FLORIDA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL
SURVEYORS AND MAPPERS
FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING EXAM
WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A total station is used to measure a horizontal angle from point A
to point B. The backsight direction is 125°20′40″ and the foresight
direction is 214°35′10″. What is the clockwise horizontal angle?
A. 79°14′30″
B. 89°14′30″
C. 99°14′30″
D. 339°14′30″
Answer: B. 89°14′30″
Rationale: Subtract the backsight direction from the foresight
direction: 214°35′10″ − 125°20′40″ = 89°14′30″. The result is already
less than 360°, so no angular wraparound is necessary.
2. A 100-ft steel tape is standardized at 68°F, but field
measurements are made at 98°F. If the coefficient of thermal
expansion is 0.00000645/°F, what correction should be applied to a
measured 500-ft distance?
A. +0.0968 ft
B. +0.0484 ft
1
,C. −0.0968 ft
D. −0.1935 ft
Answer: A. +0.0968 ft
Rationale: The temperature correction is C = αLΔT. Here, α =
0.00000645/°F, L = 500 ft, and ΔT = 98 − 68 = 30°F. Thus C =
0.00000645 × 500 × 30 = 0.09675 ft. Because the tape becomes longer
at the higher temperature, the measured distance is too short and the
correction is positive.
3. A benchmark has an elevation of 742.36 ft. A backsight of 5.42 ft
is observed on the benchmark and a foresight of 7.18 ft is observed
on a new turning point. What is the elevation of the turning point?
A. 740.60 ft
B. 744.12 ft
C. 747.78 ft
D. 735.18 ft
Answer: A. 740.60 ft
Rationale: First calculate the height of instrument: HI = 742.36 + 5.42
= 747.78 ft. The turning-point elevation is HI − FS = 747.78 − 7.18 =
740.60 ft.
4. A differential leveling circuit begins and ends on benchmarks
whose known elevation difference is +12.438 ft. The computed
elevation difference from the observations is +12.452 ft. What is the
misclosure?
A. −0.014 ft
B. +0.014 ft
2
,C. +0.028 ft
D. −12.438 ft
Answer: B. +0.014 ft
Rationale: Misclosure equals observed elevation difference minus
known elevation difference. Therefore, 12.452 − 12.438 = +0.014 ft.
The positive sign indicates that the observed elevation difference
exceeds the known difference by 0.014 ft.
5. A closed traverse has the following measured interior angles:
62°15′20″, 94°40′10″, 83°05′30″, and 120°00′00″.
What is the angular misclosure?
A. −0°01′00″
B. +0°01′00″
C. +0°02′00″
D. −0°02′00″
Answer: B. +0°01′00″
Rationale: For a four-sided closed traverse, the theoretical interior-
angle sum is (4 − 2)180° = 360°. The observed sum is 62°15′20″ +
94°40′10″ + 83°05′30″ + 120°00′00″ = 360°01′00″. Therefore, the
angular misclosure is +0°01′00″.
6. Which surveying principle is most directly associated with
occupying a known point and backsighting another known point
before measuring unknown directions?
A. Independent observations
B. Orientation
3
, C. Random adjustment
D. Differential leveling
Answer: B. Orientation
Rationale: Orientation establishes the relationship between the
instrument's angular reference system and a known direction. A
backsight to a known point is commonly used to orient a total station
or theodolite.
7. A line has a bearing of S 35°20′ E. What is its azimuth?
A. 35°20′
B. 144°40′
C. 215°20′
D. 324°40′
Answer: B. 144°40′
Rationale: A bearing of S θ E is converted to azimuth by 180° − θ.
Therefore, 180° − 35°20′ = 144°40′.
8. A line has an azimuth of 278°15′. What is its quadrant bearing?
A. N 81°45′ W
B. S 81°45′ W
C. N 11°45′ W
D. S 11°45′ E
Answer: A. N 81°45′ W
Rationale: An azimuth between 270° and 360° lies in the northwest
quadrant. The bearing angle is 360° − 278°15′ = 81°45′, giving N
81°45′ W.
