The ASBOG fundamentals of geology exam is the first step towards becoming a licensed Professional Geologist. Passing this exam grants you the Geologist-in-Training (GIT) designation in many states. Practice with the free ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).

ASBOG Exam at a Glance

What changed for ASBOG in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Computer-based testing at Prometric test centers (previously Computer-based at Prometric test centers).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Eligibility changed to Set by state board; FG generally requires a geology degree, PG requires a degree plus 3–5 years of experience (previously Set by state board; FG usually needs a geology degree, PG a degree plus 3–5 years' experience).^[3]
• Oct 27, 2026: Registration deadline changed to 60 to 90 days prior to exam (previously Set by each state board, usually 60–90 days before the exam).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee (Fundamentals of Geology (FG)) changed to $200 ASBOG exam fee (plus $75 Prometric seat fee and state fees) (previously $200 ASBOG exam fee (plus Prometric seat fee and state fees)).^[3]
• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee (Practice of Geology (PG)) changed to $250 ASBOG exam fee (plus $75 Prometric seat fee and state fees) (previously $250 ASBOG exam fee (plus Prometric seat fee and state fees)).^[3]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to Within 60 days (previously Within 60 days (PASS/FAIL from Prometric)).^[3]
• Oct 27, 2026: Other (update 2028-09-29) changed to The ASBOG Fall 2028 examination session is scheduled for Friday, September 29, and Monday, October 2, 2028, breaking from the traditional Thursday–Friday administration pattern. (previously The ASBOG Fall 2028 session is scheduled for Friday, September 29, and Monday, October 2, 2028. That breaks from the usual Thursday–Friday pattern.).^[2]

Free ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Study Tools

Interactive ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

According to Association of State Boards of Geology, “A scaled score of 70 is considered passing in all ASBOG jurisdictions. Note this is not the same as the raw score (e.g. percent correct). A scaled score considers the difficulty level of each question when calculating the total score.”^[3]

Worked examples: how to reason through ASBOG questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A geologist is logging core from a porphyry copper system and observes a central zone rich in secondary biotite and K-feldspar. This is immediately surrounded by an extensive zone of quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration. What are the correct names for these two alteration zones, from the core outwards?

1. Propylitic, Argillic
2. Phyllic, Potassic
3. Potassic, Phyllic
4. Skarn, Greisen

Answer: C. Potassic, Phyllic

Explanation:

The answer is Potassic, Phyllic. Secondary biotite and K-feldspar mark the potassic zone, which is the hottest part of a porphyry system and sits at the core. The quartz-sericite-pyrite assemblage is the phyllic zone, which commonly surrounds and overprints it.

Propylitic, Argillic is wrong because both of those zones lie farther out, so neither fits a core rich in biotite and K-feldspar. Phyllic, Potassic uses the right names in the wrong order. Skarn, Greisen is wrong because skarn forms where intrusions meet carbonate rocks and greisen belongs to granite-related systems, not the porphyry copper pattern described.

Rule to remember: from the core outwards, the sequence is potassic, phyllic, argillic, propylitic. Identify the alteration minerals first, then place them in that order.

Example 2

Question: A confined aquifer has a storage coefficient of 5×10⁻⁴. This value indicates that water release is primarily due to:

1. Gravity drainage of pore water
2. Compression of the aquifer and expansion of water
3. Evapotranspiration at the water table
4. Tidal fluctuations in the aquifer

Answer: B. Compression of the aquifer and expansion of water

Explanation:

The answer is compression of the aquifer and expansion of water. A confined aquifer is sealed beneath a confining layer, so when pressure drops it does not drain. It releases a small volume of water because the aquifer skeleton compresses and the water itself expands. That is why a storage coefficient like 5×10⁻⁴ is so small.

Gravity drainage of pore water describes an unconfined aquifer, where the water table falls and pores empty. That process is called specific yield and gives far larger values. Evapotranspiration at the water table also applies to shallow, unconfined settings, not a sealed aquifer. Tidal fluctuations can cause small water-level changes, but they are not the mechanism that defines storativity.

Rule to remember: a very small storage coefficient points to a confined aquifer and elastic release, while unconfined aquifers release water by draining.

Example 3

Question: A geologist examines a vertical sequence of sedimentary rocks. From bottom to top, the sequence fines upward from a coarse-grained, cross-bedded sandstone to a fine-grained sandstone, then to siltstone, and finally to a deep-water shale. Assuming no unconformities are present, which geological principle best explains this vertical succession?

1. The Law of Superposition
2. The Principle of Original Horizontality
3. Walther's Law of Facies
4. The Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships

Answer: C. Walther's Law of Facies

Explanation:

The answer is Walther's Law of Facies. It says that facies which are found next to each other in a vertical sequence, with no break, formed in environments that were once side by side. Coarse cross-bedded sandstone grading up through siltstone to deep-water shale records a shift from shallow, high-energy conditions to deeper, quieter ones as the environments moved across the site.

The Law of Superposition only tells you that lower beds are older than upper beds. It does not explain why the rock types relate to each other. The Principle of Original Horizontality says beds are laid down roughly flat, which says nothing about facies change. Cross-Cutting Relationships concerns features such as faults or dikes that cut across rock, and none are described here.

