HKIS LSD APC Part I Written Assessment exam-day guide
HKIS LSD APC Part I Written Assessment · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exact date, start time, and venue with the provider
The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) issues candidate notices for the Land Surveying Advisory Panel Committee (LSD APC) Part I Written Assessment. Do not rely on second-hand dates. Re-check the venue and reporting time on your admission document, and confirm whether the paper is held at the HKIS office or another venue - confirm with the provider.
Print your admission document / candidate slip
Bring the admission notice or candidate slip issued by the provider, plus a printout of the confirmation email if no formal slip is issued. Check that your name matches your identity document exactly. If no slip has arrived, contact the HKIS secretariat - the exact document name and whether a printed copy is mandatory should be confirmed with the provider.
Bring your Hong Kong Identity Card (or passport)
Photo identification is required for admission to the hall. Use the same ID you registered with. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry - the list of accepted identity documents should be confirmed with the provider.
Pack black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written papers are typically answered in ink on answer booklets. Carry two working pens of the same colour and a spare. Confirm whether correction fluid or tape is permitted; many professional bodies discourage or prohibit it - confirm with the provider.
Bring pencils, eraser, and a sharpener
Useful for rough work, sketches, and any multiple-choice answer sheet. Keep rough work clearly labelled and separate from the answer booklet so it is not mistaken for an answer.
Bring a silent, non-programmable calculator
Land surveying questions may involve area, bearing, scale, or coordinate computations. Confirm whether programmable or graphing calculators are allowed and whether a specific model list applies - confirm with the provider.
Bring a simple ruler or scale rule
A clear plastic ruler with metric graduations is useful for sketches and any not-to-scale diagrams. Check the candidate notice for any prohibited items before packing specialist instruments.
Leave reference books and notes at home
Assume a closed-book format unless your candidate notice states otherwise. Bringing unauthorised printed or handwritten material into the hall risks a misconduct finding - confirm the open/closed-book status with the provider.
Switch off and stow your phone and smartwatch
Turn devices fully off (not silent) and place them in your bag, not on your person or desk. A device sounding or being visible during the paper can lead to disqualification.
Plan the journey and arrive early
Aim to reach the venue well before the reporting time to allow for registration and seating. Check transport disruptions and weather warnings the night before; if a typhoon or black rainstorm signal is in force, follow the provider's published arrangements - confirm the exact cut-off rule with the provider.
Read the paper's instructions before writing
Check the number of questions, any compulsory sections, the choice rules, and the time allowed. Note the marks per question so you can allocate time proportionally.
Bring water and a light snack for afterwards
Water in a clear container is usually acceptable if kept under the desk; confirm the venue's rules on drinks and food. Plan food for after the paper rather than during it unless breaks are scheduled.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate notice end to end: date, reporting time, venue, permitted items, and any declared format (open or closed book, essay or short answer). Confirm the syllabus scope for Part I and check which topics are examinable. Resolve any uncertainty with the HKIS secretariat by email so you have a written answer.
Do a final consolidated revision pass rather than new material. Focus on the core Land Surveying APC areas: principles of boundary and cadastral surveying in Hong Kong, coordinate and geodetic systems, control and traversing, detail and topographic survey, setting out, and the professional and statutory context of survey practice. Write one-page summary sheets you can review in the final hour.
Do at least one timed practice paper under exam conditions: no notes, fixed time, handwriting answers. Mark it against the syllabus and note where you ran out of time. Adjust your per-question time budget accordingly.
Prepare and pack your kit bag: admission document, ID, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, calculator with fresh batteries, ruler, and a watch. Lay it by the door. Check your calculator works and is not in a prohibited category.
Confirm the venue location on a map, the nearest MTR exit or bus stop, and the door you should enter. Check the weather forecast and any transport notices. Set two alarms and plan to arrive with a comfortable buffer.
Do a light review of your summary sheets only. Rehearse the structure you will use for longer answers: state the principle, apply it to the Hong Kong context, give the practical procedure, and note the professional or statutory implication. Stop studying early enough to sleep properly.
Eat a proper meal and arrive at the venue early. Re-read only your one-page summaries - no new topics. Switch your phone off before entering the building and keep your ID and admission document in your hand for registration.
Check your desk number against your candidate slip, place ID on the desk if instructed, and read the front cover of the question paper carefully. Fill in all candidate details on the answer booklet before the start signal.
Read the whole paper before writing. Mark questions you can answer well, note the marks available, and sketch a time allocation. Start with your strongest question to build momentum, but keep to the clock.
Answer in the required format and show working for calculations so partial credit can be awarded. Use headings and numbered points for procedural answers. If a question stalls you, leave space, move on, and return at the end.
Stop writing new content and check: every required question attempted, candidate details completed, page numbers correct, and rough work clearly separated. Cross out anything you do not want marked. Use remaining time to finish a stalled answer rather than to start a new one.
Note down the topics that appeared and any question types that surprised you, for future APC stages. Do not discuss answers in a way that could be seen as collusion if other candidates are still to sit - confirm the provider's rules on post-exam discussion.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identity document you registered with. If you cannot produce acceptable photo ID, you may be refused entry or your paper may not be marked - confirm the accepted documents and the procedure for lost ID with the provider.
Arrive by the reporting time stated on your candidate notice. Late admission is at the discretion of the invigilator, and no extra time is normally granted for late arrival. The exact cut-off for admission should be confirmed with the provider.
Assume the assessment is closed book unless your notice says otherwise. Do not bring notes, textbooks, annotated materials, or any unauthorised aid into the hall; possession of such material can be treated as misconduct.
Switch off all electronic devices, including phones, smartwatches, and any device with communication or storage capability, and stow them away. Only a permitted calculator may be on your desk.
Do not communicate with other candidates once you are in the hall. Do not look at another candidate's paper, pass anything, or attempt to read notes during a toilet break. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need assistance.
If you need to leave the hall, raise your hand and wait to be escorted. Time lost is not normally made up. Whether supervised toilet breaks are permitted, and how many, should be confirmed with the provider.
Write only in the answer booklet or on the stationery provided, and only in the permitted ink colour. Anything written on the question paper or on unauthorised paper will not be marked.
At the end of the paper, stop writing immediately when instructed and remain seated until papers are collected. Continuing to write after the stop signal can result in a penalty or a misconduct finding - confirm the provider's penalty policy.