ILLINOIS JURISDICTIONAL LAND SURVEYOR EXAM 2026-2027 |
ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (CORRECT ANSWERS) PLUS
DETAILED RATIONALES | COMPLETE STUDYGUIDE|
GUARANTEED PASS | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF 2027-2028
1. Which Illinois professional is authorized to perform and offer to perform land surveying
services that require professional judgment under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor
Act?
A. Any property owner familiar with boundary descriptions
B. A person licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois
C. Any civil engineer regardless of licensure status
D. Any title insurance professional
Answer: B
A Professional Land Surveyor licensed under Illinois law is authorized to practice land
surveying when the work falls within the regulated scope of professional land surveying.
2. A surveyor discovers that a client's requested boundary survey would require
determining the location of an uncertain original monument. What is the most appropriate
professional response?
A. Use the client's preferred boundary location
B. Rely solely on the most recent tax map
C. Evaluate the evidence and apply professional judgment to determine the boundary
D. Transfer the boundary from a neighboring parcel without further investigation
Answer: C
Boundary surveying requires evaluation of evidence, including monuments, records,
measurements, and occupation. The surveyor must exercise independent professional
judgment rather than simply adopting a client's desired result.
3. Which document is generally most important when determining the original intent of a
written land conveyance?
A. The deed creating or describing the interest
B. The current property tax bill
C. A recent aerial photograph
D. The owner's mortgage statement
Answer: A
,The conveyance document is primary evidence of the estate or interest intended to be
conveyed. Other evidence may help resolve ambiguities, but a tax bill or aerial image does
not replace the operative deed.
4. During a boundary survey, the surveyor finds an existing iron rod that conflicts with the
calculated position from record dimensions. What should the surveyor generally do first?
A. Remove the iron rod
B. Ignore the monument because the calculation is mathematically precise
C. Ask the client which location should be used
D. Investigate the monument's origin, reliability, and relationship to other evidence
Answer: D
A found monument must be evaluated as evidence. The surveyor should investigate its origin
and reliability and compare it with deeds, plats, occupation, adjoining surveys, and other
relevant evidence before reaching a boundary conclusion.
5. Which activity is most clearly within the professional scope of land surveying?
A. Preparing a structural steel connection design
B. Determining the location of property boundaries
C. Diagnosing a building's electrical system
D. Preparing a medical site assessment
Answer: B
Determining the location and extent of real property boundaries is a core land-surveying
function.
6. An Illinois surveyor is asked to certify a survey prepared entirely by another
professional whom the surveyor did not supervise. What is the principal concern?
A. Certification may imply professional responsibility for work not adequately reviewed or
controlled
B. The surveyor can certify it automatically if the client approves
C. Certification is unnecessary on all boundary surveys
D. The surveyor may certify any drawing bearing another professional's signature
Answer: A
A professional certification carries responsibility. A surveyor should not certify work without
an appropriate level of knowledge, review, and professional responsibility for the work being
certified.
,7. When researching a boundary, which source should normally receive the greatest
evidentiary attention when it establishes the original property division?
A. Aerial imagery
B. A current GIS parcel layer
C. The original controlling conveyance or plat evidence
D. A homeowner's sketch
Answer: C
Original conveyance and subdivision evidence generally provide the foundation for
determining the legal framework of a boundary. GIS and aerial imagery can be useful but are
not substitutes for controlling land records.
8. A surveyor discovers a material error in a previously issued survey. What is the most
appropriate ethical response?
A. Conceal the error unless someone complains
B. Correct or address the error promptly and appropriately
C. Delete all copies of the survey
D. Blame the field crew without investigation
Answer: B
Professional responsibility requires appropriate action when a material error is discovered.
Depending on the circumstances, this may involve notifying affected parties and issuing a
corrected document.
9. Which principle is most important when reconciling conflicting evidence in a boundary
survey?
A. Always select the measurement with the smallest numerical difference
B. Always use the newest survey
C. Always favor the client's requested location
D. Evaluate the relative reliability and legal significance of the evidence
Answer: D
Boundary resolution is not simply a mathematical exercise. The surveyor evaluates the
hierarchy, reliability, and circumstances surrounding monuments, calls, records, occupation,
and measurements.
10. A client asks an Illinois surveyor to alter a boundary line on a plat so that it appears to
place more land within the client's parcel. What should the surveyor do?
, A. Refuse to make a misleading alteration
B. Make the change if the client pays an additional fee
C. Change the line but omit the certification
D. Let the drafting technician decide
Answer: A
A surveyor must maintain professional integrity and may not knowingly create a misleading
representation of property boundaries.
11. Which statement best describes the purpose of a professional land surveyor's seal?
A. It guarantees that a client will win a boundary dispute
B. It identifies the professional who takes responsibility for the professional work
C. It transfers ownership of the surveyed property
D. It replaces the need for field evidence
Answer: B
The professional seal identifies the licensed professional responsible for the work and
certification to the extent stated by the applicable law and certification.
12. A surveyor is preparing a boundary survey and encounters a recorded easement
affecting the property. Why should the easement be investigated?
A. Easements never affect boundary surveys
B. Easements automatically transfer title
C. The easement may affect rights or the survey information that must be shown
D. Easements only matter to lenders
Answer: C
Recorded easements can affect rights associated with land and may be relevant to the survey,
its research, and the information shown on the final product.
13. Which action best demonstrates competent survey practice?
A. Performing only the minimum calculations necessary to produce a drawing
B. Relying on a single online parcel map
C. Using professional judgment after reviewing appropriate records and field evidence
D. Accepting a prior survey without evaluating its relevance
Answer: C
Competent practice requires appropriate research, field investigation, analysis,
documentation, and professional judgment.
ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (CORRECT ANSWERS) PLUS
DETAILED RATIONALES | COMPLETE STUDYGUIDE|
GUARANTEED PASS | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF 2027-2028
1. Which Illinois professional is authorized to perform and offer to perform land surveying
services that require professional judgment under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor
Act?
A. Any property owner familiar with boundary descriptions
B. A person licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois
C. Any civil engineer regardless of licensure status
D. Any title insurance professional
Answer: B
A Professional Land Surveyor licensed under Illinois law is authorized to practice land
surveying when the work falls within the regulated scope of professional land surveying.
2. A surveyor discovers that a client's requested boundary survey would require
determining the location of an uncertain original monument. What is the most appropriate
professional response?
A. Use the client's preferred boundary location
B. Rely solely on the most recent tax map
C. Evaluate the evidence and apply professional judgment to determine the boundary
D. Transfer the boundary from a neighboring parcel without further investigation
Answer: C
Boundary surveying requires evaluation of evidence, including monuments, records,
measurements, and occupation. The surveyor must exercise independent professional
judgment rather than simply adopting a client's desired result.
3. Which document is generally most important when determining the original intent of a
written land conveyance?
A. The deed creating or describing the interest
B. The current property tax bill
C. A recent aerial photograph
D. The owner's mortgage statement
Answer: A
,The conveyance document is primary evidence of the estate or interest intended to be
conveyed. Other evidence may help resolve ambiguities, but a tax bill or aerial image does
not replace the operative deed.
4. During a boundary survey, the surveyor finds an existing iron rod that conflicts with the
calculated position from record dimensions. What should the surveyor generally do first?
A. Remove the iron rod
B. Ignore the monument because the calculation is mathematically precise
C. Ask the client which location should be used
D. Investigate the monument's origin, reliability, and relationship to other evidence
Answer: D
A found monument must be evaluated as evidence. The surveyor should investigate its origin
and reliability and compare it with deeds, plats, occupation, adjoining surveys, and other
relevant evidence before reaching a boundary conclusion.
5. Which activity is most clearly within the professional scope of land surveying?
A. Preparing a structural steel connection design
B. Determining the location of property boundaries
C. Diagnosing a building's electrical system
D. Preparing a medical site assessment
Answer: B
Determining the location and extent of real property boundaries is a core land-surveying
function.
6. An Illinois surveyor is asked to certify a survey prepared entirely by another
professional whom the surveyor did not supervise. What is the principal concern?
A. Certification may imply professional responsibility for work not adequately reviewed or
controlled
B. The surveyor can certify it automatically if the client approves
C. Certification is unnecessary on all boundary surveys
D. The surveyor may certify any drawing bearing another professional's signature
Answer: A
A professional certification carries responsibility. A surveyor should not certify work without
an appropriate level of knowledge, review, and professional responsibility for the work being
certified.
,7. When researching a boundary, which source should normally receive the greatest
evidentiary attention when it establishes the original property division?
A. Aerial imagery
B. A current GIS parcel layer
C. The original controlling conveyance or plat evidence
D. A homeowner's sketch
Answer: C
Original conveyance and subdivision evidence generally provide the foundation for
determining the legal framework of a boundary. GIS and aerial imagery can be useful but are
not substitutes for controlling land records.
8. A surveyor discovers a material error in a previously issued survey. What is the most
appropriate ethical response?
A. Conceal the error unless someone complains
B. Correct or address the error promptly and appropriately
C. Delete all copies of the survey
D. Blame the field crew without investigation
Answer: B
Professional responsibility requires appropriate action when a material error is discovered.
Depending on the circumstances, this may involve notifying affected parties and issuing a
corrected document.
9. Which principle is most important when reconciling conflicting evidence in a boundary
survey?
A. Always select the measurement with the smallest numerical difference
B. Always use the newest survey
C. Always favor the client's requested location
D. Evaluate the relative reliability and legal significance of the evidence
Answer: D
Boundary resolution is not simply a mathematical exercise. The surveyor evaluates the
hierarchy, reliability, and circumstances surrounding monuments, calls, records, occupation,
and measurements.
10. A client asks an Illinois surveyor to alter a boundary line on a plat so that it appears to
place more land within the client's parcel. What should the surveyor do?
, A. Refuse to make a misleading alteration
B. Make the change if the client pays an additional fee
C. Change the line but omit the certification
D. Let the drafting technician decide
Answer: A
A surveyor must maintain professional integrity and may not knowingly create a misleading
representation of property boundaries.
11. Which statement best describes the purpose of a professional land surveyor's seal?
A. It guarantees that a client will win a boundary dispute
B. It identifies the professional who takes responsibility for the professional work
C. It transfers ownership of the surveyed property
D. It replaces the need for field evidence
Answer: B
The professional seal identifies the licensed professional responsible for the work and
certification to the extent stated by the applicable law and certification.
12. A surveyor is preparing a boundary survey and encounters a recorded easement
affecting the property. Why should the easement be investigated?
A. Easements never affect boundary surveys
B. Easements automatically transfer title
C. The easement may affect rights or the survey information that must be shown
D. Easements only matter to lenders
Answer: C
Recorded easements can affect rights associated with land and may be relevant to the survey,
its research, and the information shown on the final product.
13. Which action best demonstrates competent survey practice?
A. Performing only the minimum calculations necessary to produce a drawing
B. Relying on a single online parcel map
C. Using professional judgment after reviewing appropriate records and field evidence
D. Accepting a prior survey without evaluating its relevance
Answer: C
Competent practice requires appropriate research, field investigation, analysis,
documentation, and professional judgment.