Rule to remember: when a conformable vertical sequence shows a gradual change in rock type, think Walther's Law.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official ASBOG site and your state board. Confirm which exam you are eligible for, the application deadline, and what the board says about content. Study to that outline rather than to any single source, including this one.

Next, work through the practice sets by topic. Begin with the areas closest to your own coursework or work, such as Hydrogeology and Structural Geology and Tectonics, then move to the areas you use least, such as Geophysics and Seismology and Economic Geology and Energy. After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed and for any you guessed. Write down the rule behind each one in a sentence of your own.

• Repeat a set only after you have reviewed your notes, so you are testing recall rather than memory of the answers.
• Keep a running list of weak topics and return to it each week.
• Mix topics in later sessions, since the real exam does not group questions by subject.

Close to test day, practise sitting for a long stretch with no breaks, matching the length of the real exam. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so use them to find gaps, not to predict your score. Remember that the real exam is scored on a scaled basis, so your percent correct here is only a rough signal.

Focus heavily on Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology for the ASBOG PG exam, as these areas often have the highest weighting in professional practice.

1. Earn a Degree - Complete a Bachelor's degree in Geology or related field with required credit hours.
2. Apply for FG Exam - Submit an asbog application to your state board to take the Fundamentals of Geology exam.
3. Pass FG Exam - Use our ASBOG practice test to study and pass the FG exam to become a Geologist-in-Training (GIT).
4. Gain Experience - Work for 3-5 years under the supervision of a licensed Professional Geologist.
5. Apply for PG Exam - Submit proof of experience and apply for the Principles and Practice of Geology exam.
6. Pass PG Exam - Successfully complete the ASBOG pg exam covering practical applications.
7. Obtain License - Complete any state-specific requirements (jurisprudence exam) and receive your license.

Expect to invest between $600 and $1,000 total for both exams and initial licensure. Many employers reimburse these costs.

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Get instant access to our complete library of ASBOG practice questions. Don't leave your licensure to chance.

Keep track of your Professional Development Hours (PDH). Many states audit a percentage of licensees annually to ensure compliance with ASBOG certification standards.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. The ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology exam emphasizes which stratigraphic principle when establishing the relative age of an intrusive igneous body?

   • A. Original horizontality
   • B. Lateral continuity
   • C. Cross-cutting relationships
   • D. Superposition

   Answer: C. Cross-cutting relationships

   The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that an igneous intrusion is younger than the rocks it cuts, establishing relative age.

2. Which geomorphic surface is characterized by a broad, gently sloping bedrock erosion surface that truncates older structures and is mantled by thin residual sediments?

   • A. Alluvial fan
   • B. Pediment
   • C. Peneplain
   • D. Fluvial terrace

   Answer: B. Pediment

   A pediment is a gently inclined bedrock erosion surface at the foot of a mountain range, cut by lateral planation of streams, commonly veneered by a thin sheet of alluvium in arid and semi-arid environments.

3. The Dupuit assumption in analytical groundwater models for unconfined aquifers states that:

   • A. Flow is horizontal and hydraulic gradient equals the slope of the water table
   • B. Flow is vertical and pressure is hydrostatic throughout
   • C. Hydraulic conductivity increases linearly with depth
   • D. The water table is a no-flow boundary

   Answer: A. Flow is horizontal and hydraulic gradient equals the slope of the water table

   The Dupuit-Forchheimer assumption neglects vertical flow components and assumes flow is horizontal with the gradient equal to the water table slope.

4. What distinguishes a conformity from an unconformity in a stratigraphic sequence?

   • A. A conformity has continuous deposition with no time gap; an unconformity represents a surface of erosion or non-deposition representing missing time
   • B. A conformity separates rocks of different ages; an unconformity separates rocks of the same age
   • C. A conformity is a fault contact; an unconformity is a depositional contact
   • D. A conformity is found only in marine sequences; an unconformity only in continental sequences

   Answer: A. A conformity has continuous deposition with no time gap; an unconformity represents a surface of erosion or non-deposition representing missing time

   A conformity is a surface between strata with continuous sedimentation and no significant time gap; an unconformity is a surface representing missing time due to erosion, non-deposition, or both, and is a key surface in sequence stratigraphy.

Take the full ASBOG - Association of State Boards of Geology practice test

Official Resources

• National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) — the organization that develops and administers the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) examinations used by state licensing boards.
• American Geosciences Institute (AGI) — a federation of geoscience societies offering workforce data, study references, and career resources relevant to aspiring professional geologists.
• Geological Society of America (GSA) — a leading professional body publishing geoscience research and continuing-education material that supports exam preparation.

Sources & last verified

1. Association of State Boards of Geology — number of questions, delivery (official source). “140 Multiple Choice Questions” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
2. Association of State Boards of Geology — time limit, next exam date, registration deadline, other (official source). “Both the FG and PG examinations are four (4) hours in length.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
3. Association of State Boards of Geology — passing score, exam fee, retake policy, eligibility (official source). “A scaled score of 70 is considered passing in all ASBOG jurisdictions. Note this is not the same as the raw score (e.g. percent correct).…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
4. bpelsg.ca.gov — registration opens (official source). “Prometric/IQT will send an email to all eligible exam candidates in early February for the spring exam and in late August for the fall exam…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.