Nevada Land Surveyor-in-Training
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which type of survey is primarily used to establish property
boundaries?
A. Topographic survey
B. Boundary survey
C. Construction survey
D. Hydrographic survey
A boundary survey is specifically designed to establish or re-establish
property lines and corners based on legal descriptions.
2. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) divides land into which standard
units?
A. Meters and kilometers
B. Acres and hectares
C. Townships and sections
D. Grids and zones
The PLSS uses a rectangular system dividing land into townships (6
miles square) and further into 36 sections (1 mile square each).
3. In a metes and bounds description, what does “metes” refer to?
A. Area of the property
B. Distance and direction of boundaries
C. Corner markers
D. Topographic features
, “Metes” refer to measurements of distance and direction along the
property lines, whereas “bounds” refer to boundary descriptions.
4. A surveyor is using a total station. What does this instrument
measure?
A. Only distances
B. Only angles
C. Distances and angles
D. Elevation differences only
A total station integrates an electronic theodolite for measuring
angles and an EDM for measuring distances, allowing complete
coordinate calculations.
5. Which of the following is a principal meridian in Nevada?
A. Mount Diablo
B. Humboldt
C. Gila
D. Willamette
The Humboldt Meridian is the principal meridian used for the PLSS in
most of Nevada.
6. What is the purpose of a benchmark in surveying?
A. Indicate property lines
B. Reference a known elevation
C. Mark a corner in metes and bounds
D. Show legal ownership
Benchmarks are fixed points with known elevations used as
references for vertical measurements in surveys.
7. Which document is legally required to define a land parcel in the U.S.?
A. Plat map
B. Deed description
C. Survey sketch
D. Tax map
A deed provides the official legal description of a property and is
used to convey ownership.
8. What is the maximum permissible error for a surveyor performing a
closed traverse according to standard practice?
A. 1 in 100
, B. 1 in 1,000
C. 1 in 5,000
D. 1 in 10,000
Professional surveying standards often require the linear misclosure
of a traverse to be within 1 part in 5,000 for accuracy and reliability.
9. Which type of survey is used to determine the relief of the land?
A. Boundary survey
B. Topographic survey
C. Hydrographic survey
D. Construction survey
Topographic surveys measure elevations and contours, providing
detailed information about the land’s relief.
10. A “section corner” in the PLSS refers to:
A. The midpoint of a township side
B. The corner of a 1-mile square section
C. The center of a township
D. A benchmark elevation
Section corners mark the corners of the 36 sections that make up a
township in the PLSS.
11. What is the primary purpose of a leveling survey?
A. Establish property lines
B. Map terrain features
C. Determine elevation differences
D. Locate utilities
Leveling surveys measure differences in elevation between points to
determine relative heights across a site.
12. Which of the following best describes “resection” in surveying?
A. Measuring angles around a point
B. Measuring distances from a baseline
C. Determining position of a point using angles to known points
D. Dividing a parcel into sections
Resection calculates the coordinates of an unknown point by
measuring angles to at least two or three known points.
13. A “plumb line” is used primarily to:
A. Measure angles
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which type of survey is primarily used to establish property
boundaries?
A. Topographic survey
B. Boundary survey
C. Construction survey
D. Hydrographic survey
A boundary survey is specifically designed to establish or re-establish
property lines and corners based on legal descriptions.
2. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) divides land into which standard
units?
A. Meters and kilometers
B. Acres and hectares
C. Townships and sections
D. Grids and zones
The PLSS uses a rectangular system dividing land into townships (6
miles square) and further into 36 sections (1 mile square each).
3. In a metes and bounds description, what does “metes” refer to?
A. Area of the property
B. Distance and direction of boundaries
C. Corner markers
D. Topographic features
, “Metes” refer to measurements of distance and direction along the
property lines, whereas “bounds” refer to boundary descriptions.
4. A surveyor is using a total station. What does this instrument
measure?
A. Only distances
B. Only angles
C. Distances and angles
D. Elevation differences only
A total station integrates an electronic theodolite for measuring
angles and an EDM for measuring distances, allowing complete
coordinate calculations.
5. Which of the following is a principal meridian in Nevada?
A. Mount Diablo
B. Humboldt
C. Gila
D. Willamette
The Humboldt Meridian is the principal meridian used for the PLSS in
most of Nevada.
6. What is the purpose of a benchmark in surveying?
A. Indicate property lines
B. Reference a known elevation
C. Mark a corner in metes and bounds
D. Show legal ownership
Benchmarks are fixed points with known elevations used as
references for vertical measurements in surveys.
7. Which document is legally required to define a land parcel in the U.S.?
A. Plat map
B. Deed description
C. Survey sketch
D. Tax map
A deed provides the official legal description of a property and is
used to convey ownership.
8. What is the maximum permissible error for a surveyor performing a
closed traverse according to standard practice?
A. 1 in 100
, B. 1 in 1,000
C. 1 in 5,000
D. 1 in 10,000
Professional surveying standards often require the linear misclosure
of a traverse to be within 1 part in 5,000 for accuracy and reliability.
9. Which type of survey is used to determine the relief of the land?
A. Boundary survey
B. Topographic survey
C. Hydrographic survey
D. Construction survey
Topographic surveys measure elevations and contours, providing
detailed information about the land’s relief.
10. A “section corner” in the PLSS refers to:
A. The midpoint of a township side
B. The corner of a 1-mile square section
C. The center of a township
D. A benchmark elevation
Section corners mark the corners of the 36 sections that make up a
township in the PLSS.
11. What is the primary purpose of a leveling survey?
A. Establish property lines
B. Map terrain features
C. Determine elevation differences
D. Locate utilities
Leveling surveys measure differences in elevation between points to
determine relative heights across a site.
12. Which of the following best describes “resection” in surveying?
A. Measuring angles around a point
B. Measuring distances from a baseline
C. Determining position of a point using angles to known points
D. Dividing a parcel into sections
Resection calculates the coordinates of an unknown point by
measuring angles to at least two or three known points.
13. A “plumb line” is used primarily to:
A. Measure angles
