1|Page
New York Land Surveyor Licensing Exam | Latest
Verified Questions and Detailed Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This comprehensive set of multiple-choice questions is designed for New York Land
Surveyor Licensing Exam. Part 1 (110 questions) focuses on the NCEES Fundamentals of
Surveying (FS), covering core technical concepts such as error analysis, coordinate
geometry, GNSS principles, and basic measurement techniques. Part 2 (100
questions) addresses the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS), emphasizing
applied surveying practices, boundary law principles, subdivision design, professional
ethics, and project management. Part 3 (50 questions) is dedicated to the NY State-Specific
exam, rigorously testing candidates on the New York Education Law (Articles 130 and
145), Commissioner’s Regulations, local case law, and state-specific procedures for land
records, subdivisions, and adverse possession. Each question is presented with a correct
answer and a concise expert rationale to reinforce the legal and technical standards
required for licensure in New York.
PART 1: FS EXAM (NCEES) – 110 QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of a datum in surveying?
A) To establish a legal property boundary
B) To provide a reference surface for vertical measurements
C) To define the magnetic declination for a region
D) To calibrate a total station’s horizontal angle
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: A datum, such as NAVD 88, serves as a reference surface (zero
point) for measuring elevations, ensuring vertical consistency across projects.
QUESTION 2
A surveyor measures a slope distance of 500.00 ft with a zenith angle of 95°00’00”. What
,2|Page
is the horizontal distance?
A) 498.11 ft
B) 498.78 ft
C) 500.00 ft
D) 501.89 ft
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Horizontal distance = slope distance × sin(zenith angle). Sin(95°)
≈ 0.99619; 500.00 × 0.99619 = 498.095 ft, rounding to 498.11 ft.
QUESTION 3
Which error is classified as systematic?
A) A prism pole not held plumb
B) A chain that is too short due to wear
C) A blunder in recording a measurement
D) Wind causing a level rod to sway
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Systematic errors follow a physical law and are consistent in
magnitude and sign. A worn chain consistently gives measurements that are too long or
short.
QUESTION 4
In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), what is the size of a standard township?
A) 24 miles by 24 miles
B) 6 miles by 6 miles
C) 1 mile by 1 mile
D) 36 square chains
CORRECT ANSWER: B
,3|Page
EXPERT RATIONALE: A standard township is 6 miles on each side, containing 36
sections, each of which is one square mile.
QUESTION 5
What does the term “monument” primarily refer to in boundary surveying?
A) A large public building
B) A physical object marking a corner or line
C) A historical landmark registered with the state
D) A digital point in a GIS database
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: In boundary surveying, a monument is a tangible, permanent
mark, such as an iron pin or stone, that establishes the physical location of a property
corner.
QUESTION 6
A level loop is run from BM A to BM B and back to BM A. The sum of foresights is
100.00 ft and backsights is 99.85 ft. What is the misclosure?
A) 0.15 ft
B) -0.15 ft
C) 0.00 ft
D) 0.30 ft
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Misclosure = ΣBS - ΣFS = 99.85 - 100.00 = -0.15 ft. The absolute
error is 0.15 ft, indicating the closing elevation is 0.15 ft lower than the starting
elevation.
QUESTION 7
Which of the following is a primary advantage of RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) GNSS
, 4|Page
surveying?
A) It does not require a clear view of the sky
B) It provides high-precision positioning in real time
C) It eliminates the need for a base station
D) It is unaffected by atmospheric conditions
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: RTK GNSS uses a base station and rover to transmit corrections,
allowing the rover to achieve centimeter-level accuracy in real time without post-
processing.
QUESTION 8
What is the purpose of a “deed of easement”?
A) To transfer title of land
B) To grant a right to use another’s land for a specific purpose
C) To mortgage a property
D) To correct a previous deed error
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: An easement is a non-possessory interest in land, granting the
holder the right to use another’s property for a specific purpose, such as utilities or
access.
QUESTION 9
If the azimuth from point A to B is 125°, what is the bearing?
