BBKA Exam Series

BBKA Module 1 Paper 1

Honey Bee Management

Trusted by UK beekeepers for calm, productive Buckfast nucs

Dorset-raised nucleus colonies with UK-mated queens. Disease-checked, friendly advice, secure checkout, and dependable Royal Mail delivery.

Royal Mail Special Delivery
Tracked & secure when shipped
Secure Checkout
SSL & trusted payment providers
5-Star Customer Reviews
Trusted by beekeepers across the UK
UK Customer Support
Friendly advice for new & experienced keepers

🐝 BBKA Module 1 — Exam 1

Answer all parts, then click Submit. Options and sequences reshuffle each time you load or reset the quiz.

Section A — One correct OR select all that apply (1 mark each)

1) Name a hive which uses 10 frames in its brood box.
2) Name one type of queen excluder used in beekeeping.
3) What part of the plant provides nectar?
4) If a hive is light on stores in January, what should be fed?
5) The best time to return “wet” supers is evening.
6) What is unwired foundation used for?
7) What is the use of a clearer board?
8) Give reasons why bees collect water (select all that apply).
9) How much stored honey is typically needed for a colony to survive winter?
10) Give reasons why drifting of bees should be prevented (select all that apply).
11) Which are good factors when selecting an apiary site? (select all that apply)

Section B — Short answer / multi-part

12) Explain how to mark a queen — put the steps in order (1 = first):
  1. Gently cage the queen (or use a marking cage)
  2. Apply correct year colour mark to thorax
  3. Allow paint to dry briefly
  4. Release queen back onto comb in brood area
  5. Record marking in apiary notes
13) Explain how to clip a queen — put the steps in order (1 = first):
  1. Locate and gently restrain/cage the queen
  2. Clip a small portion of one forewing
  3. Check queen mobility; avoid injury
  4. Release queen and close hive calmly
  5. Record clipping in apiary notes
14) Why do beekeepers mark queens?
15) Why might a beekeeper clip a queen’s wing?
16) What are common signs of queenlessness? (select all that apply)
17) What simple test can be used to check for queenlessness?
18) What will happen if a colony remains queenless?
19) What are the signs of laying workers? (select all that apply)
20) Why should brood comb be regularly replaced?
21) What method is used to replace all brood frames at once?
22) Outline the procedure for a Bailey comb change — order the steps (1 = first):
  1. Prepare clean brood box with new foundation and feeder
  2. Place above old brood box with queen excluder between
  3. Provide new upper entrance; feed syrup
  4. Move queen to upper box; allow brood to emerge below
  5. After ~3 weeks remove old brood box/frames
  6. Continue feeding until comb is drawn

Section C — Sequences and extended items

23) Unite two colonies using the newspaper method — order the steps (1 = first):
  1. Select queen to keep; remove the other
  2. Place queenright brood box on floor
  3. Lay one sheet of newspaper with a few slits
  4. Set donor brood box on top; close hive
  5. Remove paper remnants after a few days; tidy frames
24) Giving reasons, which preparations help ensure a colony successfully overwinters? (select all that apply)
25) Main checks on a colony in spring (select all that apply)
26) Apiary siting in suburbia — which considerations apply? (select all that apply)
27) How can brood rearing be stimulated before OSR flow, and why?
28) Which is not a valid reason to feed?
29) Considerations when moving colonies (select all that apply)
30) Describe how to carry out a Pagden artificial swarm — order the steps (1 = first):
  1. Move original hive aside; place new hive on old site with foundation
  2. Find and move queen to new hive (old site)
  3. Add one frame of brood and one food to new hive; shake in adhering bees
  4. Leave queen cells in old box; flying bees return to queen
  5. After a week, reduce to one good queen cell in old box
  6. Manage as two units or reunite later if required
31) A strong colony has many charged open queen cells with the queen present. What does this usually indicate?