RHS Level 2 CERTIFICATE - PRINCIPLES OF PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Theory) - (DL) Online

LESSONS

The current Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development (Theory) – is comprised of two (2) units, each covering 4 topics:

What Will I Learn?

Unit 1:
Topic 1.     Plant Science I – provides underpinning knowledge of the plant, its structure and function and includes:

• Scientific and common plant names
• Lifecycle adaptations
• External parts of the plant
• Internal plant structure
• Pollination and fertilisation
• Photosynthesis and respiration
• Movement of water through the plant

Topic 2.   Plant Health – provides underpinning knowledge and understanding of the effect of a range of factors on plant health. Includes:

• Environmental conditions
• Plant nutrition and plant health
• Impact of competition on plant health
• Pests and pathogens
• Biosecurity and plant passports
• Maintaining plant health

Topic 3.     Plant Nutrition – provides horticultural knowledge of plant nutrition and growing media. Includes:

• Soil types and profiles
• Role of nutrients
• Soil-based nutrition
• pH and nutrient availability
• Bulk constituents for growing media

Topic 4.   Plant Specification – provides horticultural knowledge to make recommendations for planting based on matching plant need and site requirements.

• Site-based criteria
• Plant-based criteria
• Plant specifications
• Receiving plant material on site
• Planting and post-planting care
• Maintaining new plantings

Unit 2:
Topic 1.  Plant Science II – provides an understanding of the range and role of plant adaptations.

• Leaf adaptations
• Stem adaptations
• Root adaptations
• Flower adaptations
• Seed adaptations
• Growth habit adaptations

Topic 2.   Planting Styles – provides horticultural knowledge of the factors involved in creating a wide range of different horticultural plantings.

• Historical contexts
• Formal planting
• Informal planting
• Plant associations
• Plant uses
• Edible landscapes
• Short-term plantings

Topic 3.   Horticulture and Society – allows learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of horticulture’s contribution to society, including social, environmental, and economic.

• Wellbeing
• Environment
• Economy
• Community

Topic 4.   Biodiversity – provides an applied knowledge of the roles of plants in creating habitats to encourage biodiversity.

• Plants and biodiversity
• Impact of climate change
• Creating habitats
• Citizen science and species surveys
• Biodiversity Action Plans

See our  ‘ASSESSMENT’ drop-down box, for more information on how you will be graded.

Exam Assessments:

Tuition Fee includes RHS Level 2 exam and admin fees covering Units 1 & 2.

There are Two Separate Exams – one for each unit.

Unit 1:   examination covers topics 1.1-1.4 and examination 2 covers Unit 2 topics 2.1-2.4.

Each examination takes 120 minutes (one hundred & twenty minutes) to complete.  The total number of marks available is 100.

Each exam is comprised of three (3) sections:

Section A, 15-20 questions, 20 marks
Section B, 12-15 questions, 50 marks
Section C, choice of 2 from 4 questions, 2 x 15 marks.

To be awarded this RHS Theory qualification, a grade of 50% or more must be achieved for each unit, 1 and 2.

A final grade for the overall qualification will be calculated by combining the marks for each unit and then presented as a percentage.

The following grades are awarded for the complete qualification:  Pass – 50-64% – Merit – 65-79% –
Distinction – 80%+

Examinations Dates

There are three (3) exam opportunities each year.

Exams are held in February, June, and October every year.

However, Please Note:  The RHS has advised all training providers, there will be no October 2026 exam session for Levels 2 & 3 theory courses.  Exams for 2026 will be held in February and June only.

Exam dates for 2027 are yet to be announced.

Enrol and start at any time of the year. The enrolment period is 20 months.

ADL will contact you to advise you on the next available exam date to see if you are ready.  If not, you may push the exam date forward – please bear in mind that both Unit exams need to be sat and passed within the 20-month completion period.

If, you don’t achieve this within 20 months, the  RHS will charge additional exam fees.  For example, if you enrolled at the end of March you would be entered for June (providing that you are adequately prepared), and then the second unit scheduled say for February.

