Free NCEES PS Practice Test
This free NCEES PS practice test has 50 original, unofficial questions with worked solutions across all five knowledge areas on the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam specification used before July 2027, and there's no signup. Every question is also tagged to the specification that takes effect in July 2027, so you can see where it maps if your exam falls after the change.
Practice questions
Legal Principles (Questions 1–11)
Question 1
Applying the traditional priority-of-calls rule reflected in the cited sources, a 1958 deed's third call reads "North 210.00 feet to an iron pipe." You find an undisturbed iron pipe that matches the deed's description. Title records and a 1958 survey show it was set for this conveyance. It sits 213.40 ft from the previous corner along the called bearing, and no other evidence conflicts. Where is the corner?
Answer and explanation, Question 1
Answer: A. At the pipe, 213.40 ft along the line.
When an original, undisturbed monument that the deed calls for disagrees with the deed's distance, the monument controls. The distance was the original surveyor's attempt to describe where the pipe went; the pipe is where the parties actually put the corner. That only works because the facts prove this is the called-for, original pipe.
Why the other choices miss: B: Treats the measurement as more important than the monument it describes. C: No rule splits the difference between a monument and a distance. D: This is a question about where the title line is, not about possession or encroachment.
If the pipe couldn't be tied to the original conveyance, it wouldn't carry this weight. Courts in each state apply this rule through their own case law.
Source: California Code of Civil Procedure § 2077 (rules for construing descriptions), Rules One–Three; BLM, The Basics of Boundary Law Study Guide, pp. 17–18 (monuments prevail over measurements)
How to use this test: Work each question before you open its answer. For exam pace, give yourself 180 minutes for all 50. The real exam gives you 6 hours of testing time for 100 questions, or 3.6 minutes a question (NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026, p. 16). Untimed is fine for a first pass. Keep the free NCEES PS Reference Handbook open as you work, since that's what you'll have on screen on exam day. Scoring rules and the answer key follow Question 50.
Question 2
Applying the traditional priority-of-calls rule reflected in the cited sources, a description's bearings and distances close mathematically and enclose 1.87 acres. It ends "containing 2.00 acres, more or less." No monuments are called for or found. What controls the boundary?
Answer and explanation, Question 2
Answer: B. The bearings and distances.
Area is the weakest element in a description. It's a result calculated from the lines, not something the parties laid out on the ground, and "more or less" signals it's an estimate. With no monuments in play, the lines and angles control and the 1.87-acre result stands.
Why the other choices miss: A: Puts area above lines, which reverses the usual order. C: There's no general rule favoring whichever reading gives more land. D: A description that closes and can be located on the ground isn't void just because its acreage call is off.
Source: California Code of Civil Procedure § 2077 (rules for construing descriptions), Rule Three; BLM, The Basics of Boundary Law Study Guide, p. 12 (priority of calls)
Question 3
Under the common-law accretion rule described in Nebraska v. Iowa, a river slowly and imperceptibly deposits sediment over 25 years along a riverfront lot, building a 30-ft strip of new dry land. Who generally owns the new strip?
Answer and explanation, Question 3
Answer: B. The owner of the riverfront lot.
Slow, imperceptible buildup is accretion. Under the accretion rule, the riparian owner's boundary keeps following the water, so the new land belongs to the riverfront lot.
Why the other choices miss: A: The riverbed owner keeps land exposed by a sudden change (avulsion), not by gradual accretion. C: The opposite owner loses land to erosion in this situation; they don't gain the deposit. D: Under the cited common-law rule, a decree is not what creates the gradual-accretion change described here.
Navigability and state law affect details such as who owns the bed. The gradual-versus-sudden distinction is the core rule.
Source: Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1892), accretion vs. avulsion rule
Question 4
Which two statements match the common-law water-boundary rules described by the U.S. Supreme Court in Stop the Beach Renourishment (2010)?
Select two. Both, and only both, must be chosen to score.
Answer and explanation, Question 4
Answer: A and C.
Gradual changes (accretion, where material is deposited, and reliction, where water slowly recedes) move the boundary and give the upland owner the new land. A sudden change (avulsion) doesn't move the boundary; it stays at the pre-event line.
Why the other choices miss: B: Reverses the avulsion rule. Land suddenly exposed seaward of the old line belongs to the owner of the submerged land, usually the state. D: Ignores avulsion.
Source: Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, 560 U.S. 702 (2010), opinion Part I (summarized in the syllabus); Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1892), accretion vs. avulsion rule
Question 5
Your client's fence has enclosed a 12-ft strip of adjoining U.S. Forest Service land openly and continuously for 31 years. The client asks whether title to the strip has passed by adverse possession. What's the best answer?
Answer and explanation, Question 5
Answer: C. No; adverse possession can't be the basis of a quiet-title suit against the United States.
The federal Quiet Title Act says nothing in it permits suits against the United States based on adverse possession. However long the fence has stood, adverse possession cannot be the basis of the quiet-title claim described here.
Why the other choices miss: A, B, D: All apply private-land adverse possession thinking to land owned by the federal government.
Many states also bar adverse possession of state or public land. California, for example, says possession of land owned by the state or any public entity never ripens into title.
Source: 28 U.S.C. § 2409a (Quiet Title Act), § 2409a(n); California Civil Code § 1007
Question 6
For this practice item, apply the traditional junior/senior-rights principle reflected in the cited source. A parent tract's south line is recorded as 520.00 ft. Between the undisputed original corners, you measure 516.48 ft. The common owner first deeded "the East 260.00 feet" to Parker. A year later, the owner deeded "the West 260.00 feet" to Quinn. Nothing else bears on the line. How wide is Quinn's parcel along the south line, in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 6
Answer: 256.48 ft. Any entry that rounds to 256.48 counts.
Parker's deed came first, so it's senior and gets its full 260.00 ft. Quinn's later (junior) deed can only convey what the owner still had: 516.48 − 260.00 = 256.48 ft. The junior parcel absorbs the 3.52-ft shortage.
Common wrong answers: 258.24: Splits the shortage equally, which is the approach for parcels created at the same time, not one after another. 260.00: Ignores the shortage and creates a 3.52-ft overlap on paper.
Recording statutes, possession, and other evidence can change who is senior in a real case. This question removes those complications on purpose.
