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NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I study materials
NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I study resources

NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I practice questions

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Question 1Field Track

A total station is set up and leveled over a control point. Which action removes the remaining horizontal angular error caused by the instrument not being exactly centered over the mark?

  1. Plumb the instrument precisely over the point again Correct answer.
  2. Take a backsight and foresight reading with the telescope plunged
  3. Measure the height of instrument and record it
  4. Observe the point in both face-left and face-right positions

Explanation

Centering error shifts the instrument's vertical axis away from the station mark, which introduces a horizontal angle error that grows as the sight lines shorten. Re-plumbing (or using an optical/laser plummet) minimizes this offset. Face-left/face-right observations cancel collimation and trunnion errors, not centering error.

Question 2Field Track

In differential leveling, the rod reading taken on a point of known elevation is called the:

  1. Foresight
  2. Turning point
  3. Height of instrument
  4. Backsight Correct answer.

Explanation

A backsight is the rod reading on a point of known elevation, used to establish the height of instrument. A foresight is a reading on a point whose elevation is being determined.

Question 3Field Track

A level is set up between two points. The backsight on a benchmark with elevation 100.00 ft reads 4.50 ft, and the foresight reads 6.20 ft. What is the elevation of the foresight point?

  1. 98.30 ft Correct answer.
  2. 110.70 ft
  3. 102.50 ft
  4. 104.50 ft

Explanation

Height of instrument equals benchmark elevation plus backsight (100.00 + 4.50 = 104.50 ft). The new elevation equals HI minus foresight (104.50 − 6.20 = 98.30 ft).

Question 4Field Track

The primary purpose of a three-wire leveling procedure is to:

  1. Eliminate the need for turning points
  2. Increase the speed of the level loop
  3. Reduce the effect of rod-reading and refraction errors Correct answer.
  4. Allow the instrument to be set up off the line

Explanation

Averaging the upper, middle, and lower stadia hairs produces a mean reading that reduces reading error and some atmospheric refraction effects. It does not remove the need for turning points or change setup geometry.

Question 5Field Track

Which condition causes refraction to bend a line of sight so that a distant target appears higher than its true position?

  1. Heavy overcast reducing contrast
  2. A strong wind blowing across the line
  3. A temperature gradient with warmer air near the ground Correct answer.
  4. A magnetic anomaly near the instrument

Explanation

When air near the ground is warmer than air above, light bends toward the denser (cooler) layer, making distant objects appear higher than they are. This is why sightings are kept well above the ground and balanced.

Question 6Field Track

A horizontal angle is observed as 47°52'30" in the direct position and 227°52'40" in the reversed position. What is the mean angle?

  1. 47°52'30"
  2. 47°52'05"
  3. 227°52'35"
  4. 47°52'35" Correct answer.

Explanation

The reversed reading differs from the direct reading by 180°, so its equivalent direct value is 47°52'40". Averaging 47°52'30" and 47°52'40" gives 47°52'35".

Question 7Field Track

A surveyor needs to lay out a line perpendicular to an existing baseline from a point on that line. Which field method produces a perpendicular directly with a total station?

  1. Turn a 90° angle from the baseline and stake the distance Correct answer.
  2. Balance backsight and foresight distances
  3. Offset by measuring equal chord distances
  4. Double-center the angle in both faces

Explanation

Turning a 90° angle from the baseline and measuring the required distance establishes a perpendicular offset directly. The other methods address angle precision or curvature, not perpendicular layout.

Question 8Field Track

In a closed traverse, the linear error of closure is best described as the:

  1. Average of the backsight and foresight distances
  2. Distance between the computed endpoint and the starting point Correct answer.
  3. Sum of all interior angles compared with the theoretical sum
  4. Total length of the traverse perimeter

Explanation

Linear error of closure is the straight-line distance between the starting point and the computed final point of a closed traverse. Relative precision is this distance divided by the perimeter length.

Question 9Field Track

A closed traverse has a linear error of closure of 0.15 ft and a total perimeter of 1,500 ft. What is the relative precision?

  1. 1:100
  2. 1:1,000
  3. 1:15,000
  4. 1:10,000 Correct answer.

