ALE Coverage 2026: Complete Subject Breakdown for the Agriculture Board Exam

The Agriculture Licensure Examination is administered by the PRC Board of Agriculture and covers the major disciplines of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program. Unlike some other PRC board exams where the coverage is clearly published per subject, the ALE coverage can feel broad and sometimes unpredictable between cycles.

This page is your complete ALE study map. It breaks down every subject area, tells you what each covers, and links you to the deep-dive reviewers and practice resources for each topic on LisensyaPrep.

ALE Overview

Important note about the ALE: The Agriculture board exam is known for having one of the most variable passing rates among all PRC boards, sometimes ranging from below 30 percent to above 70 percent in different cycles. The reason is that emphasis between subject areas can shift from cycle to cycle. The only reliable protection against this is broad coverage across all five subject areas.

The Five ALE Subject Areas

Subject 1: Crop Science

Crop Science is the largest and most heavily weighted subject in the ALE. It encompasses the full spectrum of crop production from seed selection through post-harvest handling.

Major topics:

Plant physiology: photosynthesis, transpiration, nutrient uptake, plant growth regulators

Crop production: land preparation, planting methods, cultural management, irrigation, fertilization

Major Philippine crops: rice, corn, vegetables, fruit crops, industrial crops (sugarcane, coconut, tobacco)

NSIC-registered varieties: Know the major recommended rice varieties and their characteristics

Cropping systems: monoculture, intercropping, crop rotation, relay cropping

Post-harvest technology: drying, milling, storage, quality standards

Practice now: LisensyaPrep Agriculture Quiz

Subject 2: Soil Science

Soil Science is the second most heavily weighted ALE subject and one where consistent year-to-year patterns make it very reviewable.

Major topics:

Soil formation: weathering processes, soil profile, soil horizons (O, A, B, C horizons)

Soil texture and structure: sand, silt, clay, loam classifications; textural triangle

Soil pH and nutrient availability: the single most tested topic in soil science

Soil fertility and fertilizers: NPK fertilizers, organic amendments, fertilizer calculations

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): clay and organic matter as exchange sites

Soil conservation: erosion types, conservation measures, contour farming, strip cropping

Philippine soil classification: major soil series used in Philippine agriculture

Full reviewer: Soil Science Cheat Sheet: pH, CEC, and Nutrient Availability

Practice now: LisensyaPrep Agriculture Quiz

Subject 3: Animal Science

Animal Science covers the production and management of livestock and poultry species important to Philippine agriculture.

Major topics:

Major livestock breeds: swine (Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc), cattle (Brahman, Holstein Friesian), carabao (Murrah cross), goat, sheep

Animal nutrition: six essential nutrient classes, common feed ingredients in Philippine livestock rations

Reproductive management: gestation periods, estrous cycles, parturition management for each species

Poultry production: broiler vs layer management, incubation periods, production performance indicators

Common livestock diseases: hog cholera, FMD, Newcastle disease, avian influenza

Full reviewer: Animal Science Reviewer for ALE Philippines 2026

Practice now: LisensyaPrep Agriculture Quiz

Subject 4: Crop Protection

Crop Protection covers plant pathology (plant diseases) and entomology (insect pests) as well as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles.

Major topics:

Plant disease symptoms: leaf spots, blights, rusts, wilts, rots, mosaics

Disease causative agents: fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes

Major Philippine crop diseases: rice blast, bacterial leaf blight, tungro virus, corn borer damage

Insect pest classification: chewing insects, sucking insects, boring insects

IPM principles: cultural control, biological control, chemical control as last resort

Pesticide classification: insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides

Pesticide safety: signal words (Danger, Warning, Caution), PPE, re-entry intervals

Practice now: LisensyaPrep Agriculture Quiz

Subject 5: Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Economics covers the business and extension side of farming, including farm management, marketing, and government agricultural programs.

Major topics:

Farm budgeting: gross income, total costs, net farm income

Break-even analysis: break-even price, break-even yield

Return on investment (ROI): formula and interpretation

Marketing channels and functions: assembly, storage, processing, distribution

Agricultural extension: extension methods (individual, group, mass), extension agencies in the Philippines

Key DA agencies: PhilRice, BAR, PCAMRD, PhilFIDA, NDA, SRA

Full reviewer: Agricultural Economics Key Formulas and Concepts

Practice now: LisensyaPrep Agriculture Quiz

How to Use This Study Map

Week 1: Take the diagnostic quiz on LisensyaPrep covering all ALE subject areas. Record your scores per subject before deciding how to allocate your review time.

Weeks 2 to 3: Crop Science first. It is the heaviest subject and rewards deep structured review.

Weeks 4 to 5: Soil Science. Focus especially on pH and nutrient relationships plus fertilizer calculations.

Week 6: Animal Science. Use the breed tables, reproductive parameters, and nutrition framework to organize your study.

Week 7: Crop Protection. Learn disease and pest profiles systematically, one crop at a time.

Week 8: Agricultural Economics. Master the calculations first, then the extension concepts.

Weeks 9 to 10: Full practice sessions across all five subjects. Rest in the final days before your exam.

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