Source: BLM, The Basics of Boundary Law Study Guide, pp. 7, 10, 15 (senior and junior rights)
Question 7
For this practice item, apply the simultaneous-conveyance proration rule reflected in the cited cases. A recorded plat shows Block 4 with Lots 1 through 4, each 50.00 ft wide, for a 200.00-ft block. Lot 1 is westmost. You find the original block-corner monuments 201.20 ft apart. Every lot is dimensioned on the plat, and no original lot corners or other evidence survive. How far from the west block monument is the line between Lots 3 and 4, in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 7
Answer: 150.90 ft. Any entry that rounds to 150.90 counts.
Lots created by one plat are created at the same moment, so none is senior to another. The 1.20-ft excess is shared in proportion to the record widths: each lot gets 50.00 × 201.20 / 200.00 = 50.30 ft. The Lot 3–4 line is 3 × 50.30 = 150.90 ft from the west monument.
Common wrong answers: 150.00: Uses record distances from one end and dumps all the excess into Lot 4. 151.20: Gives all the excess to the first three lots.
The answer changes if a lot is shown without a dimension (that remainder lot usually takes the excess or shortage) or if original lot corners are found. Courts reach these results through state case law.
Source: Illinois Supreme Court, 56 Ill. 399 (pro rata division of a block deficiency); Tolson v. Southwestern Improvement Ass'n (Ark. 1911)
Question 8
A natural-gas utility holds a 30-ft pipeline easement across a farm, granted by a recorded deed. The utility owns no land that the easement serves. How is this easement best classified?
Answer and explanation, Question 8
Answer: B. In gross.
An easement in gross benefits a person or company, not a neighboring parcel. An appurtenant easement needs a dominant parcel that it serves. Here the utility holds the right for its business and owns no benefited land, so it's in gross.
Why the other choices miss: A: There's no dominant parcel. C: Prescriptive easements arise from long use, not a recorded grant. D: A covenant restricts how land is used; it doesn't grant a right to put a pipeline across it.
Source: California Civil Code § 802 (servitudes held "not attached to land"); Moylan v. Dykes, 181 Cal. App. 3d 561 (1986) (easement in gross is not attached to particular land)
Question 9
Retracing a section line, you recover the original, undisturbed quarter-section stone with its bearing trees. It's 41 ft north of the midpoint between the two existing original section corners. What controls?
Answer and explanation, Question 9
Answer: A. The original stone.
Federal law says the corners marked in the returned original surveys are the proper corners. A recovered original corner stays where it is, even if the original surveyor didn't place it exactly at the midpoint. The "equidistant" rule applies to corners that weren't marked in the original survey.
Why the other choices miss: B, C, D: Each replaces a proven original corner with a computed position, which moves the land everyone has relied on since the original survey.
Source: 43 U.S.C. § 752 (boundaries and contents of public lands), paragraph First
Question 10
The original wood post and bearing trees for a section corner are gone. A 1962 county surveyor's record ties a stone set at the corner. Two long-time landowners show you a fence corner built on that stone, and the record ties and their testimony agree. How should you treat the corner?
Answer and explanation, Question 10
Answer: B. Obliterated; restore it at the position the evidence proves.
Under the 2009 BLM Manual, an obliterated corner is one where the original monument and accessories are gone, but the position was perpetuated or can be recovered by substantial evidence, such as reliable records and testimony. That's this case. Proportioning is only for lost corners, where no such evidence exists.
Why the other choices miss: A, C: Proportioning a corner whose position can be proven moves it away from where it belongs. D: Nothing of the original monument remains, so the original isn't in place.
Source: Florida DEP, Certified Corner Record Instruction Manual (quotes the 2009 BLM Manual definitions), Existent, Obliterated, Lost corner definitions; BLM, 1973-to-2009 Manual of Surveying Instructions crosswalk, §§ 6-17, 7-2, 7-16
Question 11
The official plat returns Section 14 as containing 643.20 acres and gives no separate contents for its quarter sections. Under 43 U.S.C. § 752, how many acres does the NE¼ contain? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 11
Answer: 160.80 acres. Any entry that rounds to 160.80 counts.
When a quarter section's contents weren't returned, the statute holds it to contain one-fourth of the section's returned contents: 643.20 ÷ 4 = 160.80 acres.
Common wrong answers: 160.00: Uses the nominal quarter section instead of one-fourth of the returned contents.
Source: 43 U.S.C. § 752 (boundaries and contents of public lands), paragraph Third
Professional Survey Practices (Questions 12–24)
Question 12
A closed traverse has a perimeter of 2,450.36 ft. The misclosure in latitude is −0.12 ft and in departure is +0.09 ft. What is the relative precision? Enter the denominator of 1:x, rounded to the nearest 100.
Answer and explanation, Question 12
Answer: 1:16,300. Any entry that rounds to 16,300 counts.
Linear misclosure = √(0.12² + 0.09²) = 0.15 ft. Precision = 2,450.36 ÷ 0.15 = 16,336, or 1:16,300.
Common wrong answers: 11,700: Adds the two misclosures (0.21 ft) instead of combining them as a vector. 20,400: Uses only the latitude misclosure.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 13
A parcel's corners, in order around the boundary, have these coordinates (N, E): (1000.00, 1000.00), (1000.00, 1420.00), (1310.00, 1500.00), (1350.00, 1060.00). What is the area in acres? Round to three decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 13
Answer: 3.290 acres. Any entry that rounds to 3.290 counts.
Use the coordinate (cross-multiplication) method: area = ½ |Σ (Eᵢ × Nᵢ₊₁ − Eᵢ₊₁ × Nᵢ)|. The sum comes to 286,600, so the area is 143,300 sq ft. Divide by 43,560: 3.290 acres.
Common wrong answers: 6.580: Forgets to halve the cross-product sum. A negative result: Lists the points the other way around; take the absolute value.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 14
Point 1 is at N 5000.00, E 5000.00. Point 2 is at N 4612.40, E 5298.65. What are the bearing and distance from Point 1 to Point 2?
Answer and explanation, Question 14
Answer: A. S 37°36′53″ E, 489.31 ft.
ΔN = −387.60 (south) and ΔE = +298.65 (east). Bearing angle = arctan(298.65 ÷ 387.60) = 37°36′53″, so S 37°36′53″ E. Distance = √(387.60² + 298.65²) = 489.31 ft.
Why the other choices miss: B: Inverts the ratio (ΔN over ΔE). C: The back bearing, from Point 2 to Point 1. D: Adds the coordinate differences instead of using the Pythagorean theorem.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 15
A measured horizontal ground distance is 1,500.00 ft. The mean ellipsoid height of the line is 1,200 ft, the grid scale factor is 0.99994, and you use R = 20,906,000 ft for the earth's radius. What is the grid distance in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 15
Answer: 1,499.82 ft. Any entry that rounds to 1,499.82 counts.