4
SURVEYORS AND MAPPERS
FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING EXAM
WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A total station is used to measure a horizontal angle from point A
to point B. The backsight direction is 125°20′40″ and the foresight
direction is 214°35′10″. What is the clockwise horizontal angle?
A. 79°14′30″
B. 89°14′30″
C. 99°14′30″
D. 339°14′30″
Answer: B. 89°14′30″
Rationale: Subtract the backsight direction from the foresight
direction: 214°35′10″ − 125°20′40″ = 89°14′30″. The result is already
less than 360°, so no angular wraparound is necessary.
2. A 100-ft steel tape is standardized at 68°F, but field
measurements are made at 98°F. If the coefficient of thermal
expansion is 0.00000645/°F, what correction should be applied to a
measured 500-ft distance?
A. +0.0968 ft
B. +0.0484 ft
1
,C. −0.0968 ft
D. −0.1935 ft
Answer: A. +0.0968 ft
Rationale: The temperature correction is C = αLΔT. Here, α =
0.00000645/°F, L = 500 ft, and ΔT = 98 − 68 = 30°F. Thus C =
0.00000645 × 500 × 30 = 0.09675 ft. Because the tape becomes longer
at the higher temperature, the measured distance is too short and the
correction is positive.
3. A benchmark has an elevation of 742.36 ft. A backsight of 5.42 ft
is observed on the benchmark and a foresight of 7.18 ft is observed
on a new turning point. What is the elevation of the turning point?
A. 740.60 ft
B. 744.12 ft
C. 747.78 ft
D. 735.18 ft
Answer: A. 740.60 ft
Rationale: First calculate the height of instrument: HI = 742.36 + 5.42
= 747.78 ft. The turning-point elevation is HI − FS = 747.78 − 7.18 =
740.60 ft.
4. A differential leveling circuit begins and ends on benchmarks
whose known elevation difference is +12.438 ft. The computed
elevation difference from the observations is +12.452 ft. What is the
misclosure?
A. −0.014 ft
B. +0.014 ft
2
,C. +0.028 ft
D. −12.438 ft
Answer: B. +0.014 ft
Rationale: Misclosure equals observed elevation difference minus
known elevation difference. Therefore, 12.452 − 12.438 = +0.014 ft.
The positive sign indicates that the observed elevation difference
exceeds the known difference by 0.014 ft.
5. A closed traverse has the following measured interior angles:
62°15′20″, 94°40′10″, 83°05′30″, and 120°00′00″.
What is the angular misclosure?
A. −0°01′00″
B. +0°01′00″
C. +0°02′00″
D. −0°02′00″
Answer: B. +0°01′00″
Rationale: For a four-sided closed traverse, the theoretical interior-
angle sum is (4 − 2)180° = 360°. The observed sum is 62°15′20″ +
94°40′10″ + 83°05′30″ + 120°00′00″ = 360°01′00″. Therefore, the
angular misclosure is +0°01′00″.
6. Which surveying principle is most directly associated with
occupying a known point and backsighting another known point
before measuring unknown directions?
A. Independent observations
B. Orientation
3
, C. Random adjustment
D. Differential leveling
Answer: B. Orientation
Rationale: Orientation establishes the relationship between the
instrument's angular reference system and a known direction. A
backsight to a known point is commonly used to orient a total station
or theodolite.
7. A line has a bearing of S 35°20′ E. What is its azimuth?
A. 35°20′
B. 144°40′
C. 215°20′
D. 324°40′
Answer: B. 144°40′
Rationale: A bearing of S θ E is converted to azimuth by 180° − θ.
Therefore, 180° − 35°20′ = 144°40′.
8. A line has an azimuth of 278°15′. What is its quadrant bearing?
A. N 81°45′ W
B. S 81°45′ W
C. N 11°45′ W
D. S 11°45′ E
Answer: A. N 81°45′ W
Rationale: An azimuth between 270° and 360° lies in the northwest
quadrant. The bearing angle is 360° − 278°15′ = 81°45′, giving N
81°45′ W.
4