A) N 55° W
B) S 55° E
C) S 55° W
D) N 55° E
CORRECT ANSWER: B
New York Land Surveyor Licensing Exam | Latest
Verified Questions and Detailed Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This comprehensive set of multiple-choice questions is designed for New York Land
Surveyor Licensing Exam. Part 1 (110 questions) focuses on the NCEES Fundamentals of
Surveying (FS), covering core technical concepts such as error analysis, coordinate
geometry, GNSS principles, and basic measurement techniques. Part 2 (100
questions) addresses the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS), emphasizing
applied surveying practices, boundary law principles, subdivision design, professional
ethics, and project management. Part 3 (50 questions) is dedicated to the NY State-Specific
exam, rigorously testing candidates on the New York Education Law (Articles 130 and
145), Commissioner’s Regulations, local case law, and state-specific procedures for land
records, subdivisions, and adverse possession. Each question is presented with a correct
answer and a concise expert rationale to reinforce the legal and technical standards
required for licensure in New York.
PART 1: FS EXAM (NCEES) – 110 QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of a datum in surveying?
A) To establish a legal property boundary
B) To provide a reference surface for vertical measurements
C) To define the magnetic declination for a region
D) To calibrate a total station’s horizontal angle
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: A datum, such as NAVD 88, serves as a reference surface (zero
point) for measuring elevations, ensuring vertical consistency across projects.
QUESTION 2
A surveyor measures a slope distance of 500.00 ft with a zenith angle of 95°00’00”. What
,2|Page
is the horizontal distance?
A) 498.11 ft
B) 498.78 ft
C) 500.00 ft
D) 501.89 ft
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Horizontal distance = slope distance × sin(zenith angle). Sin(95°)
≈ 0.99619; 500.00 × 0.99619 = 498.095 ft, rounding to 498.11 ft.
QUESTION 3
Which error is classified as systematic?
A) A prism pole not held plumb
B) A chain that is too short due to wear
C) A blunder in recording a measurement
D) Wind causing a level rod to sway
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Systematic errors follow a physical law and are consistent in
magnitude and sign. A worn chain consistently gives measurements that are too long or
short.
QUESTION 4
In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), what is the size of a standard township?
A) 24 miles by 24 miles
B) 6 miles by 6 miles
C) 1 mile by 1 mile
D) 36 square chains
CORRECT ANSWER: B
,3|Page
EXPERT RATIONALE: A standard township is 6 miles on each side, containing 36
sections, each of which is one square mile.
QUESTION 5
What does the term “monument” primarily refer to in boundary surveying?
A) A large public building
B) A physical object marking a corner or line
C) A historical landmark registered with the state
D) A digital point in a GIS database
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: In boundary surveying, a monument is a tangible, permanent
mark, such as an iron pin or stone, that establishes the physical location of a property
corner.
QUESTION 6
A level loop is run from BM A to BM B and back to BM A. The sum of foresights is
100.00 ft and backsights is 99.85 ft. What is the misclosure?
A) 0.15 ft
B) -0.15 ft
C) 0.00 ft
D) 0.30 ft
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Misclosure = ΣBS - ΣFS = 99.85 - 100.00 = -0.15 ft. The absolute
error is 0.15 ft, indicating the closing elevation is 0.15 ft lower than the starting
elevation.
QUESTION 7
Which of the following is a primary advantage of RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) GNSS
, 4|Page
surveying?
A) It does not require a clear view of the sky
B) It provides high-precision positioning in real time
C) It eliminates the need for a base station
D) It is unaffected by atmospheric conditions
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: RTK GNSS uses a base station and rover to transmit corrections,
allowing the rover to achieve centimeter-level accuracy in real time without post-
processing.
QUESTION 8
What is the purpose of a “deed of easement”?
A) To transfer title of land
B) To grant a right to use another’s land for a specific purpose
C) To mortgage a property
D) To correct a previous deed error
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: An easement is a non-possessory interest in land, granting the
holder the right to use another’s property for a specific purpose, such as utilities or
access.
QUESTION 9
If the azimuth from point A to B is 125°, what is the bearing?
A) N 55° W
B) S 55° E
C) S 55° W
D) N 55° E
CORRECT ANSWER: B
