Iowa Professional Land Surveyor
Examination Advanced 100-Question
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. A closed traverse has a measured angular misclosure of 20 seconds with
five interior angles. Assuming equal angular weighting, what correction
should be applied to each angle?
A. 2 seconds
B. 4 seconds
C. 5 seconds
D. 10 seconds
Answer: 4 seconds
Rationale: The total angular misclosure is distributed equally among five angles:
20 ÷ 5 = 4 seconds per angle. The corrections must be applied with the sign
opposite the misclosure.
, 2. A total station measures a slope distance of 1,250.000 ft at a zenith angle of
92°30′. What is the approximate horizontal distance?
A. 54.5 ft
B. 1,247.9 ft
C. 1,249.5 ft
D. 1,252.1 ft
Answer: 1,247.9 ft
Rationale: Horizontal distance equals slope distance multiplied by the sine of the
zenith angle. Since sin(92°30′) is approximately 0.998, the horizontal distance is
approximately 1,247.9 ft.
3. In a least-squares adjustment, an observation with twice the standard
deviation of another observation should generally receive what relative
weight?
A. Twice the weight
B. Four times the weight
C. One-half the weight
D. One-fourth the weight
Answer: One-fourth the weight
Rationale: Observation weight is inversely proportional to variance. Because
variance is the square of standard deviation, doubling the standard deviation
reduces the weight by a factor of four.
4. A surveyor establishes a benchmark by differential leveling. The backsight
sum is 8.432 ft and the foresight sum is 9.017 ft. What is the elevation
change from the starting benchmark to the closing point?
A. +0.585 ft
B. −0.585 ft
C. +17.449 ft
D. −17.449 ft
,Answer: −0.585 ft
Rationale: Elevation change equals total backsights minus total foresights: 8.432
− 9.017 = −0.585 ft.
5. A level loop closes with a 0.024-ft misclosure over 16 setup miles. If the
allowable error is proportional to the square root of distance, which
statement is correct?
A. The error limit is proportional to 16
B. The error limit is proportional to 256
C. The error limit is proportional to 4
D. The error limit is independent of distance
Answer: The error limit is proportional to 4
Rationale: Many leveling specifications use a tolerance proportional to √K, where
K is the total distance in miles. √16 = 4.
6. Which coordinate transformation is most appropriate when converting
between two planar coordinate systems while preserving angles locally but
allowing scale and rotation differences?
A. Simple translation only
B. Four-parameter similarity transformation
C. Vertical datum transformation
D. One-dimensional chain transformation
Answer: Four-parameter similarity transformation
Rationale: A two-dimensional similarity transformation includes two translations,
one rotation, and one scale factor. It is commonly used when two coordinate
systems differ by these parameters.
7. A property description calls for a line bearing N 35°20′ E and a distance of
480.00 ft. What is the approximate northing component?
, A. 276.5 ft
B. 393.0 ft
C. 480.0 ft
D. 225.1 ft
Answer: 393.0 ft
Rationale: For a northeast bearing, the northing component is D cos θ. Thus, 480
cos 35°20′ is approximately 393.0 ft.
8. A deed calls for S 62°10′ W. What is the corresponding azimuth?
A. 62°10′
B. 117°50′
C. 242°10′
D. 297°50′
Answer: 242°10′
Rationale: A southwest quadrant bearing is converted to azimuth by adding 180°
to the bearing angle: 180° + 62°10′ = 242°10′.
9. Two GNSS receivers occupy stations 3,000 ft apart. The baseline solution is
affected by significant multipath at one station. Which approach is
generally most appropriate?
A. Increase the coordinate decimal places
B. Repeat observations using different satellite geometry and/or observation
periods
C. Remove the station from the control network automatically
D. Use the antenna height as the only correction
Answer: Repeat observations using different satellite geometry and/or
observation periods
Rationale: Multipath is environment-dependent and may not be eliminated
simply by averaging short observations. Independent observation sessions and
improved site conditions can help identify and reduce its effect.
