FS exam

It's been a very long time since I took the FS exam, but I studied for the FS as though I was taking the PS exam, for what it's worth. I think the value of having this mindset is underestimated.

Van Sickle's "1001 Solved Surveying Fundamentals Problems" was a very good one for math preparation IMO. I purchased and read both of Brown's books on boundary control and evidence/procedures which certainly helped, but knowing the math was critical.

The NCEES has a sample FS exam which should be reasonably close to the actual test, it might be a good idea to take it as a pre-test to see what areas you might need to study further, and purchase materials accordingly. Just my opinion.

Van Sickle's 1001 problems book has been replaced by his newer book, Solved Problems. Having said that, I have both, and both are good. I am of the mindset, you can never have too many reference books.

1001 Problems http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/1001-solved-surveying-fundamentals-problems-2nd-ed-jan-van-sickle/1118724938/2675486837389?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+Textbooks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP20456&k_clickid=3x20456

Solved Problems book http://www.browntechnical.org/products/surveying-solved-problems-for-the-fs-and-ps-exams-svsp4-4th-edition.html?utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_source=bc&gclid=CM6y4qTtutECFYa3wAodbNcJOg

SellmanA, post: 408580, member: 8564 wrote: It's been a very long time since I took the FS exam, but I studied for the FS as though I was taking the PS exam, for what it's worth. I think the value of having this mindset is underestimated.

Van Sickle's "1001 Solved Surveying Fundamentals Problems" was a very good one for math preparation IMO. I purchased and read both of Brown's books on boundary control and evidence/procedures which certainly helped, but knowing the math was critical.

The NCEES has a sample FS exam which should be reasonably close to the actual test, it might be a good idea to take it as a pre-test to see what areas you might need to study further, and purchase materials accordingly. Just my opinion.

Thank you, I will look for the books.

KOKOLO, post: 408601, member: 12397 wrote: Thank you, I will look for the books.

Be sure to shop around. I just did a quick search, and those were the first links to pop up.

Surveyors reference manual is a great book to brush up on everything. I'm using that and everything else I can get my hands on, but last person I know (an engineer) that passed it knew very little on surveying subjects but was really good at math. Good luck and if its computer based then make sure to take the computer based practice exam NCEES.

One thing that helped me was programming the HP 35s calculator.

KOKOLO,

I took the FS in October 2016, just a few days after taking / teaching Ted Madson's 3 day FS seminar in Florida. I passed it with no problems. It is best that you know your calculator very well. Survey Cogo routines, Horizontal & Vertical curves, and statistics. There are a lot of questions that are there just to trip you. The Exam is on computer, and all multiple choice. You will find that often the actually answer is NOT there. The questions will ask which is the closest answer or most likely. It is a real PITA. Be prepared to be thoroughly palm printed (six times), and searched. Including pulling up your pant legs, and your shirt sleeves. They will even check your eye glasses for Google Glass chips. It is real intimidating process, feels like you are entering a prison.

I notice that you are having a lot of trouble just typing the English language. Do you find it difficult to read and comprehend also? If so, then I believe you be at a great disadvantage on the exam. As I noted above, there are many trick questions that are there just to make certain you understand the readings.

I suggest you study as much as possible. Then when you think you are, take the online practice exam, and see how do in the allotted time limit.

Thank you everyone for the reccomendations.

Kokolo,
You will probably get a few grammar questions. There may be some where the finer points of our 'language' come into play. It won't be enough to change the outcome if you aim high.
Go for a 71 and 2 points will cost you. Go for 100 and 29 still gets you tgrough.
Best of luck, Tom

leegreen, post: 408642, member: 2332 wrote: KOKOLO,

I took the FS in October 2016, just a few days after taking / teaching Ted Madson's 3 day FS seminar in Florida. I passed it with no problems. It is best that you know your calculator very well. Survey Cogo routines, Horizontal & Vertical curves, and statistics. There are a lot of questions that are there just to trip you. The Exam is on computer, and all multiple choice. You will find that often the actually answer is NOT there. The questions will ask which is the closest answer or most likely. It is a real PITA. Be prepared to be thoroughly palm printed (six times), and searched. Including pulling up your pant legs, and your shirt sleeves. They will even check your eye glasses for Google Glass chips. It is real intimidating process, feels like you are entering a prison.

I notice that you are having a lot of trouble just typing the English language. Do you find it difficult to read and comprehend also? If so, then I believe you be at a great disadvantage on the exam. As I noted above, there are many trick questions that are there just to make certain you understand the readings.