Elevation factor = R ÷ (R + h) = 20,906,000 ÷ 20,907,200 = 0.9999426. Combined factor = 0.99994 × 0.9999426 = 0.9998826. Grid distance = 1,500.00 × 0.9998826 = 1,499.82 ft.
Common wrong answers: 1,499.91: Applies only the grid scale factor. 1,500.18: Divides by the combined factor, which is the grid-to-ground direction.
Use ellipsoid height in the elevation factor, not orthometric height (elevation).
Source: Penn State GEOG 862, Lesson 6: Elevation Factor, R/(R + h) and combined factor
Question 16
A static GNSS session gives an ellipsoid height h = 182.413 m. The geoid model gives a geoid height N = −31.207 m at the point. What is the orthometric height H in meters? Round to three decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 16
Answer: 213.620 m. Any entry that rounds to 213.620 counts.
H = h − N = 182.413 − (−31.207) = 213.620 m. In the conterminous U.S., the geoid lies below the ellipsoid, so N is negative and the orthometric height is larger than the ellipsoid height.
Common wrong answers: 151.206: Adds N instead of subtracting it. That's the most common sign error in GNSS heights.
This question uses meters because NGS publishes geoid heights in meters; convert at the end if your project is in feet.
Source: Roman & Weston (NGS), "Beyond GEOID12," FIG Working Week 2011, Figure 1, H = h − N; NGS, About OPUS, sample solution report (ORTHO HGT computed using GEOID18)
Question 17
You upload a 3-hour dual-frequency static GPS file to NGS's Online Positioning User Service (OPUS). How will it be processed?
Answer and explanation, Question 17
Answer: B. As a static (OPUS-S) solution.
OPUS accepts static files from 15 minutes to 48 hours. Files of 2 to 48 hours are processed with static software; files from 15 minutes to 2 hours use rapid-static. A 3-hour file goes to static processing.
Why the other choices miss: A: Rapid-static handles files under 2 hours. C: Four hours is the minimum for publicly sharing a solution (OPUS Share), not for processing. D: OPUS processes static data, not real-time corrections.
Source: NGS, About OPUS, Upload requirements; How does OPUS processing work?
Question 18
For a PLSS retracement, you want images of the original federal land patents for the township. Where should you look first?
Answer and explanation, Question 18
Answer: B. The BLM General Land Office Records website.
BLM's General Land Office Records site provides access to federal land conveyance records for the public land states, including images of land title records.
Why the other choices miss: A: Assessor data is for taxation and isn't a federal title record. C: FEMA's center publishes flood maps. D: NGS datasheets describe geodetic control marks.
Source: BLM General Land Office Records
Question 19
A client selected Table A item 1 on an ALTA/NSPS survey under the 2021 standards. One corner falls in a busy traffic lane, where a monument would be destroyed. Which approach complies?
Answer and explanation, Question 19
Answer: B. Set a reference monument or witness to the corner.
Table A item 1 asks for monuments at all major corners, and it expressly allows "a reference monument or witness to the corner" instead. That covers corners where a monument at the true position wouldn't survive.
Why the other choices miss: A, C: Item 1 doesn't exempt corners just because they're hard to mark. D: An unexplained offset monument misleads anyone who later finds it.
Edition check: The exam supplies and scores against the 2021 ALTA/NSPS standards.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), Table A, item 1
Question 20
A legacy State Plane (SPCS 83) easting is 2,000,000.00 U.S. survey feet. What is it in international feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 20
Answer: 2,000,004.00 international ft. Any entry that rounds to 2,000,004.00 counts.
One U.S. survey foot = 1200/3937 m; one international foot = 0.3048 m exactly. Multiply: 2,000,000.00 × (1200/3937) ÷ 0.3048 = 2,000,004.00. The two feet differ by about 2 parts per million. That's trivial over a short line but about 4 ft on a coordinate this large.
Common wrong answers: 2,000,000.00: Treats the two feet as identical, which is how GIS layers end up shifted by several feet.
NIST and NOAA deprecated the U.S. survey foot after December 31, 2022. It remains in use for legacy coordinate systems such as SPCS 83 in states that adopted it.
Source: NIST/NOAA, Deprecation of the U.S. Survey Foot, 85 FR 62698 (Oct. 5, 2020), Summary; Table 1
Question 21
Under Section 6.B of the 2021 ALTA/NSPS standards, which two must the plat show?
Select two. Both, and only both, must be chosen to score.
Answer and explanation, Question 21
Answer: A and C.
Section 6.B.iii requires showing a significantly different measured dimension alongside the record dimension, clearly distinguished from it. Section 6.B.iv requires the basis of bearings and any difference from the record basis.
Why the other choices miss: B: Dropping record dimensions hides the comparison a title company needs. D: The standard reverses this. Dimensions must be horizontal ground dimensions unless otherwise noted.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), § 6.B.iii–iv
Question 22
A total station measures a slope distance of 412.36 ft at a zenith angle of 86°14′20″. What is the horizontal distance in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 22
Answer: 411.47 ft. Any entry that rounds to 411.47 counts.
With a zenith angle, horizontal distance = slope distance × sin(zenith) = 412.36 × sin(86°14′20″) = 411.47 ft.
Common wrong answers: 27.05: Uses cosine, which gives the vertical difference. 412.36: Skips the reduction.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 23
A 12.50-acre tract is being subdivided. Assume 15% of the gross area goes to right-of-way and open space, and the minimum lot size is 9,000 sq ft. Ignoring lot shape, what is the maximum number of whole lots?
Answer and explanation, Question 23
Answer: 51 lots. Whole number only.
Gross area = 12.50 × 43,560 = 544,500 sq ft. Net = 544,500 × 0.85 = 462,825 sq ft. 462,825 ÷ 9,000 = 51.4, so 51 whole lots.
Common wrong answers: 60: Skips the 15% deduction. 52: Rounds 51.4 up, which would leave a lot under the minimum size.
The 15% deduction and lot size are made up for practice. Real numbers come from the local zoning and subdivision ordinances.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 24
Each full 100-ft tape length has an independent random error of ±0.010 ft. What random error do you expect in a 1,600-ft line made of 16 full tape lengths? Round to three decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 24
Answer: ±0.040 ft. Any entry that rounds to 0.040 counts.
Independent random errors add as the square root of the sum of squares: 0.010 × √16 = ±0.040 ft.
