Sri Lanka Licensed Surveyor Exam exam-day guide
Sri Lanka Licensed Surveyor Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission card / hall ticket
Carry a printed copy showing your candidate number, venue and reporting time. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether a digital copy is accepted or whether only a printed copy is valid.
Valid original photo ID
Bring the original ID named in your candidate instructions, commonly the Sri Lankan NIC or passport. needs_review: confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether photocopies are allowed.
Candidate instructions / appointment letter
Keep the provider's instruction sheet with your documents. Check reporting time, venue gate, prohibited items and whether the practical includes field, office or drafting tasks.
Non-programmable calculator
Bring a silent non-programmable calculator and spare batteries if it uses them. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether your model is permitted and whether programmable or graphical calculators are banned.
Pens, pencils, eraser and sharpener
Carry blue or black pens for scripts and HB/2H pencils for field notes and plotting. Bring more than one pencil; field books are often written in pencil.
Drafting and plotting tools
Bring a scale/ruler, protractor, set square and compass if the practical includes plan plotting or checking. needs_review: confirm with the provider which drafting tools are allowed in the exam room.
Bound field book and clipboard
Use a bound field book with numbered pages, not loose sheets, if you are required to record field data. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether the centre supplies field books or whether you must bring your own.
Simple wristwatch
Bring a silent, non-smart watch. Do not rely on a wall clock being visible from your seat, and do not use a smartwatch or phone as a timepiece.
Water and a light snack
Carry water in a clear container and a small snack only if the provider permits them. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your seat or only during announced breaks.
Safety footwear and weather protection
If the practical includes fieldwork, wear closed shoes and bring a hat or raincoat as appropriate. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether helmets, high-visibility vests or other PPE are required.
Transport plan and provider contact
Plan your route, identify a backup route and save the provider's contact number. Aim to reach the venue well before the reporting time to absorb security and registration delays.
Small cash and emergency items
Carry small cash for transport or an emergency, plus any personal medication you normally need. Keep valuables minimal and secured.
Plan the day
Read the candidate instructions line by line. Confirm venue, reporting time, ID rules, permitted calculator, whether instruments and field books are supplied, and the field/office practical format. Contact the provider immediately if any instruction is unclear.
Check your transport route and reporting time against traffic. Prepare the documents and tools from the checklist, test your calculator, and replace missing pencil, eraser or scale items.
Revise practical procedures you will be expected to perform, such as instrument checks, field booking, traverse or level reductions, and plan presentation. Do not start new topics; focus on routine method and units.
Pack your bag once and leave it by the door: admission card, original ID, instructions, calculator, writing tools, drafting tools, field book, watch, water and weather protection. Confirm the alarm and a backup wake-up.
Check the weather forecast and dress for the practical conditions. Avoid late-night cramming; sleep is more useful than memorising new material the night before a field or drafting paper.
Eat a normal meal, carry water, and arrive early enough to clear registration without rushing. Keep your ID and admission card accessible, not buried in your bag.
At registration, present the documents requested and listen to the briefing. If instruments are supplied, inspect them before starting and report any defect or missing part immediately.
Read all instructions and the mark allocation. Identify compulsory sections, the time allowed for field and office work, and where field data must be recorded. Ask the invigilator only for clarification of instructions, not for technical help.
Record observations directly in the approved field book, label stations and units, and note instrument details. Do not rewrite data later from memory; keep raw notes legible and dated as instructed.
Show method and working so the marker can follow your reductions. Check units, misclosure and scale before finalising. Label plans, tables and answers clearly.
Check that your candidate number is on every sheet, that all compulsory items are attempted, and that field book pages and plan sheets are submitted as instructed. Do not leave loose notes behind.
Rules to check
Bring only permitted items into the exam room. Switch off and store phones and smart devices as instructed, or leave them at home. Confirm the prohibited-item list with the provider in advance.
Present your admission card and original photo ID at registration and whenever requested. Do not attend under another candidate's details or allow anyone else to use your documents.
Work independently. Do not exchange instruments, field books, calculators, notes or data during the test unless an invigilator explicitly authorises it for a shared field task.
In any field task, follow the safety briefing, stay within the approved survey area, wear required PPE, and report damaged or unsafe equipment immediately. Do not enter restricted or unsafe ground.
Leave the hall only during announced breaks or with an invigilator's permission. Confirm with the provider whether water, snacks or toilet breaks are allowed during the practical paper.
Read the mark allocation. Method, field notes, computation, plotting and final answers may each carry marks, so show working and label units and stations clearly. Confirm the weighting with the provider if it is not stated.
If you arrive late, entry is not guaranteed. Confirm the provider's late-entry rule before exam day and do not assume you will be admitted after the start.
Maintain academic integrity. Copying, unauthorised communication or submitting someone else's field data can lead to disqualification. Confirm the provider's misconduct policy if you are unsure about any action.