Please click here for further details regarding the RHS exam timetable and all qualifications.

If you are considering taking exams for the two units on one day, you will need to contact, support@adlonlinecourses.co.uk within one month of enrolment. We can then contact the RHS to change your registration. However, if you make this request after the one-month grace period.

You can sit both unit exams in the same month. If you wish to do this, please let us know when we email you a few months before the exam date.

Important – Additional Charges:  You may incur additional charges from the RHS if you decide to postpone your exam which has been booked. In this event, you will need to contact Qualificationas@rhs.org.uk  direct. We cannot do this for you.

It is not possible, according to the RHS to sit for Unit 1 and Unit 2 exams on the same day.

Please click here for further details regarding the RHS exam timetable and all qualifications.

Please Note:  If you don’t complete the RHS Theory examinations for Units 1 & 2 within 20 months, you will be required by the RHS  to pay an additional exam fee.

Your Tutor

Susan Stephenson

BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983. City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984) Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.

Susan is our head Horticulture tutor, and has been preparing ADL students for the past 10 years to successfully pass the RHS exams first time round.  Susan is very enthusiastic about the value of an RHS qualification, and the careers opportunites that avail themselves to those who are  RHS qualified.

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills.

Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

In 2010, Susan authored a complete module for a Foundation degree (FDSC) in Arboriculture.

Susan holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

Qualification Awarded

Upon satisfactory completion of exams for Units 1 and 2, the RHS will award you the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development (2022) – Your grade of a Pass, Merit or Distinction will be indicated on the certificate.

Cancellation/Refunds

Please see our Terms and Conditions and Refund Policy
If you cancel within the first 14 days of enrolment a full refund is made including the RHS Exam, Admin/Registration fees.

After 14 days tuition fees are not refundable and this includes the RHS  exam/admin/Registration fees.

The Total Qualification Time (TQT) is approximately 180 hours  (as determined by the RHS and is a guideline only).  Some students may require a longer time to complete this qualification, while other students have completed the course in less hours.

We understand that each student studies differently. Lifestyle, work, social, and home commitments all have an impact on how much time you can devote to your studies.

When choosing your exam dates, you need to choose wisely, allowing plenty of time to complete each unit while taking your lifestyle and personal commitments into consideration.

One of the main reasons students do not pass the RHS exams the first time is that they have not allowed sufficient study hours to cover the curriculum.

It is recommended students obtain a copy of the latest RHS syllabus (freely available from the RHS website). When undertaking any study leading to an examination, it is the responsibility of candidates to check the syllabus, and course content and ensure they have sufficient time set aside to study.

ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES – AOs

The NEW RHS qualifications require each topic of the syllabus to be built around what is called ‘Assessment Outcomes’ (AOs). These identify the way you explain your knowledge, understanding and skills of making connections between relevant topic areas, under test conditions.

The AOs use a ‘progressive mastery’ model for each topic area. There are three (3) broad categories of assessment outcomes as follows:

AO1 – knowledge recall: of scientific ideas, processes, techniques, procedures, and making correct use of terms, symbols and units of measurement.

AO2 – application of knowledge and understanding: of concepts, theories, facts to different situations and contexts through presentation of reasoned explanations and analysis and interpretation of information and ideas.

AO3 – application of knowledge and understanding: in an integrated and holistic way in order to reach conclusions and make judgements and recommendations

Sample assessments available.  Please contact: support@adlhomestudy.co.uk  for details.

How Is This NEW RHS Course Different From Previous RHS Qualifications?

The structure of the new RHS qualification (2022+) is very different from our other independent 700 modules listed on this website.

To obtain your best RHS exam results, we advise you to complete all the course material provided by ADL.  This includes:

• Practice Quizzes – to prepare for your examinations
• Workbook to Complete – for each topic and consolidate your knowledge
• Pass RHS Papers – for each unit and marked by your Tutor.
• Student Chat Room
• Resource Materials

If you don’t complete the above exercises your chances of passing this RHS qualification the first time round are greatly diminished.

