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Exam Review

Key Facts: ASBOG FG PG Exam

140

FG Questions

ASBOG

110

PG Questions

ASBOG

4 hrs

Each Exam

ASBOG

Passing Score

ASBOG

Content Domains

ASBOG

2/yr

Exam Sessions (Spring & Fall)

ASBOG Handbook

The ASBOG FG and PG exams are required for professional geologist licensure in most states. The FG exam (140 questions) tests academic knowledge while the PG exam (110 questions) tests professional practice. Passing scores are set at 70 (scaled). The exams cover 8 content domains with different weightings for each exam. ASBOG does not publish FG or PG pass rates.

Sample ASBOG FG PG Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ASBOG FG PG exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following minerals is most resistant to chemical weathering and commonly found in mature sediments and sedimentary rocks?

A.Olivine

B.Quartz

C.Pyroxene

D.Calcite

Explanation: Quartz is one of the most chemically and physically stable minerals at Earth's surface conditions. It lacks cleavage, has a hardness of 7, and is resistant to both chemical and physical weathering. This stability causes quartz to become concentrated in mature sediments and sedimentary rocks like sandstone, while less stable minerals like olivine, pyroxene, and calcite weather away more readily.

2The principle of superposition states that:

A.Sedimentary layers are originally deposited in horizontal positions

B.In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom

C.Rock fragments within a sedimentary layer are older than the layer itself

D.Fossil organisms succeed each other in a definite and determinable order

Explanation: The principle of superposition, first articulated by Nicolas Steno in the 17th century, states that in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below. This principle is fundamental for determining relative ages of rock units. Option A describes original horizontality, option C describes inclusions, and option D describes faunal succession.

3Which radioactive isotope pair is commonly used to date ancient metamorphic rocks that are billions of years old?

A.Carbon-14/Nitrogen-14

B.Uranium-238/Lead-206

C.Potassium-40/Argon-40

D.Both B and C

Explanation: Both uranium-lead (U-Pb) and potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating methods are used for ancient rocks. Uranium-238 decays to Lead-206 with a half-life of 4.47 billion years, making it ideal for dating rocks billions of years old. Potassium-40 decays to Argon-40 with a half-life of 1.25 billion years. Carbon-14 dating is limited to materials less than about 50,000 years old due to its short half-life of 5,730 years.

4What is the primary driver of plate tectonics?

A.Gravitational pull of the Moon on oceanic crust

B.Convection currents in the asthenosphere driven by Earth's internal heat

C.Earth's rotation creating centrifugal forces

D.Solar radiation heating the crust unevenly

Explanation: The primary driver of plate tectonics is mantle convection, where hot material rises and cooler material sinks in the asthenosphere. This convection is driven by Earth's internal heat from radioactive decay and primordial heat. Additional forces include ridge push (gravitational sliding away from mid-ocean ridges) and slab pull (pulling force of subducting oceanic lithosphere).

5Using the conventional four-axis (Miller-Bravais) convention, how many crystallographic axes are of equal length in the trigonal (and hexagonal) crystal system?

A.One

B.Two

C.Three

D.Four

Explanation: In the standard four-axis (Miller-Bravais) description of the trigonal and hexagonal systems, three horizontal axes (a1 = a2 = a3) are of equal length and lie in one plane at 120 degrees to one another, while the fourth (vertical c) axis is of different length and perpendicular to that plane. Therefore three axes are equal in length. Common trigonal minerals include quartz, calcite, and tourmaline; the trigonal system shares this lattice geometry with the hexagonal system.

6Which era of the Phanerozoic Eon is characterized by the diversification of flowering plants (angiosperms) and the dominance of dinosaurs?

A.Paleozoic

B.Mesozoic

C.Cenozoic

D.Precambrian

Explanation: The Mesozoic Era (252-66 million years ago), also known as the "Age of Reptiles," is characterized by dinosaur dominance, the evolution and diversification of flowering plants (angiosperms) during the Cretaceous period, and the appearance of the first mammals and birds. The era ended with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that eliminated non-avian dinosaurs.

