriers
Memory Tip:
Granules = ready to apply
13. Are granules safer for applicators?
Answer: Yes
Memory Tip:
Less drift and inhalation risk.
14. What are pellets (P or PS)?
Answer: Larger granular pesticide particles
15. What are dusts (D)?
Answer: Fine particles with low active ingredient
Memory Tip:
Dust = drift hazard
16. What is EC formulation?
Answer: Emulsifiable concentrate
Memory Tip:
High skin absorption risk
17. What is ME formulation?
Answer: Microencapsulated pesticide
Complete Study Guide (Q&A)
SECTION 1 — Pesticide Fundamentals
1. What is a pesticide?
Answer: A substance used to prevent, destroy, repel, or control pests.
Memory Tip:
Pesticide = Pest + Kill/Control
2. What are the two main parts of a pesticide formulation?
Answer: Active ingredients and inert ingredients
Memory Tip:
AI kills – inert helps
3. What does AI stand for?
Answer: Active Ingredient
Memory Tip:
Think “Active = Attacks pest.”
4. What do inert ingredients do?
Answer: Help deliver or improve the pesticide but do not kill pests.
Memory Tip:
Inert = helper ingredients
5. What is a herbicide formulation?
Answer: The physical form in which a herbicide is sold and applied.
,Memory Tip:
Formulation = how pesticide is packaged for use
SECTION 2 — Formulations
6. What does 60WDG mean?
Answer: 60% active ingredient water-dispersible granule
Memory Tip:
WDG = granules that disperse in water
7. What does 4EC mean?
Answer: 4 pounds of active ingredient per gallon in an emulsifiable concentrate
Memory Tip:
EC = oil + emulsifier + water
8. What is SP formulation?
Answer: Soluble powder
Memory Tip:
SP = completely dissolves
9. What is WP formulation?
Answer: Wettable powder
Memory Tip:
WP = suspension, not solution
10. What risk is associated with wettable powders?
Answer: Inhalation hazard
11. What are DF or WDG formulations?
, Answer: Dry flowables or water dispersible granules
Memory Tip:
Less dust than WP.
12. What are granules (G)?
Answer: Dry particles with pesticide coated onto carriers
Memory Tip:
Granules = ready to apply
13. Are granules safer for applicators?
Answer: Yes
Memory Tip:
Less drift and inhalation risk.
14. What are pellets (P or PS)?
Answer: Larger granular pesticide particles
15. What are dusts (D)?
Answer: Fine particles with low active ingredient
Memory Tip:
Dust = drift hazard
16. What is EC formulation?
Answer: Emulsifiable concentrate
Memory Tip:
High skin absorption risk
17. What is ME formulation?
Answer: Microencapsulated pesticide
