Materials for the PS exam & preloaded HP35s

[antcrook]

PPI runs an ad on this site. I seem to remember using them when I was getting ready to do the PS exam.

[cordgrass]

You do not need the HP35 for the exam. I had one but didn’t use a single program.  

 

[party-chef]

If you google around you can find the american surveyor articles by Foose with HP 35 programs, enter them in yourself for a bit of fun and learning. It should take a few hours but you will be all the better for it and not out any extra cash, assuming you have a 35 already.

 

 

[leegreen]

Cordgrass is correct. The PS is based on Principals, not math. No need for calculator on PS. The FS, Fundamentals Exam is math heavy.

[stlsurveyor]

I will third that…the PS Exam will have maybe one or two math questions that you can probably do in your head or with all that experience and reason you have gained in the last 4 years.  Know types of Evidence, order of monuments, fundamental boundary law.

For what its worth, I thought the PS Exam was a walk in the park when compared to the LSIT exam. As long as you have actually been surveying and not just drafting for the last 4 years you should have no problem. The ones who struggle are the ones not getting the full experience they should be getting. Your State Specific Exam will be the one that may give you heartburn…

[tfdoubleyou]

Avoid Nettleman’s stuff. I purchased his SIT material and regretted it, very expensive and found it to be mostly useless. As for a programmed calculator, I think it’s worth the effort to do it your self, I recommend Surveying Solutions for the HP35s by D’Zign. 

[thebionicman]

I switched to the 35 when NCEES disallowed the 11c. At first it was a struggle to get past the finger memory. I begsn downloading and inputting a lot of public domain programs for triangles. After the fourth or fifth one I found it easier to just use the calculator. Now that I’m done with tests I use the 11c as my daily driver. I force myself to use the 35 just in case.

The point is, buying preloaded won’t teach you much. Inputting a crappy program will teach you more.

[Unknown Member]

D’zign software has a nice 35s program called Survey Solutions. Well laid out with spiral bound manual. You really should program it yourself as a pre-loaded calc. will lose the program if you forget and let the batteries discharge.

[jpb]

As someone who has taken the exam in the last week, you dont need to waste the time or money on calculator programs. On my exam, I used it 3 times. They were the type of questions that it is very doubtful a survey program would help you with. A basic understanding of survey math with more then surffice. 

 

As others have said, the test is much easier if you have been working on the professional side of surveying and not been rabbit holes into on very specific job and role. The exposure to different situations, types of surveys, and a diverse project list will make the test much easier.

The best way I can describe the difference between the FS and the PS is that the FS exam tests the science of surveying and the PS tests the art of surveying.

It’s really not that hard and best of luck to you!

[Bodhi Rips]

Passed the PS last year and here was my reading/study list…

Brown Boundary Control and Legal Principles – Robillard, Wilson, Brown (I personally found the older versions to be easier to read. The info hasn’t changed a whole lot.)

Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location – Same authors

Interpreting Land Records – Wilson

Writing Legal Descriptions – Gurdon Watltles (yellow book)

Restoration of Lost or Obliterated Corners and Subdivision of Sections  – Tom Propst (also a yellow book)

 

I then used the Van sickle book, “Surveying Solved Problems for the FS and PS” (which also helped with the FS) and just concentrated on the boundary and legal chapters mainly. You will not need much of the math stuff for this exam. I revisited the PLSS, GIS, GPS, and professional chapters.

I am pretty sure you need to know single and double proportioning relating to the PLSS and when to use each.

Get the 50-question practice exam from NCEES and go through it.

Download the Reference handbook and go over the ALTA, FEMA, Federal Geographic Data Committee Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards, National Geospatial Programs (NGP) Standards and Specifications.

 

There may have been other study materials but those are what comes to mind. Hope it helps!

[Garrett Bradshaw]

I just passed the PS in Texas. Do not use Nettlemans courses, t was pretty much useless. I have programmed HP 35 from easycogo. It was extremely useful for the SIT exam. I did not use it as much for the PS. It is convenient using the COGO and Inverse programs. If you do not already have one, I wouldn’t say it is needed to pass the PS.

[scott-ellis]

Find a program you like for the calculator, program it yourself it will teach you how to use the program and its worth the time. Bring the calculator if you only use it for 2 or 3 questions its worth it, for the time saver and maybe confidence boost during the exam. Not sure what State you are taking this in, but I know Texas has several exams they rotate one may have more math questions that another one. When I took my exam some guys have backup calculators, just in case the batteries died. If you pass by one question that a pre programmed calculator answered, that is time and money well spent.

[Bleumoon1]

I took and passed it June 1st. If you passed the FS you should be good. The books Bodhi mentioned above are great for the test and future reference. I found the PS test to NOT be very similar to the practice test from NCEES or Nettleman. Know the PLSS, division of sections, subdivisions, proportioning when necessary, etc. Not as much boundary law as I anticipated.  Did have some off the wall questions like a particular symbol off of some map database. Most of the questions give a scenario, and you must find the best action to handle it. Dont waste money on a pre-programmed calculator. If you do want the programs for the future, it would be better to input them yourself so you will actually know how to use them. Most questions will be quick where you either know it or you don’t. It was an approx. 7hr test that actually took 3 hours including the break. Good look and relax. 

[leegreen]

One note of caution with the pre-loaded apps for HP33 and HP35. IF the battery dies all program data is a loss. The two batteries must be changed (one at a time), every 6 months in order to preserve your data.