PS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in traverse & leveling calculations to verify that PS professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
2. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in legal descriptions & deed interpretation to verify that PS professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
3. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) determines distances by: → Recording the two-way travel time of emitted laser pulses and their returns
4. What is the false easting assigned to the central meridian in each UTM zone to avoid negative easting values? → 500,000 meters
5. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in topographic & contour mapping to verify that PS professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
6. Multispectral remote sensing enables vegetation health assessment primarily through: → Calculation of indices such as NDVI using near-infrared and red band reflectance values
7. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in boundary law & riparian rights to verify that PS professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
8. A PS professional encounters an unfamiliar situation while performing construction layout & staking duties. What is the most appropriate first action? → Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding
9. A PS professional encounters an unfamiliar situation while performing geodetic datums & coordinate systems duties. What is the most appropriate first action? → Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding
10. What is leveling in surveying? → Determining the elevation of points using a leveling instrument
11. Which of the following is a fundamental principle of traverse & leveling calculations as it applies to Professional Licensed Surveyor? → Systematic evaluation and adherence to established industry standards
12. What is photogrammetry used for in surveying? → To create maps and models from photographs
13. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in gnss & rtk survey technology to verify that PS professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
14. Which datum and ellipsoid are used as the basis for the current North American State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS 83)? → NAD 83 / GRS 80 ellipsoid
15. What is a 'quarter section' in the PLSS, and how many acres does it contain? → One-quarter of a section; 160 acres
16. What is the primary ethical obligation of a PS professional when a conflict of interest arises during geodetic datums & coordinate systems activities? → Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary
17. What is the standard width of a PLSS guide meridian and how often are they established east and west of the principal meridian? → Every 24 miles east and west
18. What is the main advantage of using a total station in surveying? → It measures both angles and distances accurately
19. What does a land surveyor do in boundary determination? → They measure and mark property boundaries
20. What is triangulation in surveying? → Using known points and angles to calculate distances
21. What type of map projection preserves the shape of small areas but distorts area over large regions? → Conformal projection
22. An orthophoto differs from a standard aerial photograph because it: → Has uniform scale due to removal of relief displacement and camera tilt distortions
23. In a PLSS section, what is the legal description of the parcel in the northwest corner that is half of a quarter section? → W½ NW¼
24. Why is continuing education important for surveyors? → To maintain licensure and professional competence
25. Why is GPS technology crucial in modern surveying? → It offers precise location data for field measurements
26. What should a surveyor do if they suspect unethical practices in a project? → Report the unethical practices to the relevant authorities
27. What is the primary purpose of surveying methods? → To measure and define land boundaries and features
28. When retracing a PLSS survey, which original monument takes precedence over all others? → Original corners established by the government surveyor
29. Which of the following is a fundamental principle of topographic & contour mapping as it applies to Professional Licensed Surveyor? → Systematic evaluation and adherence to established industry standards
30. What is the primary ethical obligation of a PS professional when a conflict of interest arises during traverse & leveling calculations activities? → Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary