Hello,
I have been studying quite some time now for the FS Exam which I am scheduled to take in a couple weeks. I took a full length practice test (Fundamental of Surveying Practice Exam 4th Ed. by Cole) a couple weeks ago and did not do so well. I reviewed those questions and became familiar with the type of questions it asked and a few days ago took the NCEES practice exam. I thought it was very difficult and struggled on it as well.
Is the practice exam administered through NCEES more difficult than the actual exam? I will review my incorrect answers on the practice exam heavily to become more prepared but was wondering if I am ill-prepared as much as the practice exam results showed or if it is more difficult than the actual exam? Any opinions are much appreciated! Thanks
Clint,
I found the practice test was a good representation of what to expect. Others have said it wasn't. I think it varies every cycle. In any event use them to point out any weaknesses you have and press on. Half the battle it not getting flustered.
Decide right now to pass. Take it one question at a time and remember to breathe...
Good luck, Tom
"I have been studying quite some time now for the FS Exam which I am scheduled to take in a couple weeks. I took a full length practice test (Fundamental of Surveying Practice Exam 4th Ed. by Cole) a couple weeks ago and did not do so well. I reviewed those questions and became familiar with the type of questions it asked and a few days ago took the NCEES practice exam. I thought it was very difficult and struggled on it as well."
The practice exam is a good indicator of how well you will do. You indicate you have been studying but do not indicate you have he required education to do well.
I have no advice to give you if you have not received the minimum education, as this is essentially a test of your education.
Paul in PA
Clint White, post: 358286, member: 11274 wrote: Hello,
I have been studying quite some time now for the FS Exam which I am scheduled to take in a couple weeks. I took a full length practice test (Fundamental of Surveying Practice Exam 4th Ed. by Cole) a couple weeks ago and did not do so well. I reviewed those questions and became familiar with the type of questions it asked and a few days ago took the NCEES practice exam. I thought it was very difficult and struggled on it as well.
Is the practice exam administered through NCEES more difficult than the actual exam? I will review my incorrect answers on the practice exam heavily to become more prepared but was wondering if I am ill-prepared as much as the practice exam results showed or if it is more difficult than the actual exam? Any opinions are much appreciated! Thanks
After I walked out of the the FS test I felt drained, really drained, and at that point I couldn't have even told you what was on the exam, but I passed first time. It is a very hard test. The practice tests, both Cole and NCEES are very representative of what is on it and what the exam looks like.
Take the practice test again, and again, and again, and again. Learn your calculator forwards and backwards, and don't expect all the questions to be survey related.
FYI, I took the FS in '08 could be different now, but I doubt it has changed much..
When I took the FS in 2012, I took both practice tests as well and while I thought the practice test was a good representation of the type of surveying questions asked. I was also surprised at how many questions had nothing to do with surveying. The best advice I could give, is to read through the test first because I found several answers to questions located in other questions.
Go through and answer the easy ones first. The practice exam is really close to the type of questions on the exam. NCEES does a really good job of avoiding questions on the exam that you can just get answers from cogo programs on your calculator. You have to completely understand the question before you can start figuring it out.
Study 2-3 hours a night until about 3 days before the exam. Take those 3 days and do something you enjoy.
Paul in PA, post: 358304, member: 236 wrote: "I have been studying quite some time now for the FS Exam which I am scheduled to take in a couple weeks. I took a full length practice test (Fundamental of Surveying Practice Exam 4th Ed. by Cole) a couple weeks ago and did not do so well. I reviewed those questions and became familiar with the type of questions it asked and a few days ago took the NCEES practice exam. I thought it was very difficult and struggled on it as well."
The practice exam is a good indicator of how well you will do. You indicate you have been studying but do not indicate you have he required education to do well.
I have no advice to give you if you have not received the minimum education, as this is essentially a test of your education.
Paul in PA
Paul,
There are many forms of education. Before my first license I had 1 survey class and no math after the 10th grade.
I took the nationals and State specific in one weekend and did exceptionally well on all 3. I did go back and take college algebra to help communicate things better, but that's about it...