Common wrong answers: 0.160: Adds the errors directly, which is how systematic errors accumulate, not random ones.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Standards and Specifications (Questions 25–29)
Question 25
Using the feet value printed in Section 3.E.v of the 2021 ALTA/NSPS standards, what is the maximum allowable relative positional precision between two adjacent corners 400.00 ft apart? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 25
Answer: 0.09 ft. Any entry that rounds to 0.09 counts.
The standard allows 2 cm (0.07 ft) plus 50 parts per million of the direct distance between the two corners: 0.07 + 0.000050 × 400.00 = 0.07 + 0.02 = 0.09 ft. That's at the 95% confidence level.
Common wrong answers: 0.07: Leaves out the 50 ppm part. 0.02: Uses only the 50 ppm part.
2 cm is actually 0.066 ft, so a fully metric computation gives about 0.086 ft. The question specifies the printed 0.07 ft. Section 3.E.iii also stresses that a small relative positional precision doesn't make a corner correct if the boundary law behind it is wrong.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), § 3.E.i–v
Question 26
A client selects Table A item 3 on a 2021 ALTA/NSPS survey. How is the flood zone determined?
Answer and explanation, Question 26
Answer: B. By scaled map location and graphic plotting only.
Table A item 3 calls for the flood zone classification "depicted by scaled map location and graphic plotting only," with proper annotation from the federal flood insurance rate map or state or local equivalent. It's a map reading, not an elevation survey.
Why the other choices miss: A, C: Elevation work is a separate service, such as an Elevation Certificate. D: Item 3 applies whether or not a map amendment exists.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), Table A, item 3
Question 27
Under Section 6.B.ii of the 2021 ALTA/NSPS standards, which two statements are correct?
Select two. Both, and only both, must be chosen to score.
Answer and explanation, Question 27
Answer: A and C.
Section 6.B.ii discourages new descriptions except when the surveyor and insurer think one is necessary, and especially discourages them for platted lots. When one is prepared (other than for an original survey), the plat must note whether it describes the same real estate as the record description and, if not, how it differs.
Why the other choices miss: B: New descriptions are the exception, not the rule. D: Section 6.B.i still requires the current record description on the plat.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), § 6.B.i–ii
Question 28
A house is in Zone A with no base flood elevation (BFE). The owner wants an Elevation Certificate to document floodplain-management compliance, not to support a Letter of Map Amendment. Under the 2023 instructions, who may provide the compliance information in Section E?
Answer and explanation, Question 28
Answer: B. A local floodplain official, the owner, or the owner's authorized representative.
For Zones AO, AR/AO, and A without a BFE, the instructions let a local floodplain management official, the owner, or the owner's authorized representative provide compliance information in Section E. Certified elevations are required if the certificate will support a LOMA, CLOMA, LOMR-F, or CLOMR-F request.
Why the other choices miss: A: That's the rule for Section C elevations, not Section E in these zones. C: FEMA doesn't complete Elevation Certificates. D: Section E exists specifically for Zone AO and Zone A compliance.
Source: FEMA Elevation Certificate and Instructions, 2023 edition (FF-206-FY-22-152, 8/23), Instructions p. 1
Question 29
An Elevation Certificate was completed using construction drawings before the building was built. Under the 2023 form, what happens when construction is finished?
Answer and explanation, Question 29
Answer: B. A new Elevation Certificate is required.
Section C of the form says a new Elevation Certificate will be required when construction of the building is complete. A certificate based on drawings describes a plan, not the finished building.
Why the other choices miss: A: The no-expiration rule applies to certificates completed for the finished building, and even those need redoing after physical changes that affect key items. C: Only an authorized certifier can complete the survey sections. D: The printed expiration date applies to the blank form, not to completed certificates.
A completed certificate doesn't expire unless a physical change to the building invalidates information in Items A8 or A9 or Sections C, E, or H.
Source: FEMA Elevation Certificate and Instructions, 2023 edition (FF-206-FY-22-152, 8/23), Form p. 1 and Section C
Business Practices (Questions 30–36)
Question 30
A developer asks you to seal a boundary plat prepared by an unlicensed technician you never supervised. You review it closely, and it looks right. Under the professional-conduct rules cited below, what should you do?
Answer and explanation, Question 30
Answer: B. Decline; you may seal only work prepared under your responsible charge.
The cited professional-conduct rules bar licensees from sealing documents not prepared under their responsible charge, meaning direct control and personal supervision of the work. Reviewing finished work afterward isn't responsible charge.
Why the other choices miss: A, C, D: A review, a disclaimer, or an indemnity agreement doesn't create responsible charge.
Your own board's rules govern. Check the version your board has adopted.
Source: New Mexico Admin. Code 16.39.8.9, Rules of Professional Conduct; 21 NCAC 56 .0701, Rules of Professional Conduct (North Carolina), (d)
Question 31
Under the cited New Mexico professional-conduct rule, a client hires you to survey a disputed line and you learn your brother-in-law owns the adjoining parcel. What should you do first?
Answer and explanation, Question 31
Answer: A. Disclose the relationship to the client before going further.
The cited rule requires licensees to disclose known or potential conflicts of interest, including circumstances that could appear to influence their judgment. A relative owning the adjoining parcel in a dispute is exactly that.
Why the other choices miss: B: Personal confidence in your objectivity doesn't replace disclosure. C: The rules require disclosure, not a blanket refusal. D: Hiding information makes the conflict worse.
Source: New Mexico Admin. Code 16.39.8.9, Rules of Professional Conduct
Question 32
A survey crew costs $185 per hour and its equipment $45 per hour. The job takes 26 hours. Add 30% overhead to the direct cost, then add 12% profit to that total. What is the fee to the nearest dollar?
Answer and explanation, Question 32
Answer: $8,707. Any entry that rounds to 8,707 counts.
Direct cost = ($185 + $45) × 26 = $5,980. With overhead: $5,980 × 1.30 = $7,774. With profit: $7,774 × 1.12 = $8,706.88, or $8,707.
Common wrong answers: $8,492: Adds 42% in one step instead of applying profit on top of overhead. $6,698: Skips overhead.
The rates are made up for practice.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 33
A lender orders an ALTA/NSPS survey of a marina with leased boat slips. Under Section 2 of the 2021 standards, what should happen before work starts?
Answer and explanation, Question 33
Answer: B. The request specifies the survey and Table A items, and the unusual scope is agreed in writing first.
Section 2 requires the request to say an ALTA/NSPS survey is required and which Table A items are included. It names marinas and leases as examples of properties whose scope should be discussed with the client, lender, and insurer and agreed in writing before work begins.
