When I refer to the Legal Session, I think I mean to say non math based questions. But you need to know some Case Law, the Act and Rules of the State, definitions as well as Texas land history.
Most states also test on different subjects, so make sure you check the materials provided and have plenty of talks with Surveyors of that state.
I would also reach out to your local professional society. They often have study groups and knowledge specific for your state.
It's been over thirty years since I took the FS/PS exam, and it was multiple choose with usually four possible answers. If you made a common mistake in your calculations, chances were good that you would come up with the same result as on of the wrong possible answers. Check your work.
Jason, have you found any review material for the NJ state specific portion of the test? It seemed like when I took it that part was a complete mystery. There was no review class, no book, no study guide, no way to find out what would be on there except some information in that 700 page thing. I of course had a copy of the NJ Administrative Code and the Rules and Regulations which enabled me to pass, but I remember wishing there were some resources to prepare for the NJ exam.
I took the exam about 10 months after I graduated... I wanted to take a break from studying all the time so I waited. What helped was that I had a minor in land surveying from when I was getting my BS in Civil Eng, so that helped with preparing for the FS exam as well. I definitely recommend taking the exam ASAP, as a lot of your low level classes are covered on it, not so much the upper level classes.
I also had a ton of time... since its 5 hours and in 2 sections of equal problems, I figured 2.5 hours for each would be enough. Well the first part took me that long because it had all of the calculation problems on it, and the second half took an hour. Everything is random, but i regret not taking my time on the calculations to double check. It didn't matter in the end because I passed, but it would have made me feel better to go over everything.
Hard to be too specific because a) the format is changing from when I took the exams and b) as a former NCEES test volunteer I'm sworn to secrecy, but...
> What advice would you have given yourself before you've taken the exams?
Get a better nights sleep than I did - I was at Hooters the night before the Maryland storm drain exam, not the best choice
> what questions really stood out to you that you found very hard on the exam?
I had no real GIS or photogrammetry background, so those were the hardest on the PS. Luckily it was open book and I spent a LOT of time methodically tabbing all my reference books
> what books did you study from? any recommendations?
For six months leading up to the PS I systematically reread almost every one of my reference books. Locked myself in my study for three hours every weeknight and took the weekends off.
> were you and A student or a B student and how did difficult did you find the exams?
B-ish, but in liberal arts;-). I actually was surprised that I found the exams pretty easy with no formal survey education.
> what are your study tips?
Study with a partner. Especially if you're naturally competitive. I took the PS exam the same time as two other guys in my firm back in the day when they gave you your score and there was no way I was going to let them outscore me
Finally - be sure to check the NJIT job board for recently posted entry level positions surveying in historic Washington DC 😀
