Hello all, I am a Rodman of about two years and I have some surveying experience from what my party chief has been teaching me, and knowledge from the two books I have ??Elementary Surveying?? and ??Surveyors Reference Manual??. My question about getting ready for the LSIT is what are the key subjects that the test focuses on for someone that has taken it recently? I am trying to get a study group together with some other Rodmen, but I would like some sort of direction of what I need to be focusing on. All the surveyors I work with took their tests years ago and they do not want to point me in the wrong direction Incase the tests have changed. Any suggestions would be appreciated!?ÿ
I took the exam a few years ago. The test is online now, and can be scheduled almost anytime. It still takes a few weeks to get your results but its better than a few months!?ÿ
There were a lot of triangles to solve - sometimes half the battle was realizing that solving a triangle WAS the answer.?ÿ
There were plenty of general science questions, some computer and grammar questions, a few business questions, and some basic cartography questions dealing with scales and slopes and such. There were also several math questions including unit conversions, statistics, rounding, and stuff like that. Oddly enough I didn't get one single question about the PLSS. Although I think now there is a pool of questions and everybody taking it gets a random sample from that pool. The hardest understanding not every question was a trick question and the obvious answer was indeed correct.?ÿ
Good luck!
Took it 3 years ago (and passed).....buy the practice exam from NCEES. ?ÿIt is exactly how the exam really was. ?ÿLots of questions you would never expect and the practice exam represents it accurately. ?ÿAlso, there is more law principles than you??d expect. ?ÿThere is a breakdown of how many questions on what topics there will be on the NCEES website, review that and prepare accordingly ?ÿ Hope this helps?ÿ
Go to www.ppi2pass.com and buy the "Surveyor Reference Manual". I studied that and passed the FS my first try.
Check out the following website for NCEES outlines:
https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/FS-January-2014_with-ranges.pdf
The best way to prepare is to approach the exam like a mathematics speed test. Have your calculator loaded with programs to do any involved computations for you. If you can make a 5 minute question into a 2 minute question by typing in an hour of programming prior to the test, you are golden.
be able to solve any triangle (programs!!!), and basic curves (nothing too hard) spherical trig is limited to identifying parts and symbols, know the formula for calculating annual interest, know the diagram and legend for photogrammetry, know the diagram and legend for geoid/terrain/ellipsiod. Be able to reduce vertical and horizontal angles to distances (determine how a polar to rectangular program can be used here) be able to single proportion a section corner with math, and possibly a double proportion by steps only (no math), know to convert to rods, chains and meters, calculate a volume of a road cut or fill, basic map projection stuff like grid to ground conversion and the basics behind junior and senior rights.
Honestly, the test is like 70% math.
Best of luck to you,
Justin
I'd be pretty shocked if everything you need isn't in one of the two books you cited, as long as they're reasonably current. For sure know unit conversions and significant figures, measurement error and significance, and construction math (grade/slope/stationing/cut & fill).
Make very sure that the calculator you take is accepted; the PPI folks who advertise on this web site have an approved Cassio in their FS bundle.
Lastly the practice tests are a great resource, I would highly recommend them.
Thank you for the quick responses you guys!?ÿ All of the information you have given defiantly gives me a better idea and direction of what I need to be focusing on for the test.?ÿ I know a few of you recommended practice exams/tests that helped a lot in passing the test.?ÿ?ÿWould you guys happen to have a link?ÿor the name of the practice exam that helped you guys??ÿ Thanks again for your time.?ÿ
It is reasonable to expect to pay $500-$1000 for textbooks and sample exam books preparing for the FS. Then probably hundreds of hours actually reading them. A suggested library with current on-line Prices:?ÿ
- Elementary Surveying 15th Edition?ÿ ($150)
- Boundary Control & Legal Principles 2nd Edition (used - $10)
- Boundary Control & Legal Principles 7th Edition?ÿ ($100)
- GPS For Land Surveyors 4th Edition($80)
- Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Line Location ($100)
- Blacks Law Dictionary ($75)
- BLM 2009 Manual ($75)
- Surveying Solved Problems for the FS and PS Exams ($90)
- Fundamentals of Surveying Sample Exam ($85)
?ÿ
That totals up to $765. There will be more for the PS.