Why the other choices miss: A: Scope belongs before fieldwork. C: The insurer isn't responsible for survey costs unless it agrees in writing. D: The standards flag these properties precisely because they fall outside the normal scope.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), § 2
Question 34
Table A item 11(b) is selected on a 2021 ALTA/NSPS survey. You submit an 811 locate request, but the utilities don't respond. What does the Table A note to item 11 require?
Answer and explanation, Question 34
Answer: B. Note on the plat how the incomplete response affected your assessment.
The note to item 11 recognizes that 811 requests from surveyors may be ignored or answered incompletely, and says the surveyor must note on the plat how that affected the utility assessment. It also says that without excavation, underground features can't be depicted accurately, completely, and reliably.
Why the other choices miss: A: Guessing creates exactly the liability the note is meant to avoid. C: Observed evidence of utilities is still required under Section 5.E.iv. D: The standard itself says exact underground locations can't be guaranteed without excavation.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), Table A, item 11 and note
Question 35
Under the cited New Mexico professional-conduct rule, your firm is asked to perform a hydrographic survey, but you have never performed hydrographic work and no one on staff is qualified for that work. What is the best response?
Answer and explanation, Question 35
Answer: B. Limit your services to phases you are qualified to perform and have a properly qualified licensee perform the other phases.
The cited rule says a licensee should undertake assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the specific technical fields involved. It also allows an assignment that reaches beyond the licensee's own qualifications when the licensee limits personal services to qualified phases and the other phases are performed by qualified licensees.
Why the other choices miss: A: Learning on the client's project does not satisfy the cited qualification rule. C: Later review does not turn unqualified work into qualified professional service. D: A client waiver does not remove the licensee's professional duty.
Your own licensing board's rules govern your practice. This item tests the cited rule, not a claim that every jurisdiction uses identical wording.
Source: New Mexico Admin. Code 16.39.8.9, Rules of Professional Conduct, §16.39.8.9(B)(1), (3)
Question 36
Table A item 19, professional liability insurance, is selected on a 2021 ALTA/NSPS survey. How is it handled?
Answer and explanation, Question 36
Answer: B. A certificate is furnished on request; it isn't addressed on the face of the plat.
Item 19 covers a minimum professional liability policy in effect during the contract. The certificate of insurance is furnished on request, and the item "shall not be addressed on the face of the plat or map."
Why the other choices miss: A, C: The item expressly keeps insurance off the plat. D: Table A items are optional and negotiated.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), Table A, item 19
Areas of Practice (Questions 37–50)
Question 37
Unless physical access is restricted, Section 5.C.ii of the 2021 ALTA/NSPS standards requires locating walls, buildings, fences, and other improvements within what distance of each side of the boundary lines?
Answer and explanation, Question 37
Answer: B. 5 ft.
Section 5.C.ii sets five feet on each side of the boundary lines. Where access within five feet is restricted, Section 6.B.xi requires a note identifying those areas.
Why the other choices miss: C: Ten feet is the distance for utility poles in Section 5.E.iv. A, D: Not distances used in this section.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), §§ 5.C.ii, 5.E.iv, 6.B.xi
Question 38
The surveyed property's title line follows a river. Under Section 6.B.vi of the 2021 ALTA/NSPS standards, which two items must the plat note include?
Select two. Both, and only both, must be chosen to score.
Answer and explanation, Question 38
Answer: A and C.
Section 6.B.vi requires a note with the date the boundary was measured, which attribute of the water feature was located, and a caveat that the boundary may change due to natural causes and may or may not be the actual limit of title.
Why the other choices miss: B: The required caveat says the opposite. D: Flood flow isn't part of the boundary note.
Source: ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy), § 6.B.vi
Question 39
You run a Second-Order, Class II leveling section. The shortest one-way length of the section is 2.25 km. What is the maximum allowable section misclosure in millimeters? Round to one decimal place.
Answer and explanation, Question 39
Answer: 12.0 mm. Any entry that rounds to 12.0 counts.
FGCS allows 8 mm × √D for Second-Order, Class II, where D is the shortest one-way length of the section in kilometers: 8 × √2.25 = 8 × 1.5 = 12.0 mm.
Common wrong answers: 9.0: Uses the Second-Order, Class I constant (6 mm). 18.0: Uses the Third-Order constant (12 mm). 18.0 is also what you get by forgetting the square root (8 × 2.25).
Source: FGCS Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems, ver. 4.1 (2004), § 3.5, Field Procedures and Office Procedures tables, pp. 4–6
Question 40
Under the FGCS geodetic leveling specification, what is the maximum sight length for Second-Order, Class II leveling, unless the instrument maker recommends less?
Answer and explanation, Question 40
Answer: C. 70 m.
The Field Procedures table lists maximum sight lengths of 50, 60, 60, 70, and 90 m for First-Order Class I through Third-Order. Second-Order, Class II is 70 m.
Why the other choices miss: A: First-Order, Class I. B: First-Order, Class II and Second-Order, Class I. D: Third-Order.
Source: FGCS Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems, ver. 4.1 (2004), § 3.5, Field Procedures table, p. 4
Question 41
A map published at 1:1,200 is tested under the U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards. No more than 10% of tested well-defined points may be in error by more than what ground distance, in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 41
Answer: 3.33 ft. Any entry that rounds to 3.33 counts.
For publication scales larger than 1:20,000, the limit is 1/30 inch at map scale. 1/30 inch × 1,200 = 40 inches = 3.33 ft on the ground.
Common wrong answers: 2.00: Uses 1/50 inch, which applies to scales of 1:20,000 or smaller.
Question 42
A contour map with a 2-ft contour interval claims to meet the U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards. What is the vertical requirement?
Answer and explanation, Question 42
Answer: B. No more than 10% of tested elevations may be in error by more than 1 ft.
NMAS says no more than 10% of the elevations tested may be in error by more than one-half the contour interval. Half of 2 ft is 1 ft.
Why the other choices miss: A: NMAS allows up to 10% to exceed the limit. C: Uses the full interval. D: NMAS isn't stated as an RMSE; that's the approach of newer standards.
Question 43
An orthoimage is tested against 25 well-distributed checkpoints. RMSEx = RMSEy = 0.20 ft. Under the FGDC National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy (NSSDA), what is the horizontal accuracy at the 95% confidence level, in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 43
Answer: 0.49 ft. Any entry that rounds to 0.49 counts.
RMSEr = √(0.20² + 0.20²) = 0.283 ft. When RMSEx = RMSEy, NSSDA horizontal accuracy = 1.7308 × RMSEr = 1.7308 × 0.283 = 0.49 ft. (Equivalently, 2.4477 × 0.20 = 0.49 ft.)