I suggest you study as much as possible. Then when you think you are, take the online practice exam, and see how do in the allotted time limit.

In reality no bad, I understand and speak the language pretty well, i have a little trouble with the verbs in future or past tense and sometimes the syntaxi.

"and sometimes the syntaxi."

Excellent example, syntax.

Remember that Surveying is a subset of Engineering and that famous quote:
"Yestuhday I cood not spill Injunear, and today I are one."

Pail in Pa, PE, PLS

Paul in PA, post: 409097, member: 236 wrote: "and sometimes the syntaxi."

Excellent example, syntax.

Remember that Surveying is a subset of Engineering and that famous quote:
"Yestuhday I cood not spill Injunear, and today I are one."

Pail in Pa, PE, PLS

Paul,
I would rather work with someone who needed spell check for his second language than a PHD in language arts. I'm certain his English is better than my proficiency in his native language.
K,
It would be beneficial to take the language comprehension placement exam at a local University. That will identify weaknesses that will hurt on the test. Push yourself and keep learning...

Paul in PA, post: 409097, member: 236 wrote: "and sometimes the syntaxi."

Excellent example, syntax.

Remember that Surveying is a subset of Engineering and that famous quote:
"Yestuhday I cood not spill Injunear, and today I are one."

Pail in Pa, PE, PLS

🙂 The old carpenters I worked with years ago said the same thing about iron heads (iron workers)!

I hope to take the test after I graduate, so I follow these types of threads with great interest.

Wishing you success Kokolo! 🙂

Paul in PA, post: 409097, member: 236 wrote: "and sometimes the syntaxi."

Excellent example, syntax.

Remember that Surveying is a subset of Engineering and that famous quote:
"Yestuhday I cood not spill Injunear, and today I are one."

Pail in Pa, PE, PLS

Well i hope you do not said, it was the way I wrote the word, because syntaxis is indeed a word...

Syntaxis (contrasted to parataxis) is style in writing or in rhetoric that favors complex syntax, as against simple sentence structures.

thebionicman, post: 409117, member: 8136 wrote: Paul,
I would rather work with someone who needed spell check for his second language than a PHD in language arts. I'm certain his English is better than my proficiency in his native language.
K,
It would be beneficial to take the language comprehension placement exam at a local University. That will identify weaknesses that will hurt on the test. Push yourself and keep learning...

Thank you, i will take that on consideration. To be honest a understand almost everything and everyone understand me when I am in a conversation. Still i have areas that I have to reinforce, and I will work on that. Thank You

mav1958, post: 409242, member: 12168 wrote: 🙂 The old carpenters I worked with years ago said the same thing about iron heads (iron workers)!

I hope to take the test after I graduate, so I follow these types of threads with great interest.

Wishing you success Kokolo! 🙂

Thank you sir. I wish you, a lot of success in your school or college.

KOKOLO, post: 409353, member: 12397 wrote: Well i hope you do not said, it was the way I wrote the word, because syntaxis is indeed a word...

Syntaxis (contrasted to parataxis) is style in writing or in rhetoric that favors complex syntax, as against simple sentence structures.

Syntaxis and syntax are indeed words, syntaxi is what I was not familiar with but do I find in other languages. The comment was not meant to be critical of anyone, but merely a musing in pointing out what I thought was a misuse of the word having to do with the use of words.

Paul in PA

leegreen, post: 408642, member: 2332 wrote: KOKOLO,

I took the FS in October 2016, just a few days after taking / teaching Ted Madson's 3 day FS seminar in Florida. I passed it with no problems. It is best that you know your calculator very well. Survey Cogo routines, Horizontal & Vertical curves, and statistics. There are a lot of questions that are there just to trip you. The Exam is on computer, and all multiple choice. You will find that often the actually answer is NOT there. The questions will ask which is the closest answer or most likely. It is a real PITA. Be prepared to be thoroughly palm printed (six times), and searched. Including pulling up your pant legs, and your shirt sleeves. They will even check your eye glasses for Google Glass chips. It is real intimidating process, feels like you are entering a prison.

I notice that you are having a lot of trouble just typing the English language. Do you find it difficult to read and comprehend also? If so, then I believe you be at a great disadvantage on the exam. As I noted above, there are many trick questions that are there just to make certain you understand the readings.

I suggest you study as much as possible. Then when you think you are, take the online practice exam, and see how do in the allotted time limit.

what books did you used?

Kokolo,

Ted's class includes books written and published by him. The class fee also includes a fully programmed HP35S, which a lot the class is focused on.