I provide links to most of the information you require.

Note the Conditions of entry

BBKA BASIC ASSESSMENT

SYLLABUS (2024)

1.0 MANIPULATION AND EQUIPMENT - PRACTICAL

The Candidate will be aware of:

1.1 the care needed when handling a colony of honey bees;

1.2 the reactions of honey bees to smoke;

1.3 the equipment needed to open a colony of honey beesand the importance of its cleanliness;

1.4 the reasons for opening a colony;

1.5 the need for stores.

1.6 the importance of record keeping.

  1. The Candidate will be able to:

    1.7 open a colony of honey bees and keep the colony under control;

    1.8 demonstrate lighting and the use of the smoker;

    1.9 demonstrate the use of the hive tool;

    1.10 remove combs from the hive and identify worker, drone and queen cells or cups if

    present, and to comment on the state of the combs;

    1.11 identify the female castes and the drone;

    1.12 identify brood at all stages;

    1.13 demonstrate the difference between drone, worker and honey cappings;

    1.14 identify stored nectar (it looks like water), honey and pollen;

    1.15 take a sample of worker bees in a suitable container;

    1.16 state the number of worker bees required for an adult disease diagnosis sample = 30;

    1.17 demonstrate how to shake bees from a comb and how to look for signs of brood

    disease (AFB);

    1.18 name and explain the function of the principal parts of a modern beehive;

    1.19 discuss the concept of the bee space and its significance in the modern beehive;

    1.20 assemble a brood frame and fit it with wired wax foundation;

    1.21 discuss spacing of the combs in the brood chamber and super for both foundation and

    drawn comb and methods used to achieve this spacing.

    2.0 NATURAL HISTORY AND BEEKEEPING – ORAL QUESTIONS

    The Candidate will be:

    2.1 able to give an elementary account of the development of queens. workers and drones

    in the honey bee colony ;

    2.2 able to state the periods spent by the female castes and the drone in the four stages of

    their life (egg, larva, pupa and adult);

    2.3 able to name the main local flora from which honey bees gather pollen and nectar;

    2.4 able to give a simple definition of nectar and a simple description of how it is

    collected, brought back to the hive and is converted into honey;

    2.5 able to give a simple description of the collection and use of pollen, water and

    propolis in the honey bee colony;

    2.6 able to give an elementary description of the way in which the honey bee colony

    passes the winter.

    2.7 able to give an elementary description of how to set up an apiary

  2. 8 nuisance to neighbours and livestock = distance, hedge, fence, place hives out of sight, provide a source of water, keep docile bees;

  3. 2.9  able to describe the possible effects of honey bee stings on humans and recommend suitable first aid treatment;

  4. 2.10  able to give an elementary description of the annual cycle of work in the apiary;

  5. 2.11  able to describe the preparation of sugar syrup and how and when to feed bees;

  6. 2.12  aware of the need to add supers and the timing of the operation;

  7. 2.13  aware of the dangers of robbing and how robbing can be avoided;

  8. 2.14  able to describe a method used to clear honey bees from supers;

  9. 2.15  able to describe the process of extracting honey from combs and a method of

    straining and bottling of honey suitable for a small-scale beekeeper, including

    hygiene;

  10. 2.16  aware of the various web-based resources relating to beekeeping, such as BBKA and Beebase.

3.0 SWARMING, SWARM CONTROL AND EFFECTS – ORAL QUESTIONS

The Candidate will be:

  1. 3.1  able to give an elementary description of swarming in a honey bee colony;

  2. 3.2  able to give an elementary account of one method of swarm control;

  3. 3.3  able to describe how to take a honey bee swarm and how to hive it;

  4. 3.4  able to describe the signs of a queenless colony and how to test if a colony is

    queenless;

  5. 3.5  able to describe the signs of laying workers and of a drone laying queen;

  6. 3.6  able to describe a simple method of queen introduction;

  7. 3.7  able to describe one method of uniting colonies and precautions to be taken;

4.0 DISEASE AND PESTS – ORAL QUESTIONS

The Candidate will be:

  1. 4.1  able to describe the appearance of healthy brood, sealed and unsealed;

  2. 4.2  aware of the reasons for good apiary hygiene;

  3. 4.3  aware of the reasons for regular brood comb replacement;

  4. 4.4  able to describe the signs of the bacterial diseases American Foul Brood (AFB) and

    European Foul Brood (EFB), the fungal disease Chalk Brood and the viral disease

    Sacbrood;

  5. 4.5  able to describe methods for detecting and monitoring the presence of varroa (a mite)

    and describe its effect on the colony, including awareness of the effect of associated viruses;

  6. 4.6  aware of acarine (a mite) and nosema (a fungus) and their effect upon the colony;

  7. 4.7  able to describe ways of controlling varroa using integrated pest management techniques;

  8. 4.8  aware of the current legislation regarding notifiable diseases and pests of honey bees;

  9. 4.9  aware of whom to contact to verify disease and advise on treatment; = regional bee inspector, send photos,

  10. 4.10  able to describe how comb can be stored to prevent wax moth damage;

  11. 4.11  able to describe how mice and other pests can be excluded from the hives in winter;

  12. 4.12  able to describe the procedures for cleaning poly and wooden hives.

1. Conditions of Entry

1.1 The Candidate shall have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12

months.

1.2 The entry form and fee shall have been received by the BBKA, or the Secretary of the

BBKA Examinations Board.

1.3 The candidate must be a member of the BBKA.

2. The Assessment

2.1 An Assessor, approved by the Board, is required to conduct the Assessment at any

suitable apiary. Normally only the Assessor and Candidate shall be present at the

Assessment. The Board may wish a trainee Assessor or member of the Board to be

present as an observer.

2.2 The Assessment shall consist of four parts and the Candidate must achieve the pass

mark in all four parts individually in order to pass the Assessment as a whole. The

pass mark is 50% in each part. A credit will be awarded if the total mark is 75% or

greater and a distinction if the mark is 90% or greater. The parts are:

2.2.1 Manipulation and Equipment. Practical Assessment of the Candidate’s

ability to handle bees and beekeeping equipment and the ability to interpret

what is observed.

2.2.2 Oral questioning and Assessment of the Candidate’s knowledge of Natural

History and Beekeeping.

2.2.3 Oral questioning on Swarming, Swarm Control and effects.

2.2.4 Oral questioning on Diseases and Pests,

2.3 Scientific names, although useful and show a greater depth of knowledge, are not

required.

The length of the Assessment should not normally exceed one hour. The final date for an

assessment is 31st August.