Clint,
The fs exam is similar to what you are going to find on your practice exam. It is heavily weighted on the mathematics portion, and it is well worth your time to program a calculator in the various functions. At minimum, I would make programs to add and subtract in HMS, covert between polar and rectangular coordinates, and solve for any type of triangle. If spending hours programming can save minutes on the exam, you are a fool not to do it. You can also expect a few questions on spelling/grammar, a few on photogrammetry, and one involving finance and one involving business practices.
If you are struggling with the sample tests, honestly, you are going to really struggle with the exam. If you are not good at taking exams (I am certainly not), it might be worth it to you to write it anyways to get the experience, and to be mentally prepared for the second attempt.
The testing was explained to me as the FS test essentially challenges a two year degree, the PS exam challenges a bachelors degree.
Despite it being relatively inexpensive, and easily sat for, the FS is a big deal. It is a difficult exam, but it is a big first step into licensure.
Best of luck.
Justin
Paul in PA, post: 358304, member: 236 wrote: "I have been studying quite some time now for the FS Exam which I am scheduled to take in a couple weeks. I took a full length practice test (Fundamental of Surveying Practice Exam 4th Ed. by Cole) a couple weeks ago and did not do so well. I reviewed those questions and became familiar with the type of questions it asked and a few days ago took the NCEES practice exam. I thought it was very difficult and struggled on it as well."
The practice exam is a good indicator of how well you will do. You indicate you have been studying but do not indicate you have he required education to do well.
I have no advice to give you if you have not received the minimum education, as this is essentially a test of your education.
Paul in PA
I'm currently a senior in a surveying management program and have my associates in surveying. It's been a couple years since the fundamentals classes so its just remembering the steps to approach a complicated problem I'm struggling with. Come test time I should be well prepared.
Neil Grande, post: 358359, member: 8175 wrote: Go through and answer the easy ones first. The practice exam is really close to the type of questions on the exam. NCEES does a really good job of avoiding questions on the exam that you can just get answers from cogo programs on your calculator. You have to completely understand the question before you can start figuring it out.
Study 2-3 hours a night until about 3 days before the exam. Take those 3 days and do something you enjoy.
That makes sense. Thanks for the advice!
summerprophet, post: 358376, member: 8874 wrote: Clint,
The fs exam is similar to what you are going to find on your practice exam. It is heavily weighted on the mathematics portion, and it is well worth your time to program a calculator in the various functions. At minimum, I would make programs to add and subtract in HMS, covert between polar and rectangular coordinates, and solve for any type of triangle. If spending hours programming can save minutes on the exam, you are a fool not to do it. You can also expect a few questions on spelling/grammar, a few on photogrammetry, and one involving finance and one involving business practices.
If you are struggling with the sample tests, honestly, you are going to really struggle with the exam. If you are not good at taking exams (I am certainly not), it might be worth it to you to write it anyways to get the experience, and to be mentally prepared for the second attempt.
The testing was explained to me as the FS test essentially challenges a two year degree, the PS exam challenges a bachelors degree.Despite it being relatively inexpensive, and easily sat for, the FS is a big deal. It is a difficult exam, but it is a big first step into licensure.
Best of luck.
Justin
After both tests I have went back and reviewed the questions and saw right a way what I did wrong. If there was a condition called "test anxiety" that would be me. I need to teach myself to read the question and make sense of it. Thanks for the advice!
thebionicman, post: 358300, member: 8136 wrote: Clint,
I found the practice test was a good representation of what to expect. Others have said it wasn't. I think it varies every cycle. In any event use them to point out any weaknesses you have and press on. Half the battle it not getting flustered.
Decide right now to pass. Take it one question at a time and remember to breathe...
Good luck, Tom
You are correct. If I just focus instead of getting anxious about it ways to solve the multiple step problems would come to me. Thanks!
Clint, I took it in Nov 14. I agree the practice tests are the same as the real test. I was running 70 75 % on those and passed. I self graded with my extra time in the afternoon. I guarantee I didn't ace the test at all. Be strong in math. I never had the time to program a calc. I think I probably excelled on the non math questions better than the math ones. Eat well, the lunch break is too short.