Common wrong answers: 0.39: Uses the vertical factor 1.9600 on a single component. 0.28: Stops at RMSEr without converting to 95% confidence.
Report it as "Tested 0.49 ft horizontal accuracy at 95% confidence level."
Source: ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data, Edition 1 (2014), Annex B, Examples 5–6, pp. A17–A18 (NSSDA relationships)
Question 44
From a benchmark at elevation 742.18, you take a backsight of 4.62. The rod reading on the ground at a stake is 6.95. Design subgrade at the stake is 733.40. What goes on the stake?
Answer and explanation, Question 44
Answer: A. C 6.45.
Height of instrument = 742.18 + 4.62 = 746.80. Ground = 746.80 − 6.95 = 739.85. Ground is 739.85 − 733.40 = 6.45 ft above design, so it's a cut of 6.45.
Why the other choices miss: B: Right number, wrong direction. Ground above design means cut. C: Compares design with the benchmark elevation instead of the ground. D: Compares design with the height of instrument and forgets to subtract the ground rod reading.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 45
A circular curve has its PI at station 41+18.37, a deflection angle Δ = 32°30′00″, and radius R = 950.00 ft. Stations run along the curve. What is the station of the PT? Enter it in feet (for 41+18.37, enter 4118.37), rounded to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 45
Answer: 43+80.34. Any entry that rounds to 4,380.34 counts.
Tangent T = R tan(Δ/2) = 950.00 × tan 16°15′ = 276.90 ft. PC = 4,118.37 − 276.90 = 38+41.47. Curve length L = πRΔ/180 = 538.87 ft. PT = 3,841.47 + 538.87 = 43+80.34.
Common wrong answers: 4,395.27: Adds the tangent to the PI. 4,373.15: Adds the long chord (531.68 ft) instead of the arc length. 4,657.24: Adds the curve length to the PI instead of the PC.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 46
An equal-tangent sag vertical curve has g₁ = −2.00%, g₂ = +3.00%, and L = 400 ft. The PVI is at station 20+00, elevation 512.40. What is the elevation of the low point? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 46
Answer: 514.80 ft (at station 19+60). Any entry that rounds to 514.80 counts.
BVC is at 18+00, elevation 512.40 + 0.02 × 200 = 516.40. The rate of grade change r = (3.00 − (−2.00))% ÷ 400 ft. The low point is where the grade is zero: x = 2.00 × 400 ÷ 5.00 = 160 ft from the BVC, at 19+60. Elevation = 516.40 − 0.02 × 160 + (0.05 ÷ 400) × 160² ÷ 2 = 516.40 − 3.20 + 1.60 = 514.80.
Common wrong answers: 516.40: The BVC elevation. 512.40: The PVI elevation, which lies on the tangents, not on the curve.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 47
Two cross sections 50 ft apart have cut areas of 168 sq ft and 244 sq ft. Using the average end area method, what is the volume in cubic yards? Round to one decimal place.
Answer and explanation, Question 47
Answer: 381.5 CY. Any entry that rounds to 381.5 counts.
Volume = (168 + 244) ÷ 2 × 50 = 10,300 cu ft. Divide by 27: 381.5 CY.
Common wrong answers: 763.0: Forgets to average the two areas. 10,300: Leaves the answer in cubic feet.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 48
An interior north-south section line (not in the north or west tier of sections) has a record distance of 40.00 chains to the quarter corner and 40.00 chains beyond. Both section corners are existent and measure 5,283.10 ft apart. The quarter corner is lost. How far from the south section corner should it be restored, in feet? Round to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 48
Answer: 2,641.55 ft. Any entry that rounds to 2,641.55 counts.
A lost quarter corner on an interior section line is restored by single proportionate measurement between the two section corners. With equal record halves, it goes at the proportional midpoint: 5,283.10 ÷ 2 = 2,641.55 ft.
Common wrong answers: 2,640.00: Uses the record 40 chains from the south corner and pushes all of the excess north.
Single proportion applies here only because the corner is truly lost and the record distances are equal. Lines in the north and west tiers are handled differently.
Source: BLM, 1973-to-2009 Manual of Surveying Instructions crosswalk, § 7-16, single proportionate measurement; 43 U.S.C. § 752 (boundaries and contents of public lands)
Question 49
Two spot elevations, 101.6 and 104.2, are 80.0 ft apart on a uniform slope. How far from the 101.6 shot does the 103-ft contour cross the line? Round to one decimal place.
Answer and explanation, Question 49
Answer: 43.1 ft. Any entry that rounds to 43.1 counts.
Distance = (103.0 − 101.6) ÷ (104.2 − 101.6) × 80.0 = 1.4 ÷ 2.6 × 80.0 = 43.1 ft.
Common wrong answers: 36.9: Measures from the 104.2 shot instead. 40.0: Assumes the contour falls halfway.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs
Question 50
You measure the upstream invert of a newly laid storm pipe at elevation 512.34 ft and the downstream invert at 509.88 ft. The horizontal run between them is 246.0 ft. What is the pipe's as-built fall in percent? Enter the percent, rounded to two decimal places.
Answer and explanation, Question 50
Answer: 1.00%. Any entry that rounds to 1.00 counts.
The elevation drop is 512.34 − 509.88 = 2.46 ft. Divide by the horizontal run and convert to percent: 2.46 ÷ 246.0 × 100 = 1.00%.
Common wrong answer: 0.01: That's the decimal slope before multiplying by 100 to express it as a percent.
Source: Worked from the stated inputs.
Score your attempt
Give yourself one point for each question you got right before reading its explanation.
- Select two questions are all-or-nothing, the way NCEES scores every question. One wrong or missing choice scores zero.
- Enter a number questions count if your answer rounds to the key at the precision the question asks for.
- Your score is correct answers ÷ 50. Count unanswered questions separately, so you can tell "didn't know" from "ran out of time."