7Bowen's Reaction Series predicts that in a cooling magma, which mineral will crystallize first?

A.Quartz

B.Olivine

C.Biotite

D.Orthoclase

Explanation: According to Bowen's Reaction Series, olivine is the first mineral to crystallize from a cooling mafic magma. The series describes the order of crystallization of silicate minerals as magma cools, with high-temperature minerals (olivine, pyroxene, calcium-rich plagioclase) crystallizing first and low-temperature minerals (quartz, muscovite, potassium feldspar) crystallizing last.

8What type of unconformity represents a period of erosion between parallel sedimentary strata?

A.Angular unconformity

B.Nonconformity

C.Disconformity

D.Paraconformity

Explanation: A disconformity is an unconformity between parallel sedimentary strata, representing a period of erosion or non-deposition. It can be difficult to identify in the field without evidence of erosion such as channels or soil horizons. An angular unconformity separates rocks at different angles, a nonconformity separates sedimentary rocks from underlying igneous or metamorphic rocks, and a paraconformity shows no visible erosion surface.

9The Proterozoic Eon is marked by which significant geological events?

A.Origin of life and formation of the first continents

B.Oxygenation of the atmosphere and formation of supercontinents

C.Diversification of complex life and formation of the ozone layer

D.First appearance of shelled organisms and vertebrates

Explanation: The Proterozoic Eon (2.5 billion to 541 million years ago) is characterized by the Great Oxidation Event (oxygenation of the atmosphere by cyanobacteria), formation of the first supercontinents (Columbia, Rodinia), and evolution of eukaryotic life. It represents a critical transition period between the Archean and the Phanerozoic.

10Which of the following is a diagnostic property of the mineral calcite?

A.Conchoidal fracture and hardness of 7

B.Perfect rhombohedral cleavage and effervescence with dilute HCl

C.Hexagonal crystal system and magnetic properties

D.Bladed crystals and double refraction only

Explanation: Calcite (CaCO₃) is characterized by perfect rhombohedral cleavage (three directions not at 90°), effervescence (vigorous bubbling) with dilute hydrochloric acid, and double refraction. It has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale and belongs to the trigonal crystal system. These properties help distinguish it from dolomite, which requires powdered form to effervesce with HCl.

About the ASBOG FG PG Exam

The ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) exams are national licensure examinations for professional geologists. The FG exam has 140 multiple-choice questions testing knowledge acquired during education, while the PG exam has 110 questions testing professional practice knowledge. Both exams must be passed for licensure in most states. The exams cover 8 content domains: General Geology, Mineralogy/Petrology, Sedimentology/Stratigraphy, Geomorphology, Structural Geology/Tectonics, Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, and Economic Geology.

Exam sponsor: ASBOG (National Association of State Boards of Geology). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

250 questions

Time Limit

8 hours (4 hours each exam)

Passing Score

70 (scaled score)

Exam / Certification Fees

FG $275 / PG $325 using the September 23, 2026 handbook seat fee; FG $278 / PG $328 on ASBOG’s live registration page. State fees are additional; confirm at checkout.

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published. ASBOG does not publish national FG/PG pass rates in its September 23, 2026 Candidate Handbook, FAQ, or examination-schedule page. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

17%

General Geology

Earth materials, processes, history, geologic time, crystallography, basic principles (17% both FG and PG)

12% / 5%

Mineralogy & Petrology

Mineral properties and classification, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic petrology, petrography

11% / 5%

Sedimentology & Stratigraphy

Sedimentary structures, depositional environments, stratigraphic principles, correlation, sequence stratigraphy

14% / 8%

Geomorphology & Quaternary Geology

Geomorphic processes, landforms, weathering, erosion, mass wasting, glacial and fluvial geology, Quaternary geology

