ILLINOIS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM
ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Pesticides are made up of. Answer: Active and inert ingredients
◉ AI. Answer: Active ingredient - chemical effective against pest
◉ Inert ingredients. Answer: don't harm pest but make the AI more
effective
◉ Herbicide formulation. Answer: may be ready to use or may
require dilution with carrier (oil or liquid)
◉ 60WDG. Answer: 60% AI water-dispersible granule
◉ 4EC. Answer: 4 lbs ai per gallon of emulsifiable concentrate
◉ SP. Answer: Soluable powder - dry formulation. Mixed with water.
Dissolve readily and form true solution.
,◉ WP, P. Answer: Wettable Powder - dry formulation. Finely ground
powder. Forms suspension not true solution.
Abrasive, requires agitation, inhalation risk
◉ DF, WDG. Answer: Dry flowables or water dispersible granules -
dry formulation. Similar to WP except AI is in granule instead of
powder
form suspension. Less dust than WP
◉ G. Answer: Granules - dry formulation. AI coated with clay,
newspaper
Applied directly, no mixing
Low hazzard to applicators
◉ P, PS. Answer: Pellets - dry formulation. Same as granules but
larger
◉ D. Answer: Dusts - dry formulations.
Low percentage of AI on very fine carrier (talk, chalk, clay)
Most ready to use (no mixing)
Inhilation hazard
Drift hazzard (uncommon use)
,◉ EC. Answer: Emulsifiable concentrate - wet formulation.
AI mixed with 1+ solvents and emulsifier that allows mixing with
water
Easily absorbed through skin (dermal hazzard)
◉ ME. Answer: Microencapsulated - wet formulation
AI is surrounded by plastic coating suspended in liquid
Time- release product
Bees catty it back to hive and can poison colony
◉ S. Answer: Solutions - wet formulation
Form true solution when mixed
Will not settle or separate
◉ ULV. Answer: Ultra-low volume concentration - wet formulation
Have high % ai with a solvent (usually oil)
Low application rate per acre
◉ Fumigants. Answer: Produce gas, vapor, fumes, etc.
Special licencing required
Highly toxic
, ◉ Restricted use pesticides. Answer: Only purchased by certified
applicators or persons under their supervision
Records of applications must be maintained for 2 years
◉ Adjuvant. Answer: Chemical modifies physical properties,
enhances performance or both of pesticides
Includes spray modifiers
◉ Activatior adjuvants. Answer: Water spreader (surfactants),
Sticker (oils, laytex), humectant,penetrator
◉ utility adjuvants. Answer: defoamer, water conditioner (acids)
◉ Drift reduction additives. Answer: thickening agents increase
droplet size
Droplets must be over 200 microns
◉ Sticker. Answer: increase adherence of chemical to surface
◉ Surfactant, Spreaders. Answer: Spread spray mix more thoroughly
Decreases surface tension of water
ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Pesticides are made up of. Answer: Active and inert ingredients
◉ AI. Answer: Active ingredient - chemical effective against pest
◉ Inert ingredients. Answer: don't harm pest but make the AI more
effective
◉ Herbicide formulation. Answer: may be ready to use or may
require dilution with carrier (oil or liquid)
◉ 60WDG. Answer: 60% AI water-dispersible granule
◉ 4EC. Answer: 4 lbs ai per gallon of emulsifiable concentrate
◉ SP. Answer: Soluable powder - dry formulation. Mixed with water.
Dissolve readily and form true solution.
,◉ WP, P. Answer: Wettable Powder - dry formulation. Finely ground
powder. Forms suspension not true solution.
Abrasive, requires agitation, inhalation risk
◉ DF, WDG. Answer: Dry flowables or water dispersible granules -
dry formulation. Similar to WP except AI is in granule instead of
powder
form suspension. Less dust than WP
◉ G. Answer: Granules - dry formulation. AI coated with clay,
newspaper
Applied directly, no mixing
Low hazzard to applicators
◉ P, PS. Answer: Pellets - dry formulation. Same as granules but
larger
◉ D. Answer: Dusts - dry formulations.
Low percentage of AI on very fine carrier (talk, chalk, clay)
Most ready to use (no mixing)
Inhilation hazard
Drift hazzard (uncommon use)
,◉ EC. Answer: Emulsifiable concentrate - wet formulation.
AI mixed with 1+ solvents and emulsifier that allows mixing with
water
Easily absorbed through skin (dermal hazzard)
◉ ME. Answer: Microencapsulated - wet formulation
AI is surrounded by plastic coating suspended in liquid
Time- release product
Bees catty it back to hive and can poison colony
◉ S. Answer: Solutions - wet formulation
Form true solution when mixed
Will not settle or separate
◉ ULV. Answer: Ultra-low volume concentration - wet formulation
Have high % ai with a solvent (usually oil)
Low application rate per acre
◉ Fumigants. Answer: Produce gas, vapor, fumes, etc.
Special licencing required
Highly toxic
, ◉ Restricted use pesticides. Answer: Only purchased by certified
applicators or persons under their supervision
Records of applications must be maintained for 2 years
◉ Adjuvant. Answer: Chemical modifies physical properties,
enhances performance or both of pesticides
Includes spray modifiers
◉ Activatior adjuvants. Answer: Water spreader (surfactants),
Sticker (oils, laytex), humectant,penetrator
◉ utility adjuvants. Answer: defoamer, water conditioner (acids)
◉ Drift reduction additives. Answer: thickening agents increase
droplet size
Droplets must be over 200 microns
◉ Sticker. Answer: increase adherence of chemical to surface
◉ Surfactant, Spreaders. Answer: Spread spray mix more thoroughly
Decreases surface tension of water