Answer key
| Question | Current area | July 2027 area | Format | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Select one | A |
| 2 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Select one | B |
| 3 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Select one | B |
| 4 | Legal Principles | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Select two | A and C |
| 5 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Select one | C |
| 6 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Enter a number | 256.48 ft |
| 7 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Enter a number | 150.90 ft |
| 8 | Legal Principles | Legal Principles | Select one | B |
| 9 | Legal Principles | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Select one | A |
| 10 | Legal Principles | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Select one | B |
| 11 | Legal Principles | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Enter a number | 160.80 acres |
| 12 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Enter a number | 1:16,300 |
| 13 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Enter a number | 3.290 acres |
| 14 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Select one | A |
| 15 | Professional Survey Practices | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 1,499.82 ft |
| 16 | Professional Survey Practices | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 213.620 m |
| 17 | Professional Survey Practices | Standards and Specifications | Select one | B |
| 18 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Select one | B |
| 19 | Professional Survey Practices | Standards and Specifications | Select one | B |
| 20 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Enter a number | 2,000,004.00 international ft |
| 21 | Professional Survey Practices | Standards and Specifications | Select two | A and C |
| 22 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Enter a number | 411.47 ft |
| 23 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Enter a number | 51 lots |
| 24 | Professional Survey Practices | Professional Survey Practices | Enter a number | ±0.040 ft |
| 25 | Standards and Specifications | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Enter a number | 0.09 ft |
| 26 | Standards and Specifications | Standards and Specifications | Select one | B |
| 27 | Standards and Specifications | Standards and Specifications | Select two | A and C |
| 28 | Standards and Specifications | Standards and Specifications | Select one | B |
| 29 | Standards and Specifications | Standards and Specifications | Select one | B |
| 30 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Select one | B |
| 31 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Select one | A |
| 32 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Enter a number | $8,707 |
| 33 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Select one | B |
| 34 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Select one | B |
| 35 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Select one | B |
| 36 | Business Practices | Business Practices | Select one | B |
| 37 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Select one | B |
| 38 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Select two | A and C |
| 39 | Areas of Practice | Standards and Specifications | Enter a number | 12.0 mm |
| 40 | Areas of Practice | Standards and Specifications | Select one | C |
| 41 | Areas of Practice | Standards and Specifications | Enter a number | 3.33 ft |
| 42 | Areas of Practice | Standards and Specifications | Select one | B |
| 43 | Areas of Practice | Standards and Specifications | Enter a number | 0.49 ft |
| 44 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Select one | A |
| 45 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 43+80.34 |
| 46 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 514.80 ft (at station 19+60) |
| 47 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 381.5 CY |
| 48 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | Enter a number | 2,641.55 ft |
| 49 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 43.1 ft |
| 50 | Areas of Practice | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | Enter a number | 1.00% |
Tally by knowledge area (exams before July 2027)
| Area | Questions | Your correct |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Principles | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | ___ of 11 |
| Professional Survey Practices | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 | ___ of 13 |
| Standards and Specifications | 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 | ___ of 5 |
| Business Practices | 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 | ___ of 7 |
| Areas of Practice | 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 | ___ of 14 |
Tally for exams in July 2027 or later
If your appointment is in July 2027 or later, use this table instead. It sorts the same 50 questions into the six new areas.
| Area | Questions | Your correct |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Survey Practices | 12, 13, 14, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24 | ___ of 8 |
| Standards and Specifications | 17, 19, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 | ___ of 13 |
| Business Practices | 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 | ___ of 6 |
| Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys | 15, 16, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50 | ___ of 8 |
| Legal Principles | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 | ___ of 7 |
| Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division) | 4, 9, 10, 11, 25, 37, 38, 48 | ___ of 8 |
Read it with one caution. These 50 questions were allocated to the current specification, so under the July 2027 ranges they over-sample Standards and Specifications and under-sample Legal Principles. If you're testing after the change, give legal principles extra practice beyond this set.
What your score means
Your percentage describes how you did on these 50 questions. It isn't an NCEES score, and it doesn't predict a pass. NCEES counts your correct answers, converts the count to a scaled score to adjust for differences between exam forms, and doesn't publish the passing score. There's no deduction for wrong answers, and some questions on the real exam are unscored pretest items you can't identify (NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026, pp. 11 and 14).
Each area here has 5 to 14 questions, so a miss points to a skill worth checking, not a measured weakness in the whole area. One rule carries straight to exam day: since wrong answers cost nothing, never leave a question blank.
Turn each miss into a fix
For every miss, and every lucky guess, write down the first step that went wrong. Fix that step, not the whole topic.
| What went wrong | What to do next | You've fixed it when |
|---|---|---|
| Picked the wrong evidence or rule | Say in one sentence which kind of evidence controls and why (monument, record, possession, proportion) | You can explain why the rule you first chose doesn't apply to these facts |
| Used the wrong edition or document | Check which standard and edition NCEES lists for your exam date, then find the provision in it | You can find it again in the supplied document in under two minutes |
| Sign, datum, or unit error | Write every input with its unit and reference surface (ground, ellipsoid, grid; survey foot or international foot) before you calculate | The units cancel to exactly what the question asks for |
| Missed a condition in the stem | Underline the detail that controls: "original," "undisturbed," "first deeded," "no BFE," "unless" | You can name the condition that changes the answer |
| Answered with a state-law habit | Separate the general principle from your state's statutes and cases | You can say what the general rule is and where your state differs |
| Too slow | Note where the time went, then repeat the same method on a fresh problem | The same setup takes noticeably less time |
A day later, rework each missed question cold. Then change one input and solve it again to check that you learned the method, not the answer.
What this practice test covers
NCEES publishes a question range for each knowledge area. We gave each area roughly half of its range. That's our editorial allocation, not an official weighting, and 50 questions can only sample each area.
| Current NCEES knowledge area | NCEES questions (of 100) | This test (of 50) | Question numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Principles | 18–27 | 11 | 1–11 |
| Professional Survey Practices | 22–33 | 13 | 12–24 |
| Standards and Specifications | 8–12 | 5 | 25–29 |
| Business Practices | 13–19 | 7 | 30–36 |
| Areas of Practice | 24–36 | 14 | 37–50 |
| Total | 100 | 50 |
Source: NCEES PS CBT exam specifications, effective January 1, 2019, pp. 1–3.
The set has 24 single-answer questions, 22 numeric-entry questions, and 4 select-two questions. Numeric entry is heavy on purpose: it's the alternative item type candidates practice least. Standards questions are keyed to the editions NCEES supplies on the exam. Legal questions teach general common-law and federal principles. Where a principle depends on state law, the explanation says so.
Which specification matches your test date?
Your appointment date decides which specification applies. If you test before July 2027, use the current specification. If you test in July 2027 or later, use the new one.
| Exams before July 2027 (effective Jan. 1, 2019) | Exams beginning July 2027 |
|---|---|
| Legal Principles: 18–27 | Professional Survey Practices: 20–30 |
| Professional Survey Practices: 22–33 | Standards and Specifications: 11–17 |
| Standards and Specifications: 8–12 | Business Practices: 6–9 |
| Business Practices: 13–19 | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys: 10–15 |
| Areas of Practice: 24–36 | Legal Principles: 23–35 |
| — | Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys (Boundary Division): 15–23 |
Sources: current specification and July 2027 specification.
