I am taking my FS exam in about three weeks. I am a semester away from gradating with a bachelors in a surveying program, and I have a couple years of experience working outside and inside.?ÿ
I've been studying for the past three months, mainly studying the the two versions of the FS study guide and the NSPS CST materials. I have also compiled a lot of boundary related material to study as well.?ÿ?ÿ
I'm still pretty nervous going into this. Anyone who recently took this, can you let me know what stuff you saw on the new version of the exam that was tricky and stumped you?
Thanks?ÿ
Well I don't fit your criteria of someone who has recently taken the exam. I think it's been almost 20 years for me. I can say that I resembled everything you are doing and feeling when I took it back then. You are doing great. Keep studying and refreshing what you have already gone over.
There are many topics about this, I suggest going through them as in each there's valuable information. That being said, you need to grab the NCEES practice test as it's always the true representation of the test. You need a good calculator like the HP35s and know your way with it inside out. This will save plenty of time BUT, knowing your way manually with formulas is the trick, as many exercises actually demand some of these formulas to find 'X', especially for the route surv exercises.
It is a test on all surveying subjects, just longer than those you have been taking in various subjects. They should have already provided you with the equations sheet they will supply at the exam site. Have batteries and a backup calculator and have a good night's sleep. Get familiar with the equations sheet but do not spend an undue amount of time trying to cram more into your head. You should have been using the approved calculator for the last few months, even to do your checkbook and taxes. It is too late to try to learn something new.
Paul in PA
Eat a good meal, the night before and make sure you get a good nights sleep. Cramming at this point won't do you much good; if you don't know it by now, staying up late, studying won't help. ?ÿMake sure you get to the site at least an hour before they tell you to get there. Relax, what ever happens happens...
Sorry I didn't have more to offer; good luck, you'll do great!
I took FS exam about 2 years ago, the question that stumped me was knowing how metamorphic igneous and sedimentary rocks were formed. Also the first half of the test for me were mostly calculation problems so took over 4 hours on that half and the second half were quick questions without any calculations so don't panic if one side takes much longer.
What Radar said. I would add that you need to refresh the batteries in your calculator. Having them die when you can't just run to the store could be?ÿ fatal.?ÿ Or you could just carry a slide rule like I did.?ÿ
@joeynj72, it sounds like you're on the right track and already well prepared for the test.?ÿ If you haven't already been using the equation sheet PDF on a computer (like how it will be on the exam), that might be worth adding in to your routine so that you're familiar with it in that format and searching through it for things.?ÿ
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@wendell Would a FS/PS/State Specific/Exams category here, https://surveyorconnect.com/community/, or elsewhere be possible??ÿ Do people think that would be helpful??ÿ Or maybe even a curated page of information that is logically organized.?ÿ
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When I was studying for exams, it took a lot of effort to find information, resources, and guidance.?ÿ I did find some great information and resources but much of it was scattered all over the internet.?ÿ Sort of mining gems out a pile of broken links and oblique references.?ÿ I've made some efforts to bring those resources together and make them available to other people and pass on advice here on the forums.?ÿ There is probably some room for improvement.
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Best regards, Eli
@protracted I sort of agree. When I was studying for my FS/PS exams back in 2015 I had to look all over the web, bought practice tests that were outdated (but still useful for practicing exercises), asked a handful of people who passed the exams and even asked for help in this very forum. All of this combined helped me pass and made me proud that I had to become sort of a detective to look for all of this info that was scattered all over the place, and then filter it for my own understanding. I had to become this detective that questions everything during that time, just like we do in our day to day job life when looking through deeds, easements and etc.
In fact, I think if it wasn't for that experience I wouldn't have learned so much more during that period on my own. I definitely see the pros of having a dedicated FS/PS/State Specific section to look up info about the tests, just like it is with Civil eng exam prep courses that you see available all over the place. Yet, I think it should be in a general way as it is good that people go through this experience, just like all of us licensed did so they can be better practitioners when being licensed.
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this has been covered many times here in the last year or so. if nothing else search for some of my posts & threads under the member activity tab?ÿ
Fundamentals of Surveying Practice Exam
There a several practice exams out there, the one linked above probably has the most questions. This and "Surveying Solved Problems" A bit of money, but if you want to be sure to pass, I highly recommend it. I've made the recommendation before, so their might be people here willing to sell you their used copy, and you may have the opportunity to sell it when you finished.
I passed it 13 days ago, on Friday the 13th. I'm 54 yrs old, completed an assoc degree in CIVL/CONST 13 yrs ago next month. For the exam I was self-study for around 10 months total with intense study the last two months. Every day I was looking at something in those two months, and weekends I had about four or five hours study time each day. I had a printed version of the reference guide that was available electronically on test day. Books used extensively for study was Surveying Solved Problems (SSP), Land Surveyor Reference Manual, and various other sources of gps/spc information I could find. I took the NCEES practice exam when I was about two weeks out. I used a programmed HP35s.
Something I would mention, this calculator is a great tool. I really like it, and I had limited exposure to rpn before I got it and programmed it. The time spent programming was time well spent in getting familiar with the calculator. Whatever you feel comfortable with is what you should use, but this unit saved me time on the exam and that was a big factor for me. I am usually one of the last to finish during open room/multiple takers exams. Time was something I was concerned with. If you feel you need one, get it now and program it yourself.?ÿ
I signed a non disclosure agreement so I will not go in to detailed problems, but if you can work out most of the problems in those study materials listed above you should be fine. The SSP, I attempted probably 95% of the problems in it. Some I had no idea and skipped, hoping that the exam wouldn't have that much advanced math on it.?ÿ If you are in a BS in surveying program you shouldn't have any trouble with it.
I reread you post and noticed that I had missed you were three weeks out on your test. You won't have time to change calculators probably and get really familiar, but with you being in study mode and fresh off education you should be fine. My suggestion would be to create you own problems. Cherry pick oddball values from anticipated problem subjects, be able to re arrange the formulas to find what is asked.
Some tips
Read the question, maybe a couple of times. Know what they are asking for and what is required to answer it. Disregard all other information.
Look closely at the givens/dimensions/etc. See what they gave you, not what you think you see.
Manage your time. Be aware of where you are time-wise. The "halves" may not be equal in time needed. You will get the first 55, a break, then the second 55 questions. You will not be able to go back to the first "half" after clearing for the break.
My plan was to go through the whole set of questions, answering what I could either immediately or with a very short calc. Flagging all I didn't know as I went. Every question got an answer the first time through. I flagged everything I didn't know to be correct. Go back through them again, getting the next set of "quickest" answers, for a final answer, unflagging and done with them. Go back through for the remainder, guessing if I had to. I had to on a couple because time was getting away from me.
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It's been a while since I took a test, but I did similarly.?ÿ I go through once, answering what I could, then went back to the troublesome ones, then went back and went through them all again.?ÿ
For me, I sometimes changed my first answer, as I noticed that I must've read through the question too quickly and misunderstood.?ÿ
I never left an exam early, since I'd put a lot of time and effort into getting to that day, I wasn't going to short-change myself when I was finally there.
My method worked for me.?ÿ Hope yours worked for you and you passed.
If you're on the verge of graduating, you'll do fine.?ÿ Most of the people that have trouble are the ones that don't have a surveying degree, or are years out of college.
