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California Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) Exam COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – California LSIT Exam
The LSIT is the first major milestone toward becoming a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in
California. Eligibility requires two years of postsecondary land surveying education, two years of land
surveying work experience, or a combination totaling two years .
The Exam Process: You must first register directly with NCEES (National Council of Examiners for
Engineers and Surveyors) to take the 8-hour Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. The FS exam is
computer-based and offered year-round at designated testing centers. After passing the FS exam, you
must submit a certification application and fee to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land
Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG) to obtain your LSIT certificate .
Key Exam Topics:
• Mathematics & Science: Trigonometry, geometry, error propagation, least squares adjustment
• Boundary Law & Legal Principles: Property descriptions, easements, encroachments, evidence
hierarchy
• Surveying Instrumentation & Methods: Total stations, levels, GNSS/GPS, traverses, leveling
• PLSS (Public Land Survey System): Sections, townships, ranges, aliquot parts, lotting
• Geodesy & Cartography: Coordinate systems (State Plane, UTM), datums (NAD83, NAVD88),
map projections
• California Specifics: PLSS in California, record of surveys, corner records, surveying practice act
• Professional Standards & Ethics: Negligence, standard of care, code of ethics
• Advanced Calculations: Azimuth determination, zenith angles, curve geometry, area
computation
Examination Frequency: The FS exam is offered year-round; the California-specific exam is for the PLS
level, not the LSIT
1. A surveyor sets up a total station at point A and sights to point B, recording a horizontal angle of
125°15'30". The backsight azimuth is 45°10'20". What is the azimuth of line AB?
, Page 2 of 115
A) 80°05'10"
B) 170°25'50"
C) 170°25'50"
D) 80°05'10"
Answer: 170°25'50" (45°10'20" + 125°15'30")
2. Which agency issues the Land Surveyor-in-Training certificate in California after an applicant passes
the FS exam?
A) The County Recorder's Office
B) The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
C) The California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG)
D) The Department of Consumer Affairs
Answer: C – After passing the NCEES FS exam, the applicant submits a certification application and fee
to BPELSG, the California state licensing board, to receive the LSIT certificate .
3. A property is described as "Commencing at a ½-inch iron rod at the NW corner of Section 15, thence S
89°58' W along the north line of said section 660 feet to the Point of Beginning." This description is an
example of which type of legal description?
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A) Lot and block
B) Metes and bounds
C) Record of survey
D) Parcel map
Answer: B – Metes and bounds descriptions use bearings, distances, and monuments to define
boundaries; they often begin with a "commencing" clause to tie to a known corner.
4. A total station measures a slope distance of 250.00 feet and a zenith angle of 85°00'00". What is the
horizontal distance?
A) 21.78 ft
B) 249.04 ft
C) 250.00 ft
D) 248.50 ft
Answer: B – HD = SD × sin(zenith angle) = 250.00 × sin(85°) = 250.00 × 0.99619 = 249.05 ft.
5. A surveyor using a level obtains a backsight (BS) reading of 4.52 ft on a benchmark with an elevation
of 500.00 ft. The foresight (FS) reading on an unknown point is 6.23 ft. What is the elevation of the
unknown point?
, Page 4 of 115
A) 498.29 ft
B) 501.71 ft
C) 498.47 ft
D) 503.48 ft
Answer: A – HI = BM elevation + BS = 500.00 + 4.52 = 504.52 ft. Unknown elevation = HI – FS = 504.52 –
6.23 = 498.29 ft.
6. Under California law, which of the following is a requirement to obtain LSIT certification?
A) Passing the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam
B) Four years of responsible charge experience
C) Two years of postsecondary land surveying education OR two years of work experience OR a
combination totaling two years
D) A bachelor's degree in civil engineering
Answer: C – LSIT eligibility requires two years of education, two years of experience, or a combination
totaling two years .