Examination Advanced 100-Question
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. A closed traverse has a measured angular misclosure of 20 seconds with
five interior angles. Assuming equal angular weighting, what correction
should be applied to each angle?
A. 2 seconds
B. 4 seconds
C. 5 seconds
D. 10 seconds
Answer: 4 seconds
Rationale: The total angular misclosure is distributed equally among five angles:
20 ÷ 5 = 4 seconds per angle. The corrections must be applied with the sign
opposite the misclosure.
, 2. A total station measures a slope distance of 1,250.000 ft at a zenith angle of
92°30′. What is the approximate horizontal distance?
A. 54.5 ft
B. 1,247.9 ft
C. 1,249.5 ft
D. 1,252.1 ft
Answer: 1,247.9 ft
Rationale: Horizontal distance equals slope distance multiplied by the sine of the
zenith angle. Since sin(92°30′) is approximately 0.998, the horizontal distance is
approximately 1,247.9 ft.
3. In a least-squares adjustment, an observation with twice the standard
deviation of another observation should generally receive what relative
weight?
A. Twice the weight
B. Four times the weight
C. One-half the weight
D. One-fourth the weight
Answer: One-fourth the weight
Rationale: Observation weight is inversely proportional to variance. Because
variance is the square of standard deviation, doubling the standard deviation
reduces the weight by a factor of four.
4. A surveyor establishes a benchmark by differential leveling. The backsight
sum is 8.432 ft and the foresight sum is 9.017 ft. What is the elevation
change from the starting benchmark to the closing point?
A. +0.585 ft
B. −0.585 ft
C. +17.449 ft
D. −17.449 ft
,Answer: −0.585 ft
Rationale: Elevation change equals total backsights minus total foresights: 8.432
− 9.017 = −0.585 ft.
5. A level loop closes with a 0.024-ft misclosure over 16 setup miles. If the
allowable error is proportional to the square root of distance, which
statement is correct?
A. The error limit is proportional to 16
B. The error limit is proportional to 256
C. The error limit is proportional to 4
D. The error limit is independent of distance
Answer: The error limit is proportional to 4
Rationale: Many leveling specifications use a tolerance proportional to √K, where
K is the total distance in miles. √16 = 4.
6. Which coordinate transformation is most appropriate when converting
between two planar coordinate systems while preserving angles locally but
allowing scale and rotation differences?
A. Simple translation only
B. Four-parameter similarity transformation
C. Vertical datum transformation
D. One-dimensional chain transformation
Answer: Four-parameter similarity transformation
Rationale: A two-dimensional similarity transformation includes two translations,
one rotation, and one scale factor. It is commonly used when two coordinate
systems differ by these parameters.
7. A property description calls for a line bearing N 35°20′ E and a distance of
480.00 ft. What is the approximate northing component?
, A. 276.5 ft
B. 393.0 ft
C. 480.0 ft
D. 225.1 ft
Answer: 393.0 ft
Rationale: For a northeast bearing, the northing component is D cos θ. Thus, 480
cos 35°20′ is approximately 393.0 ft.
8. A deed calls for S 62°10′ W. What is the corresponding azimuth?
A. 62°10′
B. 117°50′
C. 242°10′
D. 297°50′
Answer: 242°10′
Rationale: A southwest quadrant bearing is converted to azimuth by adding 180°
to the bearing angle: 180° + 62°10′ = 242°10′.
9. Two GNSS receivers occupy stations 3,000 ft apart. The baseline solution is
affected by significant multipath at one station. Which approach is
generally most appropriate?
A. Increase the coordinate decimal places
B. Repeat observations using different satellite geometry and/or observation
periods
C. Remove the station from the control network automatically
D. Use the antenna height as the only correction
Answer: Repeat observations using different satellite geometry and/or
observation periods
Rationale: Multipath is environment-dependent and may not be eliminated
simply by averaging short observations. Independent observation sessions and
improved site conditions can help identify and reduce its effect.
