ILLINOIS JURISDICTIONAL LAND
SURVEYOR EXAM PRACTICE (LATEST)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT
1. In Illinois, the initial point for the Principal Meridian and Base Line used in the Public
Land Survey System (PLSS) is located at approximately:
• A) 40° N latitude, 90° W longitude
• B) 38° N latitude, 89° W longitude
• C) 40° N latitude, 90° 30’ W longitude (highlight: C)
• Rationale: The Fourth Principal Meridian (4th PM) governs most of Illinois. Its
initial point is at 40° N, 90° 30’ W, near the confluence of the Illinois and
Mississippi Rivers. The base line runs east-west from this point.
2. Which body regulates the professional practice of land surveying in Illinois?
• A) Illinois Department of Transportation
• B) Illinois Real Estate Commission
• C) Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR) (highlight: C)
• Rationale: IDFPR oversees licensing, discipline, and continuing education for
professional land surveyors under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of
1989.
3. To be licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois, a candidate must have a
minimum of how many years of progressive experience under a licensed surveyor, if
they hold an approved bachelor’s degree?
, • A) 2 years
• B) 4 years (highlight: B)
• C) 6 years
• Rationale: Illinois requires 4 years of responsible experience post-bachelor’s, in
addition to passing the FS and PS exams, plus the Illinois state-specific exam.
4. The Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act requires continuing education how often?
• A) Annually
• B) Every 2 years (highlight: B)
• C) Every 3 years
• Rationale: License renewal is biennial (even-numbered years for most
professions), with 30 hours of CE required per cycle.
5. Which type of boundary evidence generally carries the highest legal weight in Illinois
courts when conflicting with a recorded plat?
• A) Uncalled-for fence line
• B) Original government survey corner monument (highlight: B)
• C) A later subdivision plat by a different surveyor
• Rationale: Original GLO monuments control over conflicting plats or fences under
the doctrine of “monuments over courses and distances,” established in Illinois
case law.
6. In Illinois, the standard unit of measurement for land surveying records is:
• A) International foot
• B) U.S. Survey foot (highlight: B)
• C) Meter
• Rationale: Illinois still uses the U.S. survey foot (1200/3937 m) for PLSS and
boundary surveying, though some states have converted to international foot.
7. A section of land in the Illinois PLSS contains how many acres, ideally?
, • A) 160 acres
• B) 640 acres (highlight: B)
• C) 36 acres
• Rationale: One section = 1 square mile = 640 acres. Subdivisions include quarter-
sections (160 acres) and quarter-quarter sections (40 acres).
8. If a water boundary in Illinois shifts by accretion, ownership of the newly added land
generally goes to:
• A) The state
• B) The federal government
• C) The riparian landowner (highlight: C)
• Rationale: Under Illinois riparian law, accretion (gradual addition) belongs to the
adjoining landowner. Avulsion (sudden change) does not change ownership.
9. Which Illinois statute governs the creation, content, and recording of subdivision
plats?
• A) Illinois Drainage Code
• B) Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205/) (highlight: B)
• C) Illinois Code of Civil Procedure
• Rationale: The Illinois Plat Act (formerly “Subdivision Plat Act”) requires plats for
dividing land, with surveyor’s certification and county recorder filing.
10. Within the Fourth Principal Meridian, townships are numbered:
• A) East and West from the meridian, North and South from the base line
• B) North and South from the base line, ranges East and West from the
meridian (highlight: B)
• C) From arbitrary local base lines
• Rationale: Standard PLSS: townships (T.) are north/south, ranges (R.) are east/west
of principal meridian. For 4th PM, ranges are east or west.
, 11. A fractional lot in a recorded Illinois subdivision most likely results from:
• A) Irregular lot shape due to topography only
• B) The remainder after a curved street or an irregular boundary (highlight: B)
• C) A scrivener’s error
• Rationale: Fractional lots arise in subdivisions because of curved boundaries,
meander lines, or partial lots at cul-de-sacs, not meeting standard area
calculations.
12. Which Illinois case established the principle that a surveyor may rely on original
government corners even if mathematical closure fails?
• A) Chicago v. Tilley
• B) Wilson v. Watson (highlight: B)
• C) People ex rel. Scott v. Chicago Park District
• Rationale: Wilson v. Watson (1880) held that original GLO corners, if found or
relocated by proper methods, control over mathematical misclosure in
subsequent surveys.
13. The maximum penalty for practicing land surveying without a license in Illinois is a
Class A misdemeanor, punishable by:
• A) $500 fine only
• B) Up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $2,500 (highlight: B)
• C) Revocation of real estate license
• Rationale: 225 ILCS 330/24 – unlicensed practice is a Class A misdemeanor, up to
364 days jail, up to $2,500 fine.