7. In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), a standard township contains how many sections?
A) 16
California Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) Exam COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – California LSIT Exam
The LSIT is the first major milestone toward becoming a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in
California. Eligibility requires two years of postsecondary land surveying education, two years of land
surveying work experience, or a combination totaling two years .
The Exam Process: You must first register directly with NCEES (National Council of Examiners for
Engineers and Surveyors) to take the 8-hour Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. The FS exam is
computer-based and offered year-round at designated testing centers. After passing the FS exam, you
must submit a certification application and fee to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land
Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG) to obtain your LSIT certificate .
Key Exam Topics:
• Mathematics & Science: Trigonometry, geometry, error propagation, least squares adjustment
• Boundary Law & Legal Principles: Property descriptions, easements, encroachments, evidence
hierarchy
• Surveying Instrumentation & Methods: Total stations, levels, GNSS/GPS, traverses, leveling
• PLSS (Public Land Survey System): Sections, townships, ranges, aliquot parts, lotting
• Geodesy & Cartography: Coordinate systems (State Plane, UTM), datums (NAD83, NAVD88),
map projections
• California Specifics: PLSS in California, record of surveys, corner records, surveying practice act
• Professional Standards & Ethics: Negligence, standard of care, code of ethics
• Advanced Calculations: Azimuth determination, zenith angles, curve geometry, area
computation
Examination Frequency: The FS exam is offered year-round; the California-specific exam is for the PLS
level, not the LSIT
1. A surveyor sets up a total station at point A and sights to point B, recording a horizontal angle of
125°15'30". The backsight azimuth is 45°10'20". What is the azimuth of line AB?
, Page 2 of 115
A) 80°05'10"
B) 170°25'50"
C) 170°25'50"
D) 80°05'10"
Answer: 170°25'50" (45°10'20" + 125°15'30")
2. Which agency issues the Land Surveyor-in-Training certificate in California after an applicant passes
the FS exam?
A) The County Recorder's Office
B) The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
C) The California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG)
D) The Department of Consumer Affairs
Answer: C – After passing the NCEES FS exam, the applicant submits a certification application and fee
to BPELSG, the California state licensing board, to receive the LSIT certificate .
3. A property is described as "Commencing at a ½-inch iron rod at the NW corner of Section 15, thence S
89°58' W along the north line of said section 660 feet to the Point of Beginning." This description is an
example of which type of legal description?
, Page 3 of 115
A) Lot and block
B) Metes and bounds
C) Record of survey
D) Parcel map
Answer: B – Metes and bounds descriptions use bearings, distances, and monuments to define
boundaries; they often begin with a "commencing" clause to tie to a known corner.
4. A total station measures a slope distance of 250.00 feet and a zenith angle of 85°00'00". What is the
horizontal distance?
A) 21.78 ft
B) 249.04 ft
C) 250.00 ft
D) 248.50 ft
Answer: B – HD = SD × sin(zenith angle) = 250.00 × sin(85°) = 250.00 × 0.99619 = 249.05 ft.
5. A surveyor using a level obtains a backsight (BS) reading of 4.52 ft on a benchmark with an elevation
of 500.00 ft. The foresight (FS) reading on an unknown point is 6.23 ft. What is the elevation of the
unknown point?
, Page 4 of 115
A) 498.29 ft
B) 501.71 ft
C) 498.47 ft
D) 503.48 ft
Answer: A – HI = BM elevation + BS = 500.00 + 4.52 = 504.52 ft. Unknown elevation = HI – FS = 504.52 –
6.23 = 498.29 ft.
6. Under California law, which of the following is a requirement to obtain LSIT certification?
A) Passing the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam
B) Four years of responsible charge experience
C) Two years of postsecondary land surveying education OR two years of work experience OR a
combination totaling two years
D) A bachelor's degree in civil engineering
Answer: C – LSIT eligibility requires two years of education, two years of experience, or a combination
totaling two years .
7. In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), a standard township contains how many sections?
A) 16