12% / 9%

Structural Geology & Tectonics

Stress and strain, folds, faults, joints and fractures, plate tectonics, deformation mechanisms

13% / 22%

Hydrogeology

Groundwater flow, aquifer properties, well hydraulics, groundwater chemistry, contaminant transport, water resources

12% / 18%

Engineering Geology

Soil mechanics, rock mechanics, slope stability, foundations, ground improvement, site characterization, natural hazards

9% / 16%

Economic Geology

Ore deposits, mineral exploration, mining methods, reclamation, energy resources

Preparing for the ASBOG FG PG Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70 (scaled score)
Exam length: 250 questions
Time limit: 8 hours (4 hours each exam)
Exam / certification fees: FG $275 / PG $325 using the September 23, 2026 handbook seat fee; FG $278 / PG $328 on ASBOG’s live registration page. State fees are additional; confirm at checkout. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 200 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ASBOG FG PG: Suggested Study Strategy

1Prioritize the largest FG domains: General and Field Geology (17%), Geomorphology, Surficial Processes, and Quaternary Geology (14%), then Hydrogeology (13%).

2For the PG exam, master Hydrogeology (22%), Engineering Geology (18%), and Economic Geology (16%)

3Review mineral identification and thin section interpretation for Mineralogy/Petrology

4Practice structural geology problems including stereonet analysis and cross-section construction

5Study hydrogeology calculations including Darcy's Law, transmissivity, and well hydraulics

6Understand engineering geology principles including slope stability analysis and foundation design

7Review professional practice topics including ethics, regulations, and report writing

8Use practice exams to identify weak areas and focus study time accordingly

9Join study groups or review courses for structured preparation

10Allow 3-6 months of study time for each exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ASBOG exam pass rate?

ASBOG does not publish national FG or PG pass rates in its September 23, 2026 Candidate Handbook, FAQ, or examination-schedule page; percentages quoted elsewhere online are not ASBOG statistics. Each exam has a scaled passing score of 70, set through a criterion-referenced procedure rather than a fixed percentage correct, so your result depends on meeting that standard.

How hard is the ASBOG exam?

The ASBOG exams are considered challenging. The FG exam tests broad academic knowledge across all geological disciplines, while the PG exam tests professional practice knowledge. Most successful candidates study 150-250 hours per exam. The PG questions focus on applying basic principles to practice problems, while FG questions are designed primarily to recall factual information.

What are the ASBOG exam requirements?

Your state licensing board determines the required geology education, qualifying professional experience, allowable education credits, and exam sequence. The FG assesses academic fundamentals; the PG assesses professional practice. Check your board’s current requirements and approval process before registering, including whether the board permits taking the FG and PG together.

How are the FG and PG exams different?

The FG exam (140 questions, 4 hours) tests academic knowledge gained through education and is typically taken at graduation or early in a career. The PG exam (110 questions, 4 hours) tests professional practice knowledge and is taken after gaining required experience. The PG exam emphasizes applied knowledge in Hydrogeology (22%), Engineering Geology (18%), and Economic Geology (16%).

What references are provided during the exam?

The FG and PG are closed-book exams delivered at Prometric centers, with registration coordinated through IQT. The September 23, 2026 handbook allows a non-QWERTY calculator without its cover and says an electronic scientific calculator is also provided. Bring your admission letter and valid government-issued photo ID with a signature, matching the name on the letter. Do not assume that a personal formula sheet or other references are permitted. ASBOG’s examination-schedule page lists additional drawing aids that are absent from the handbook’s room-item list; confirm authorized materials with IQT before bringing them.

Which topics are most heavily tested on the PG exam?

The PG exam emphasizes professional practice areas: Hydrogeology (22% - groundwater flow, aquifer testing, contaminant transport), Engineering Geology (18% - slope stability, foundations, site characterization), and Economic Geology (16% - ore deposits, exploration, mining). These domains reflect the applied knowledge required for professional geological practice.