200+ Free FS Surveying Practice Questions
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Key Facts: FS Surveying Exam
110
Exam Questions
NCEES
5h 20m
Exam Time
NCEES
6 hrs
Appointment
NCEES
$225
Exam Fee
NCEES
7
Content Areas
FS CBT specs
July 2020
Current Spec Effective Date
NCEES FS CBT specs
The FS exam is a 110-question computer-based exam delivered in a 6-hour appointment, with 5 hours 20 minutes of actual exam time plus tutorial and break. NCEES currently posts FS CBT specifications effective beginning with the July 2020 examinations and reports results as pass/fail instead of publishing a fixed numeric cut score. The heaviest official areas are Boundary Law and Real Property Principles, Survey Computations and Computer Applications, and Surveying Processes and Methods, so those topics deserve the most deliberate practice.
Sample FS Surveying Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your FS Surveying exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A line has a bearing of N35°15'E. What is its azimuth?
2An azimuth is 214°20'. What is the equivalent bearing?
3A line is 250.0 ft long at azimuth 120°. What is its departure (east-west component)?
4What is the horizontal distance between points (1000, 2000) and (1160, 2120)?
5A slope distance is 500 ft at a vertical angle of +12° above the horizontal. What is the horizontal distance?
6A slope distance is 500 ft at a vertical angle of +12° above the horizontal. What is the vertical difference?
7A roadway rises 7.5 ft over a horizontal run of 300 ft. What is the percent grade?
8Which trigonometric function directly relates the opposite side to the adjacent side of a right triangle?
9Two perpendicular offsets are 300 ft east and 400 ft north. What is the magnitude of the resultant vector?
10How many square feet are in 1 acre?
About the FS Surveying Exam
The NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam is the first national exam on the path to Professional Surveyor licensure. The current computer-based specification covers seven knowledge areas: Surveying Processes and Methods, Mapping Processes and Methods, Boundary Law and Real Property Principles, Surveying Principles, Survey Computations and Computer Applications, Business Concepts, and Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Expect computation-heavy questions, boundary and property-law judgment, mapping workflows, geodesy, field methods, and professional-practice scenarios.
Assessment
110 computer-based questions with an on-screen reference handbook
Time Limit
5 hours 20 minutes
Passing Score
Pass/Fail (no published cut score)
Exam Fee
$225 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))
FS Surveying Exam Content Outline
Surveying Processes and Methods
Instrumentation, GNSS/GPS, control surveys, cadastral work, topographic surveys, construction surveys, land development, and field documentation.
Mapping Processes and Methods
Mapping concepts, plan and profile maps, plats, CAD, GIS, digital terrain models, photogrammetry, remote sensing, UAS, LiDAR, and imagery processing.
Boundary Law and Real Property Principles
Public records, descriptions, common-law principles, easements, conveyances, metes and bounds, PLSS, water law, law sources, encumbrances, and chains of title.
Surveying Principles
Basic surveying, vertical and horizontal surveys, historical methods, route surveying, magnetic declination, geodesy, datums, SPCS, projections, and observation reductions.
Survey Computations and Computer Applications
Coordinate geometry, traverse closure and adjustments, leveling, least squares, areas, horizontal and vertical curves, volumes, spreadsheets, slopes, and grades.
Business Concepts
Project planning, resource management, cost estimating, safety, liability, contracts, supervision, project records, ethics, and communication.
Applied Mathematics and Statistics
College mathematics, probability and statistics, measurement science, error propagation, positional accuracy, unit conversions, data analysis, and quantitative reasoning.
How to Pass the FS Surveying Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Pass/Fail (no published cut score)
- Assessment: 110 computer-based questions with an on-screen reference handbook
- Time limit: 5 hours 20 minutes
- Exam fee: $225
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FS Surveying Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current FS exam format?
NCEES currently lists the FS exam as a 110-question computer-based exam delivered in a 6-hour appointment. That appointment includes tutorial and break time, leaving 5 hours 20 minutes of actual testing time. The exam uses an on-screen reference handbook and approved calculators only.
What score do you need to pass the FS exam?
NCEES does not publish a fixed passing percentage or numeric cut score for the FS exam. Results are reported simply as pass or fail, and the cut score is set through NCEES psychometric standard-setting rather than a flat published percentage.
Did the FS exam change for 2026?
NCEES currently posts FS CBT specifications that are effective beginning with the July 2020 examinations. Candidates should still check the NCEES FS exam page and their licensing board before registering because state approval and scheduling rules can change.
What topics matter most on the FS exam?
The heaviest official area is Boundary Law and Real Property Principles at 19-29 questions. Survey Computations and Computer Applications at 17-26 questions and Surveying Processes and Methods at 16-24 questions are also major blocks, so boundary evidence, property principles, COGO, traverse and leveling work, GNSS/control, and field methods deserve priority.
Can you use a calculator and references during the FS exam?
Yes, but only under NCEES rules. Candidates may use one NCEES-approved calculator model, and NCEES provides the FS Reference Handbook on screen during the exam. Personal paper references are not allowed in the CBT environment.
Who can take the FS exam?
Eligibility is set by each licensing board, not by a single national rule. Many jurisdictions allow senior students or recent graduates from surveying, geomatics, or related programs to sit for FS, but some boards require an application or approval step before NCEES registration.