For those that took the LSIT and also had their study guide

Computer programming? Really?
What sort of programming question?
I'll have a lash at it. Post a programming question.
E.

Here are pictures of the questions, as it makes it a little easier
I do have to question what knowing this has to do with the principles of land survey, obviously some are easier than others .

I found the content provided by CalTrans to be the very best available LSIT prep.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/row/landsurveys/LSITWorkbook/WorkbookTOC.html

It is my opinion that if you can solve the problems in the workbooks they have that you can pass the LSIT.

I thought the test was easier than the sample test made it look in my eyes beforehand.

Be prepared for some odd-ball business questions and GIS questions.

One thing I noticed is that while some problems can take say a half hour to actually solve, eliminating 3 out of 4 choices takes considerably less time.

For whatever it is worth I thought the LSIT was pretty darn easy. But that may be because I executed a 4 month study plan leading up to it.

Have Fun!

*edited 6 month to 4 month after I thought about it a little.

Ditto on the CalTrans review. It is great even if it is a bit outdated in some regards. I also agree there were a good number of questions about GIS and other computer related things. Also the version I took had no less than 3 problems that involved matrix algebra, which was more questions on it than were related to the PLSS.

Gees. Really? Those on the practice exam?
The first one with the little flowchart: the answer is 10.
Parallel communications devices: the printer. However, good luck finding a computer today that supports parallel communications that even has the old 25 pin parallel port.
The one about vector-based GIS: I have no clue.
How many bits to a byte is generally accepted to be 8. However that could be argued by some electronic engineers. 0-F in hexadecimal requires 8 bits. An octal machine (0-7) only needs 4 bits.

But I agree with you about what these have to do with land surveying. As a 30-year software engineer myself I would be offended at these baby questions and would likely walk away. Except for the GIS question I can't imagine these questions being on the exam.

Best of luck to you in any event.
E.

> Except for the GIS question I can't imagine these questions being on the exam.

Believe it. I had questions just like those all over the exam I took (in fact those questions may be from the exam I took).

The "Guide" hasn't changed in a long time but those questions are in there for a reason. I remember studying for the exam and thinking the same thing you are, and reaching for as many resources as possible. There are many available to choose from so keep building your library and keep studying. Don't leave any area out since the LSIT covers a wide range of topics.;-)

For the GIS question - 10 years ago I would have answered A as most Vector based GIS stored the spatial and non-spatial data in seperate files (shapefiles...). Now ArcGIS stores data in a geodatabase format which is a relational database where the spatial and non-spatial data are stored in the same file - so I might choose B. Anyone else have an idea?

My answer would be B as well. Databases have always been the foundation of GIS to me, not the vector work.

Now if we are talking about relational databases, that is a whole 'nother matter.
Are we talking about 3rd normal form databases? I hope so. 2nd form is crappy. 4th normal form is understood by few.
Why should a land surveyor need to know about these things. Well, unless you're building your own GIS. And, then you should be a software engineer, database admin and maybe part time surveyor. I've been all that.

My response was based on my limited GIS build using ArcView and AutoCad Map. So relational databases. Used Map to attach database attributes to vector elements and then ArcView to join tables together. Then designed queries to display in the ArcView Map Window the data sorts I was looking for. Seemed like the entire enterprise was based on a relational database....The CAD drawing was really just another database.

"Why Should A Land Surveyor Need To Know About These Things"

Because the Fundementals Exam is a wholistic exam based on your *entire* college education, not one's experience as a land surveyor.

Surveying is an *art and science* encompassing a myriad of technical knowledge. You don't have to be a software engineer to understand computer architecture or write programming code. Computer Science courses are required in an ABET EAC Engineering Degree, so it makes sense to test on it.

A college education is about learning how to analyse and think critically, not just memorizing the dignity of calls in a specific state or learning how to set a quarter corner.

AS3

I would have gone with:

C
B
C
D
B

People not familiar with computer programming have a hard time understanding A = A + 1 ... it's not an algebraic equations. It means "Set A equal to A plus 1" -- or -- A is now one more than A used to be.

So, if A was 5, it changes to 6, etc.

That's commonly used in counting loops. That program diagram would cause the loop to run 10 times, until A = 10, then it's not less than 10, so it kicks out of the loop and moves on to the next code... which is C = A ... so C is set to the value of A, which is 10 ... C = 10.

I took the exam in march and passed. I would recommend "Surveyor Reference Manual" By George M Cole. ISBN 978-1-59126-174-2. The guy covers all material covered on the test. Like GIS, curves, and littoral and riparian rights. Cole also has sample exam manual that is very similar to real life exam. During the exam I took the full 4 hours before lunch. After jimmy johns, I completed the second half in 2.5 hrs.

From what i can recall there was 5 "what is the vertical" problems. 2 traverse with missing angle or distance. 3 curves that needed to be solved.

Best of luck Curly!

Response

I believe that your best bet is to check with your state Professional Land Surveyors group. They would more than likely have somebody that is a good teacher, would have all the correct information for you to study and learn. They would probably get it directly from the state licensing board as well. Many good people are members of their professional societies and are then willing to help others get their license. 🙂

The Only Thing You Take To LSIT Is Your Approved Calculator

They supply you with a new formula guide, pencils and scratch paper.

The rest has to be in your head.

Paul in PA

"Why Should A Land Surveyor Need To Know About These Things"

> A college education is about learning how to analyse and think critically, not just memorizing the dignity of calls in a specific state or learning how to set a quarter corner.

:good:

Thank you for the book recommendation, there is a rumor that at this years state convention there will be study group however I want to be as prepared as possible. Thank you also for explaining the A= bit, I was looking at it as algebra and was baffled to say the least.

"Why Should A Land Surveyor Need To Know About These Things"

I do not question that surveyors need a broad based set of skills to compete in the market place, however, why would you have an exam that tests the knowledge you pick up in college. Shouldn’t the presentation of your degree be enough? Why bother to pay all that money, put in the hours and earn the degree, just so you can take an exam to prove it? I would take the degree on its face value and test the person’s specific survey knowledge. That should be the unknown quantity.

“A college education is about learning how to analyze and think critically” (I fixed the spelling)

I will debate later the accuracy of that often repeated propaganda, but as a teaser Adam, do really believe you can teach intelligence?