Your tutor is there to help you through the course and to support you as you prepare for your two RHS examinations.  We encourage all students to begin a dialogue with their Tutor as early as possible at the start of their studies.

Also, you have continuous access to our online classroom and online resources for the 20-month period that you are enrolled.

ADL has been preparing students for RHS examinations for the past 12 years.  Our graduate’s success rate is very high with many receiving the grade of Merit or Commendation.

What Your Tuition Fees Include:

• RHS Syllabus copy
• Tutors are RHS Experts – Human Support in a World of Automation- No AI
• Tutor Support from start to finish– via our student classroom
• Tailored Feedback from your Tutor
• Learning Materials for both Units 1 and 2
• RHS Past Exam Papers
• Revision Workbooks for Learning Outcomes
• Videos including Plant Identification
• Revision Workbooks
• Quizzes, Additional Resources, Short Practice Tests & Flash Cards
• ADL’s Exam Study Guide for the RHS Syllabus Units 1 & 2
• Study Tips on How To Study
• Suggested Reading Lists
• Radio World Gardening Class links
• Work & Retrain as a Gardener Scheme (WRAG) link
• Student Chat Room
• RHS Important Notices Podcast
• Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
• RHS Registration Fee, Admin Fee, & Exam Fees (these are forwarded to RHS by ADL)
• Free Support and Advice from our Course Advisors from Start to Finish

Q: I notice you offer a payment plan, but, I would find it difficult to maintain those monthly payments. Do you offer alternative payment plans?

A: Yes we do. You would need to contact ADL by email at:  support@adlhomestudy.co.uk or by phone
+44 (0)1227 789 649 for details. We are always willing to help where we can.

Q:  What are the current tuition and exam fees for the RHS Level 2, Theory course? 

A:  The RHS Course fee (Unit 1 and Unit 2) = Tuition £460.00 + RHS exam/registration  £260.00  = TOTAL £720.00

Q: When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL?
A: Anytime, Anywhere. Term time is every day.

Q: I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas?
A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.

Q: Is There a Time Limit for Completing the New RHS Principles of Plant Growth and Development (Theory) Qualification?
A: Yes, you must complete your course within 20 months.

Q: Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)?
A: The NEW RHS Theory course, Level 2 Principles of Plant Growth and Development does not require any prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. All you need is passion for all things horticulture.

Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications.
A: You will need to begin with the Level 2 RHS Principles of Plant Growth and Development (Theory) 2022, first and start with Unit 1. You must complete Unit 1 before proceeding to Unit 2.

Q: What Does ADL Course Material Include?
A: To obtain the best RHS exam results, we advise you to complete all the course material provided by ADL. This includes:

• Practice Quizzes – to prepare for your examinations
• Workbook to Complete – for each topic and consolidate your knowledge
• Pass Papers – for each unit and marked by your Tutor.
• Student Chat Room
• Resource materials

Please Note:  If you don’t complete the above exercises, your chances of passing this RHS, Level 2 Theory qualification the first time round, are greatly diminished.

RHS EXAMS

Q: When Do Exams Take Place?
A: Two examinations must be successfully completed and passed for this RHS Level 2 Theory course, in order to be awarded this qualification. The exams are available online or paper-based. Exams are held in February, June and October.

There are three (3) exam opportunities each year.

Exams are held in February, June, and October every year.

However, Please Note:  The RHS has advised all training providers, there will be no October 2026 exam session for Levels 2 & 3 theory courses.  Exams for 2026 will be held in February and June only.

Exam dates for 2027 are yet to be announced.

You will have access to sample exam papers to help with your revision.
ADL, will register you (provided you feel you are ready to sit the exam) for the most appropriate exam date.

Q: Where Do I Take My Exams?
A: Exams are taken online or alternatively at a centre closest to your location.
Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.

Q: Exam Pass Marks?
A: Pass – 50-64%,  Merit – 65-79% – Distinction – 80%+

Q: I’m Not Happy With My Exam Results?
A: You have the opportunity to re-sit your exam at the next opportunity.  Contact ADL for exam re-sit fees.