14. In Illinois, a surveyor’s seal on a plat must contain what specific wording?
• A) “Registered Land Surveyor” only
• B) “Professional Land Surveyor” and “State of Illinois” (highlight: B)
• C) License number only
SURVEYOR EXAM PRACTICE (LATEST)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT
1. In Illinois, the initial point for the Principal Meridian and Base Line used in the Public
Land Survey System (PLSS) is located at approximately:
• A) 40° N latitude, 90° W longitude
• B) 38° N latitude, 89° W longitude
• C) 40° N latitude, 90° 30’ W longitude (highlight: C)
• Rationale: The Fourth Principal Meridian (4th PM) governs most of Illinois. Its
initial point is at 40° N, 90° 30’ W, near the confluence of the Illinois and
Mississippi Rivers. The base line runs east-west from this point.
2. Which body regulates the professional practice of land surveying in Illinois?
• A) Illinois Department of Transportation
• B) Illinois Real Estate Commission
• C) Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR) (highlight: C)
• Rationale: IDFPR oversees licensing, discipline, and continuing education for
professional land surveyors under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of
1989.
3. To be licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois, a candidate must have a
minimum of how many years of progressive experience under a licensed surveyor, if
they hold an approved bachelor’s degree?
, • A) 2 years
• B) 4 years (highlight: B)
• C) 6 years
• Rationale: Illinois requires 4 years of responsible experience post-bachelor’s, in
addition to passing the FS and PS exams, plus the Illinois state-specific exam.
4. The Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act requires continuing education how often?
• A) Annually
• B) Every 2 years (highlight: B)
• C) Every 3 years
• Rationale: License renewal is biennial (even-numbered years for most
professions), with 30 hours of CE required per cycle.
5. Which type of boundary evidence generally carries the highest legal weight in Illinois
courts when conflicting with a recorded plat?
• A) Uncalled-for fence line
• B) Original government survey corner monument (highlight: B)
• C) A later subdivision plat by a different surveyor
• Rationale: Original GLO monuments control over conflicting plats or fences under
the doctrine of “monuments over courses and distances,” established in Illinois
case law.
6. In Illinois, the standard unit of measurement for land surveying records is:
• A) International foot
• B) U.S. Survey foot (highlight: B)
• C) Meter
• Rationale: Illinois still uses the U.S. survey foot (1200/3937 m) for PLSS and
boundary surveying, though some states have converted to international foot.
7. A section of land in the Illinois PLSS contains how many acres, ideally?
, • A) 160 acres
• B) 640 acres (highlight: B)
• C) 36 acres
• Rationale: One section = 1 square mile = 640 acres. Subdivisions include quarter-
sections (160 acres) and quarter-quarter sections (40 acres).
8. If a water boundary in Illinois shifts by accretion, ownership of the newly added land
generally goes to:
• A) The state
• B) The federal government
• C) The riparian landowner (highlight: C)
• Rationale: Under Illinois riparian law, accretion (gradual addition) belongs to the
adjoining landowner. Avulsion (sudden change) does not change ownership.
9. Which Illinois statute governs the creation, content, and recording of subdivision
plats?
• A) Illinois Drainage Code
• B) Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205/) (highlight: B)
• C) Illinois Code of Civil Procedure
• Rationale: The Illinois Plat Act (formerly “Subdivision Plat Act”) requires plats for
dividing land, with surveyor’s certification and county recorder filing.
10. Within the Fourth Principal Meridian, townships are numbered:
• A) East and West from the meridian, North and South from the base line
• B) North and South from the base line, ranges East and West from the
meridian (highlight: B)
• C) From arbitrary local base lines
• Rationale: Standard PLSS: townships (T.) are north/south, ranges (R.) are east/west
of principal meridian. For 4th PM, ranges are east or west.
, 11. A fractional lot in a recorded Illinois subdivision most likely results from:
• A) Irregular lot shape due to topography only
• B) The remainder after a curved street or an irregular boundary (highlight: B)
• C) A scrivener’s error
• Rationale: Fractional lots arise in subdivisions because of curved boundaries,
meander lines, or partial lots at cul-de-sacs, not meeting standard area
calculations.
12. Which Illinois case established the principle that a surveyor may rely on original
government corners even if mathematical closure fails?
• A) Chicago v. Tilley
• B) Wilson v. Watson (highlight: B)
• C) People ex rel. Scott v. Chicago Park District
• Rationale: Wilson v. Watson (1880) held that original GLO corners, if found or
relocated by proper methods, control over mathematical misclosure in
subsequent surveys.
13. The maximum penalty for practicing land surveying without a license in Illinois is a
Class A misdemeanor, punishable by:
• A) $500 fine only
• B) Up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $2,500 (highlight: B)
• C) Revocation of real estate license
• Rationale: 225 ILCS 330/24 – unlicensed practice is a Class A misdemeanor, up to
364 days jail, up to $2,500 fine.
14. In Illinois, a surveyor’s seal on a plat must contain what specific wording?
• A) “Registered Land Surveyor” only
• B) “Professional Land Surveyor” and “State of Illinois” (highlight: B)
• C) License number only