Some things don't change. Both specifications describe a 100-question, computer-based exam with 7 hours of total time, closed book with an electronic reference, in U.S. Customary units. Both list the same supplied standards. What changes is the content organization. Boundary work becomes its own large division, legal principles grow, and business practices shrink.
Which ALTA/NSPS standards does the exam use?
The 2021 edition. Both the current and July 2027 PS specifications list the 2021 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys. NCEES scores standards-based questions against the editions on that list, and solutions based on other editions don't receive credit.
That matters because the 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards took effect February 23, 2026 for real-world surveys (ALTA, 2026 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements). If you do ALTA work, you may be using 2026 at the office and 2021 on the exam. Every ALTA question on this page is keyed to 2021.
The full supplied-standards list, the same in both specifications:
| Supplied on the exam | Edition |
|---|---|
| ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for Land Title Surveys | 2021 |
| FEMA Elevation Certificate and Instructions | 2023 |
| FGCS § 3.5, Geodetic Leveling (Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems) | 2004 |
| FGDC Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards | Parts 1–3: 1998; Part 4: 2002; Part 5: 2005 |
| United States National Map Accuracy Standards | 1947 |
Source: last page of each specification linked above. The NCEES PS Reference Handbook is also supplied.
Are these real NCEES questions?
No. Every question on this page is original and unofficial. We wrote each one from the published NCEES specifications and the source cited under it. None is a recalled, leaked, or reworded NCEES exam item. NCEES exams are confidential, and examinees agree not to disclose exam content (NCEES Examinee Guide, pp. 13 and 19).
How close is this to the real exam?
| Row label | NCEES PS exam | This practice test |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 100 | 50 |
| Time | 7-hour appointment: 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, 8-minute tutorial, 6 hours of exam time, and an optional 50-minute scheduled break | Untimed, or 180 minutes at exam pace |
| Structure | Two sections. After you submit the first half, you can't go back to it | One set; revisit anything |
| Question formats | Multiple choice plus alternative item types: multiple correct, point-and-click, drag-and-drop, and fill-in-the-blank | Single answer, numeric entry, select two, and ordering; no point-and-click |
| References | NCEES PS Reference Handbook and the listed standards, on screen only | Whatever you have; practicing with the handbook is better |
| Units | U.S. Customary | U.S. Customary, plus one question with metric geodetic inputs |
| Scoring | Correct answers converted to a scaled score; pass or fail; no partial credit; unscored pretest questions | One point per question; a percentage |
| Results | Typically 7–10 days | Immediately, with the answer key |
The 50 questions in this set use three formats: 24 select-one, 22 enter-a-number, and 4 select-two. Ordering is not a separate exercise in this set.
Sources: NCEES PS exam page; NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026, pp. 10–12, 14, 16; NCEES computer-based testing.
Practice with what you'll get on exam day
- The handbook. Download the current NCEES PS Reference Handbook from your MyNCEES account. It's free, and it's the version you'll see on screen.
- The standards. Get the five supplied documents above and practice finding provisions in them. On exam day the references open in a viewer with its own search box on the left. Ctrl+F doesn't work, and only one standard opens at a time.
- The calculator. For 2026 exams, NCEES allows Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, the HP 33s and 35s, and TI-30X and TI-36X models (NCEES calculator policy). A TI-30XS is also available on screen. NCEES reviews the list every year.
- The screen. You'll test on a 24-inch monitor with the question and reference side by side, with reusable booklets and markers for scratch work.
Sources: NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026, pp. 8–10; specifications linked above.
Where to go next
- The official exam details: the NCEES PS exam page covers the $375 exam fee, year-round testing at Pearson VUE centers, and links to your state board's requirements. Your licensing board's requirements determine exam authorization and licensure; NCEES handles the exam administration process.
- Registering, results, and retakes: how NCEES exam registration works, when NCEES results arrive, NCEES retake limits, and requesting accommodations.
Sources and verification
The linked Penn State Elevation Factor lesson is currently unavailable. The complete ground-to-grid calculation remains shown in Question 15.
Last verified: October 12, 2026. We checked the exam format, timing, fee, scoring rules, both specifications, and the supplied-standards list against the NCEES documents below. We re-solved every numeric question in code and checked each standards question against the edition NCEES supplies. These questions haven't been statistically tested or reviewed by NCEES or a licensed surveyor, and source checking isn't professional surveying review.
NCEES
- PS exam page (fee, administration, audience)
- PS CBT exam specifications, effective January 1, 2019 (current areas, ranges, supplied standards)
- PS exam specifications, effective July 2027
- NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (timing, format, scoring, references)
- Computer-based testing and alternative item types
- Exams page, calculator policy
Standards supplied on the exam and used in the questions
- ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, 2021 (NSPS copy)
- FEMA Elevation Certificate and Instructions, 2023 edition
- FGCS Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems, ver. 4.1 (2004)
- USGS, Map Accuracy Standards (reprints the 1947 U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards)
- ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards, Edition 1 (2014), for the FGDC NSSDA relationships
Law and federal guidance used in the questions
- 43 U.S.C. § 752 and 28 U.S.C. § 2409a
- Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U.S. 359 (1892) and Stop the Beach Renourishment v. Florida DEP (2010)
- Illinois Supreme Court, 56 Ill. 399 and Tolson v. Southwestern Improvement Ass'n (Ark. 1911)
- California Code of Civil Procedure § 2077 and Civil Code § 802 and § 1007
- BLM, The Basics of Boundary Law Study Guide; BLM 1973-to-2009 Manual crosswalk; Florida DEP corner record manual (2009 BLM Manual corner definitions)
- Professional conduct rules: New Mexico 16.39.8.9 and North Carolina 21 NCAC 56 .0701
- NGS, About OPUS; Roman & Weston (NGS), FIG 2011; Deprecation of the U.S. survey foot, 85 FR 62698; BLM General Land Office Records
- Penn State GEOG 862, Elevation Factor (teaching reference)
The legal questions teach general principles. Your state's statutes and case law control actual boundary decisions.
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team. This page was developed with AI-assisted research, drafting, question development, and editing. See how Castleport uses sources and AI assistance and our editorial standards.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Exam and credential names are used for identification, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. These practice questions are original and unofficial, and nothing on this page guarantees a passing result or a license.