Computer based FS Exam?

Why don't you let us know. Unless there are individuals who served as beta tester, no one has yet taken the computer exam.

A more important question is where you will take the exam and within what timeframe window?

Paul in PA

The computer based FS and FE exams started in January of this year.
The nice thing now is there are no longer just one or two set dates a year for the exam. You can take the exam almost year round now.

You register with NCEES and then schedule a date with a testing center. If you don't pass on your first attempt you can study some more and re-take the exam a month or two later instead of having to wait a full year.

I'll post how it goes after I take it.

Computer Based FS Prctice Exam Link

http://ncees.org/exams/study-materials/

NCEES says you will get results 10 days after the exam.

Beaver, what state are you in?

Did you need state approval to sit for the FS?

Paul in PA

Computer Based FS Prctice Exam Link

Thanks for the link Paul. Some how I missed that.

I'm in Nebraska and actually applied with the board to take the FS last year. I didn't think I had studied enough and decided to wait a year to take the exam. My application from last year is still good. So if I pass the FS in May I won't have to re-apply.

As I understand it from now on you have to take and pass the FS first. You then apply to the board after you have passed your exam.

NCEES Examinee Guide

I should of started my studying by reading this guide.

That document answers both my questions. Looks like you are able to go back and review your answers before finally committing to them. :-$

Thanks Paul

NCEES Examinee Guide

I just took the FS this past weekend and the FE is scheduled for later in the year. I wish I would have taken these when I finished college until waiting now but working construction I didn't think it would help and now with this new job I'm expected to excel. The people I've talked to that took the test prior to January said that 95% of the exam was math based. I studied every question in the books I've saved from college and basically did every problem at the end of each chapter. This didn't help. I start the test and about 60% of the exam is based on definitions for everything imaginable. I only had one of each of traverse adj, area by coordinates, resection, etc. I was not prepared for the definitions and I'm afraid I didn't do well unless it's weighted more towards calculations. There were about 5 derivative questions and about 5 flow chart questions. I'm actually typing up an email to an old friend from college who just scheduled his as well and going through what I can remember.
If you understand the basics of TRIG you are golden for the math parts but my exam relied heavily on definitions for GIS, law, etc.

NCEES Examinee Guide

Thanks for the tips. I was under the assumption as well that it is 95% math. I'll be sure to study up on some other stuff too.

NCEES Examinee Guide

I won't be taking the exam, but I'm curious about the style of the multiple choice questions. My company (Esri) started 'certification' exams a few years ago. They are also proctored by Pearson VUE. Anyway, I have heard that the multiple-choice answers usually have at least one choice (besides the correct answer) that is *almost* correct. This can make guessing harder if you don't already know the correct answer.

I wondered if you felt like the definition questions were in a similar style.

Thanks,
Melita

NCEES Examinee Guide

I cannot comment on the new exam format, but when I took the FS a few years ago this was the case. There would often be a couple of "correct" answers, with one being the best. Additionally, where calculations were involved, it seemed there was often an answer that would reflect a common mistake, in addition to the correct answer.

NCEES Examinee Guide

I didn't feel that the definitions answers were similar. If you knew the definition you knew the correct choice. As for the math examples, the ones I had and with the practice exam if you don't do all of the steps they somehow "know" and when you get an answer and you see that answer you automatically think it's correct without working down. Such as precision they ask what does it close to either in .xxft or 1:xxxx.. And I know in those calcs you can just get down to a decimal number and think it's right but forget to do the sqrt(x^2 + y^2) and divide by 1 to get the 1:xxxx stuff like that.

Some answers you can deduct because they are just wayyyyy out there so that helps reduce. I remember one of the questions was why do you take temperature and atmospheric pressure when using an EDM and an answer was "Because my boss told me to do so". It's pretty straight forward but I would suggest more reading on how everything is processed for surveying.

NCEES Examinee Guide

:good:

Was It A Six Hour Exam?

From those who have taken the new exam?

Paul in PA

Was It A Six Hour Exam?

Yes, 110 questions and a 25 minute break after the first 55 questions.

Was It A Six Hour Exam?

You have to complete the first half of the exam before the break. You cannot carry over questions from the first half of exam to the second, correct? That is the way I understand it. There are always tricks to taking multiple choice exams but the NCEES develops and monitors questions very strictly and is very conscious of double answers, geographic bias, etc. Sure they use many types of distractors in developing the answers to questions and they also utilize statistical analysis of each and every question to determine their performance. I'm glad that I passed my exams years ago.

Was It A Six Hour Exam?

Correct. After the 55 questions you were allowed on break. Then when you came back a whole new set of questions appeared and you were unable to go back to old questions.

NCEES Examinee Guide

I also just took the exam and failed. What upsets me most about the new computer test was that the proctor was no help if you had a question. I ran out of time during the tutorial because I thought I was in the wrong exam when the FE supplemental questions came up. When I asked the proctor he had no idea and had to leave and ask someone else, shortly after he gave me the answer my tutorial ended but I had not finished. Everything is timed. There were other things that went wrong… I assumed the test center should have the rules, apparently that’s not the case. You need to remember everything.

Yes, it was a hard exam. I took the practice computer based exam, passed, I also took others passed and still felt unprepared…

NCEES Examinee Guide

Same here. I asked for help because the FE reference material was displayed and she had me exit out of everything and then it started the FS exam. I'm not sure how everything was weighted and if it was even a fair exam. They score you on a 15 point basis for each segment of the exam. Flying colors on mathematics, survey computations, computer calculations, business procedures and grammar. But, that was not enough for the rest of the exam.

I talked to a few people that took the new exams since January and they said they had the same results with fail and not knowing what to expect.

It's upsetting feeling confident going in and then coming out ashamed because you felt you weren't prepared right. The practice exams and their criteria content did not fit from the website.

Pre computer based exams I was told 90% math for the FS and then for the PS it's based more on Law and survey procedures. Seems now they do a 50/50 which is fine but would of been nice to know going in instead of expecting what was on their criteria.

NCEES Examinee Guide

I am sorry you had a similar experience. I actually sent a complaint to NCEES ,unfortunately they don't seem to care. I suggest if this is happening to others that they also send a complaint. For me, it put me on edge from the beginning and created doubt because I did not know what I missed…whether or not it was why I failed I can’t say. I know it was a hard test. So here is another question…where are the review/prep courses? Not sure about you but I am here in the Northwest and finding a course I can attend on weekends is impossible. The material covered is all over the place…I actually had questions about types of rocks…Shale is what type of rock? Only about 3 questions but still that’s 3 questions. Don’t feel bad, you tried.

NCEES Examinee Guide

I'm attempting to resurrect this thread in hopes of getting other test taker's experiences with the CBT FS exam. It has been a while since I have taken my surveying courses (preoccupied with another career) am trying to study the material for the FS exam.

All the review books and material is tailored to the older style written exam which includes subject matter that from my understanding has been eliminated (such as astronomic observations). Are there any updated references or study material for the new CBT exam?

AStopper mentioned that there were a lot of definitions being asked. Is that the consensus from other test takers also? I wonder how different each test is (since its generated on a computer).

Thank you in advance for any help!