Michigan (MI) Professional Surveyor Exam Most Recent exam
COMPLETE (2026) EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers)
(Latest Update 2026) Graded A+
Michigan Surveyor Exam – PART 1
(Covers PLSS, boundaries, ethics, Michigan law, plats, easements, measurements)
1. In the PLSS, how many acres are in a standard section?
A. 320
B. 160
C. 640
D. 1,280
Rationale: A standard PLSS section is 1 square mile = 640 acres.
2. How many townships are in a PLSS survey area 6 miles by 6 miles?
A. 1
B. 1 township
C. 36 townships
D. 6 townships
Rationale: A township is exactly 6 miles × 6 miles.
3. The north boundary of a township is shorter due to:
A. Soil erosion
B. Convergence of meridians
C. Magnetic declination
D. Measurement error
Rationale: Longitude lines converge toward the poles.
EXAMPREPMASTER
,4. What is a “meander line”?
A. A random traverse
B. Approximation of a natural water boundary
C. A property line
D. A township line
Rationale: Meander lines mark sinuous water boundaries for area estimation.
5. Which corner is set first in PLSS township creation?
A. NE
B. SE
C. NW
D. SW
Rationale: Surveying begins at the designated Initial Point → principal meridian → base line →
SW township corner.
6. Michigan follows which boundary doctrine for water bodies?
A. Accession
B. Riparian rights
C. Prior appropriation
D. Laches
Rationale: Michigan is a riparian rights state.
7. A boundary established by long-term occupation is called:
A. Apparent line
B. Acquiescence line
C. Protracted line
D. PLSS line
Rationale: Boundary acquiescence occurs when neighbors mutually recognize a line over time.
8. In Michigan, adverse possession typically requires:
A. 5 years
B. 10 years
C. 15 years
D. 25 years
Rationale: Michigan statute requires 15 years of hostile, open, continuous possession.
EXAMPREPMASTER
, 9. What is the purpose of a monument?
A. Identify ownership
B. Mark a boundary corner
C. Show topography
D. Mark easements
Rationale: A monument physically marks survey control or boundary points.
10. “Original evidence” in boundary retracement refers to:
A. Current fences
B. Original PLSS monuments and notes
C. Owner testimony
D. GIS boundaries
Rationale: The highest priority evidence is original survey corners and field notes.
11. What is the priority of evidence in boundary law?
A. Acreage → measurement → monuments
B. Bearings → monuments → plats
C. Monuments → bearings/distances → area
D. Record calls → area → monuments
Rationale: Monuments override measurements.
12. An easement appurtenant:
A. Benefits the public
B. Attaches to the land
C. Ends with the owner
D. Cannot be transferred
Rationale: It transfers with title to the dominant estate.
13. A prescriptive easement in Michigan generally requires:
A. 5 years
B. 10 years
C. 15 years
D. 20 years
Rationale: Similar to adverse possession: 15 years of open and continuous use.
EXAMPREPMASTER
COMPLETE (2026) EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers)
(Latest Update 2026) Graded A+
Michigan Surveyor Exam – PART 1
(Covers PLSS, boundaries, ethics, Michigan law, plats, easements, measurements)
1. In the PLSS, how many acres are in a standard section?
A. 320
B. 160
C. 640
D. 1,280
Rationale: A standard PLSS section is 1 square mile = 640 acres.
2. How many townships are in a PLSS survey area 6 miles by 6 miles?
A. 1
B. 1 township
C. 36 townships
D. 6 townships
Rationale: A township is exactly 6 miles × 6 miles.
3. The north boundary of a township is shorter due to:
A. Soil erosion
B. Convergence of meridians
C. Magnetic declination
D. Measurement error
Rationale: Longitude lines converge toward the poles.
EXAMPREPMASTER
,4. What is a “meander line”?
A. A random traverse
B. Approximation of a natural water boundary
C. A property line
D. A township line
Rationale: Meander lines mark sinuous water boundaries for area estimation.
5. Which corner is set first in PLSS township creation?
A. NE
B. SE
C. NW
D. SW
Rationale: Surveying begins at the designated Initial Point → principal meridian → base line →
SW township corner.
6. Michigan follows which boundary doctrine for water bodies?
A. Accession
B. Riparian rights
C. Prior appropriation
D. Laches
Rationale: Michigan is a riparian rights state.
7. A boundary established by long-term occupation is called:
A. Apparent line
B. Acquiescence line
C. Protracted line
D. PLSS line
Rationale: Boundary acquiescence occurs when neighbors mutually recognize a line over time.
8. In Michigan, adverse possession typically requires:
A. 5 years
B. 10 years
C. 15 years
D. 25 years
Rationale: Michigan statute requires 15 years of hostile, open, continuous possession.
EXAMPREPMASTER
, 9. What is the purpose of a monument?
A. Identify ownership
B. Mark a boundary corner
C. Show topography
D. Mark easements
Rationale: A monument physically marks survey control or boundary points.
10. “Original evidence” in boundary retracement refers to:
A. Current fences
B. Original PLSS monuments and notes
C. Owner testimony
D. GIS boundaries
Rationale: The highest priority evidence is original survey corners and field notes.
11. What is the priority of evidence in boundary law?
A. Acreage → measurement → monuments
B. Bearings → monuments → plats
C. Monuments → bearings/distances → area
D. Record calls → area → monuments
Rationale: Monuments override measurements.
12. An easement appurtenant:
A. Benefits the public
B. Attaches to the land
C. Ends with the owner
D. Cannot be transferred
Rationale: It transfers with title to the dominant estate.
13. A prescriptive easement in Michigan generally requires:
A. 5 years
B. 10 years
C. 15 years
D. 20 years
Rationale: Similar to adverse possession: 15 years of open and continuous use.
EXAMPREPMASTER
