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. In the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system, what is the width of each zone in degrees of longitude? → 6°
2. 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
3. In differential leveling, a backsight (BS) of 8.42 ft is taken on BM-A with elevation 312.65 ft. What is the Height of Instrument (HI)? → 321.07 ft
4. The phrase 'practice surveying' as defined in most state licensing acts typically includes: → Determining the location of boundaries and preparing plats for public record
5. The t-T correction (second term correction) in State Plane coordinate computations accounts for: → The difference between the geodetic azimuth and the grid azimuth for long lines
6. A navigable river serves as a boundary between two states. The boundary line is most commonly located at: → The thread of the stream (thalweg)
7. When using a total station for machine control, the instrument continuously tracks a prism mounted on the blade. What is this system called? → Robotic or automatic total station (ATS) machine guidance
8. When performing a topographic survey using total station equipment, what does the term 'side shot' refer to? → A single foresight observation not used as a backsight
9. A 'junior surveyor' working under a licensed professional surveyor may legally: → Perform field measurements and calculations under the licensee's direct supervision
10. 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
11. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) determines distances by: → Recording the two-way travel time of emitted laser pulses and their returns
12. The doctrine of 'estoppel by deed' operates to: → Prevent a grantor from later claiming title that they conveyed but did not then hold
13. What is the false easting assigned to the central meridian in each UTM zone to avoid negative easting values? → 500,000 meters
14. What is the statute of limitations for professional liability claims against surveyors generally intended to protect? → Both the public's right to seek redress and the surveyor's right to finality
15. In an RTK survey, a 'float' solution indicates that: → Ambiguity resolution is incomplete and decimal values remain
16. Under the Doctrine of Acquiescence, a boundary line may be legally established when: → Adjacent owners have silently accepted a line as the boundary for the statutory period
17. Which principle governs the interpretation of ambiguous deed calls when later-prepared documents conflict with earlier ones? → Senior rights prevail over junior rights in conflicting conveyances
18. Which GNSS error is effectively eliminated by differencing observations between two receivers simultaneously tracking the same satellites? → Both satellite clock errors and common atmospheric errors
19. A licensed surveyor is asked to testify as an expert witness and realizes their opinion would harm their longtime client. Ethically, the surveyor should: → Provide honest, objective testimony regardless of the impact on the client
20. A building is to be laid out with corners at known state plane coordinates. The first step after setting up over a control point is to: → Orient the instrument by backsighting another control point of known coordinates
21. Which factor would most likely cause a state licensing board to impose discipline on a licensed surveyor? → Practicing in a discipline (e.g., hydrographic surveying) outside demonstrated competency
22. A surveyor discovers a gap (hiatus) between two adjoining parcels when retracing their boundaries. The most appropriate initial action is to: → Document the gap on the plat and advise the client to consult an attorney
23. In the DMD area method, 2A (double area) for the entire traverse equals: → The absolute value of Σ(Latitude × DMD) for all courses
24. In the PLSS, section 6 is always located in which corner of a township? → Northwest corner
25. A surveyor is asked to sign and seal plans prepared by an unlicensed individual. This practice is commonly called: → Plan stamping or rubber stamping
26. 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
27. A plat note states 'bearing basis: N 00°10'22" W along the west line of Section 10.' This means: → All plat bearings are oriented relative to that specific measured line
28. Multispectral remote sensing enables vegetation health assessment primarily through: → Calculation of indices such as NDVI using near-infrared and red band reflectance values
29. In the hierarchy of calls used to resolve conflicting boundary descriptions, which call type generally takes the LOWEST priority? → Area or quantity
30. Which of the following best describes an orthometric height? → Height above the geoid measured along the plumb line