HKIS LSD APC Part I Written Assessment

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About this exam

The Authorized Person (Surveying) Part I Written Assessment is the written component of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) Land Surveying Division Assessment of Professional Competence. Passing it, together with the remaining APC requirements, is one of the routes by which a land surveyor in Hong Kong demonstrates the professional breadth expected of an Authorized Person (Surveying) under the Buildings Ordinance - someone who can take responsibility for site formation, earthworks and building-related surveying work and deal with the Buildings Department, Lands Department and allied authorities. It suits candidates who already hold the academic qualification recognised by the HKIS, have completed the required structured training or equivalent experience, and are moving from technical competence into statutory and professional responsibility. The paper is written and long-form: you are asked to reason in prose, apply ordinance provisions to a scenario, justify a boundary or setting-out decision, and write as a professional rather than recall a list. Preparation therefore means working through the Buildings Ordinance and allied legislation, boundary and cadastral practice, control and deformation surveying, lease administration and site safety, then practising timed written answers with a senior surveyor reviewing your reasoning. The HKIS publishes the current syllabus, entry requirements, examination timetable, fees and results arrangements; confirm all administrative details directly with the Institute, as this page is independent study material and is not affiliated with the HKIS or any government department.

What you'll study

Common questions

About HKIS LSD APC Part I Written Assessment preparation

What is the format of the Part I Written Assessment?

It is a written, long-form paper: you answer essay and structured questions in prose rather than multiple choice. Expect to explain statutory provisions, apply them to a described situation, and set out professional reasoning and conclusions. The HKIS syllabus and examination notice define the current paper structure and any choice of questions.

How long is the exam and how many questions are there?

The HKIS sets and publishes the current duration, question count and paper structure for each diet. These are not fixed for all time, so check the examination notice and syllabus on the HKIS website before you plan your timing practice. Do not rely on second-hand figures from previous years.

Is there a pass mark or published pass rate?

The HKIS determines and publishes its current assessment standards and results arrangements. Rather than working to a rumoured percentage, aim to answer every required question completely, with correct statutory references and a clear professional conclusion. Confirm the current requirements with the Institute directly.

How difficult is the paper?

The difficulty is breadth rather than trickery. Most candidates know their own specialism well but are weaker on the statutory and administrative domains - lease conditions, Buildings Ordinance procedures, professional liability. The paper rewards candidates who can write a structured answer across all domains, not just the one they practise daily.

What happens if I fail - can I retake?

Retake and re-sit arrangements, including any limits on attempts or required waiting periods, are set by the HKIS and can change. Check the current APC regulations and examination notice on the HKIS website, and speak to your supervisor or the Division early so that a re-sit is planned alongside your remaining APC components.

In what order should I study the domains?

Start with the statutory framework, because boundary, lease and construction questions all hang off it. Then take boundary determination and land administration together, followed by geodetic, setting-out and instrumentation topics. Finish with professional practice, supervision and report-writing, and practise full written answers under time in the last weeks.

What are the most common failure modes?

Answering with site anecdote instead of statute; citing a provision without applying it to the facts; ignoring the question's second part; and writing an unstructured stream of consciousness. Weak candidates also skip the professional-judgement question or give a conclusion with no reasoning. Practise writing short, headed answers with an explicit recommendation.

How should I prepare in the final month?

Write at least one full timed paper and have a senior surveyor mark it against the syllabus. Build a one-page summary of the ordinance provisions you most often misquote. Rehearse explaining boundary, lease-modification and site-supervision scenarios aloud, then convert those explanations into written answers of the length the paper demands.

Does this page or my study course make me eligible to sit?

No. Eligibility depends on your academic qualification, training and experience as assessed by the HKIS. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with the HKIS, the Buildings Department or the Lands Department. Confirm eligibility, fees, dates and results arrangements only through the Institute's official channels.