I have been reviewing for the PS exam for a few months now. I find Cole's Practice exam is math heavy and contains a lot of horizontal and vertical curves questions. I understand horizontal and vertical curves but I was wondering how much of this on the exam? I don't wont waste a lot of time reviewing curves as i did for the FS exam. As for the NCEES practice exam is seems way to easy. Any other practice exams out there?
Ncees exam is good. Seems easy to you because you are ready. I took it in October, I was scared to fail because I felt there wasn't any studying to pass. Either you know the material from years of practice or you just plain dont. That's why the pass rate is like 78%.
From my experience 3+ years ago the exam has little math. Used the calculator maybe 4 times.
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I agree with the previous 2, but will add:
1. Called for monuments rule
2. There's no such thing as a lost corner (Obliterated? Yes. Lost? No, sir.)
3. When in doubt, contact the prior Surveyor
Those three seemed to be the theme of the exam version I took, lol.
Very little math, you can almost fly without a calculator. Although, i always brought 2, just in case. If you're in a PLSS state, such as I am, concrete it in your brain!
I also agree with wgd and paul.
Do you know how to take a standardized test?
Read each question. Answer the easy ones. Read each question, Answer the medium ones. Read each question, answer the hard ones. Reread and check your answers. Spend the last bit of time figuring out the Nasty ones.
My last question was a traverse based on a pair of GPS coordinates with several legs and a sighting to polaris with the question of the angular misclosure.
Ouch, that one is brutal. I had a question on vertical datum refenced of tidal charts. Needless to say I picked the wrong one. I live in South frickin Dakota!
Well, you can imagine how much us colonial state guys like all the PLSS questions then....:stakeout:
Haha touche. There is a lot of that. I'm sure you guys wonder "they really have rectangular lands?"
The NCEES Practice exam is easy? The only one I looked @ seemed pretty darn hard. Maybe John Collins is right....you're just ready and already have it down.
I took it in October and there was only one curve question. Almost all terms and practical application. There were a few math questions so have a calculator but I wouldn't worry a ton about curves. Know the basics, they give you the formulas. I got out of there way early. I second [USER=11135]@Jon Collins[/USER]. If you are prepared it's far easier than the FS.
That1surveyor is right, you will breeze through it. Mostly it's a test of how you survey something, ie what types of evidence, when to proportion, when NOT to proportion, ethics, project management. It's fun leaving early and have all the wide eyed engineers stare at you like WTF. The state specific test I took was honestly harder!
FS pass rate: 54%
PS pass rate: 80%
(from NCEES website...)
With that info alone, the PS is a far easier exam. NCEES practice test is true to the actual exam. A good book to read is Brown's Boundary Control & Legal Principles, along with the companion book: Evidence & Procedures. If you found NCEES practice test easy, then, maybe you're ready for the test. GL.
Thanks for the replies. I'll continue to study
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A few thoughts...
The technique of picking the low hanging fruit first doesn't work for everyone. I was able to finish both the FS and PS three times with time left over. They aren't that hard.
If you are prepared and organized you will do fine. Know your calculator and reference material. Don't get rattled. Do the work and it will work out....
vplayer, post: 362305, member: 9292 wrote: FS pass rate: 54%
PS pass rate: 80%
With that info alone, the PS is a far easier exam
I don't follow the logic, since the people taking the PS are the ones that have passed the FS. They've already weeded out the most unprepared.
cordgrass, post: 362140, member: 11027 wrote: I have been reviewing for the PS exam for a few months now. I find Cole's Practice exam is math heavy and contains a lot of horizontal and vertical curves questions. I understand horizontal and vertical curves but I was wondering how much of this on the exam? I don't wont waste a lot of time reviewing curves as i did for the FS exam. As for the NCEES practice exam is seems way to easy. Any other practice exams out there?
This is something I've looking into as well. Pretty much unless you know someone who has copies of the practice tests from years back you are limited to the 2016 FS and PS only online.
Bill93, post: 362335, member: 87 wrote: I don't follow the logic, since the people taking the PS are the ones that have passed the FS. They've already weeded out the most unprepared.
Not necessarily. I'm not sure about now but just a few years ago you could take the FS and PS at the same time, in NY anyway. It was possible to pass the PS and fail the FS.
Gregg
GMPLS, post: 362404, member: 8404 wrote: Not necessarily. I'm not sure about now but just a few years ago you could take the FS and PS at the same time, in NY anyway. It was possible to pass the PS and fail the FS.
Gregg
maybe some states give experience in lieu of the FS exam.