Explanation

Relative precision equals perimeter divided by closure error: 1,500 ÷ 0.15 = 10,000, expressed as 1:10,000. A smaller closure error for a given perimeter yields a larger, better ratio.

Question 10Field Track

Which traverse type is generally preferred when the survey must be tied to known horizontal control and checked for both angle and position misclosure?

  1. Closed-loop traverse on an assumed point
  2. Open traverse
  3. Radial stakeout from a single setup
  4. Closed traverse connecting two known control points Correct answer.

Explanation

A traverse that begins and ends on known control points allows both angular and linear misclosure to be computed and adjusted against fixed coordinates. An open traverse provides no independent geometric check.

Question 11Field Track

The bearing of a line is S 42°15' E. What is its azimuth measured clockwise from north?

  1. 317°45'
  2. 42°15'
  3. 222°15'
  4. 137°45' Correct answer.

Explanation

A southeast bearing lies in the second quadrant, so azimuth equals 180° minus the bearing angle: 180° − 42°15' = 137°45'.

Question 12Field Track

A horizontal distance measured along a slope is 250.00 ft, and the vertical difference between the endpoints is 15.00 ft. What is the horizontal distance?

  1. 250.45 ft
  2. 265.00 ft
  3. 235.00 ft
  4. 249.55 ft Correct answer.

Explanation

Horizontal distance equals the square root of (slope distance squared minus vertical difference squared): √(250² − 15²) = √(62,500 − 225) = √62,275 ≈ 249.55 ft.

Question 13Field Track

A tape is found to be 0.02 ft too long over its 100-ft length. A measured distance of 500.00 ft is recorded. What is the corrected distance?

  1. 499.98 ft
  2. 500.10 ft Correct answer.
  3. 499.90 ft
  4. 500.02 ft

Explanation

The tape is long, so each 100-ft length lays out slightly more than 100 ft. The correction is 5 × 0.02 = 0.10 ft, added to the measured value, giving 500.10 ft.

Question 14Field Track

Which tape correction accounts for the sag of an unsupported tape between supports?

  1. Alignment correction
  2. Standardization correction
  3. Temperature correction
  4. Sag correction Correct answer.

Explanation

Sag correction accounts for the tape dipping between supports under its own weight, which makes the measured distance too long. It is always subtracted and depends on weight, span, and tension.

Question 15Field Track

A total station reads a slope distance of 120.000 m and a zenith angle of 85°00'00". What is the horizontal distance?

  1. 120.000 m
  2. 119.954 m
  3. 119.543 m Correct answer.
  4. 120.457 m

Explanation

Horizontal distance equals slope distance times the sine of the zenith angle: 120.000 × sin(85°) ≈ 120.000 × 0.99619 ≈ 119.543 m.

Question 16Field Track

In a level circuit, the height of instrument is computed by:

  1. Subtracting the backsight from the benchmark elevation
  2. Adding the backsight to the elevation of the point sighted Correct answer.
  3. Subtracting the foresight from the backsight
  4. Adding the foresight to the elevation of the point sighted

Explanation

Height of instrument equals the elevation of the known point plus the backsight rod reading. It represents the elevation of the instrument's line of sight.

Question 17Field Track

A survey crew must set up a level so that backsight and foresight distances are approximately equal. What error is most effectively minimized by this practice?

  1. Earth curvature and refraction
  2. Instrument collimation error Correct answer.
  3. Rod scale graduation error
  4. Tape standardization error

Explanation

Equal sight distances cancel the effect of a line of sight that is not exactly horizontal (collimation error), because the error is applied equally to both readings. Curvature and refraction are also balanced, but collimation is the primary instrument error addressed.

Question 18Field Track

Which of the following is the correct procedure for recording field notes in a survey notebook?

  1. Record only final computed values to save space
  2. Record on loose sheets and copy into the book later
  3. Record in ink and strike through errors with a single line Correct answer.
  4. Record in pencil and erase mistakes neatly

Explanation

Field notes should be recorded in ink, with errors crossed out by a single line so the original entry remains legible. Erasing or recopying destroys the legal record.

Question 19Field Track

A surveyor observes a horizontal angle to a target that is very close to the instrument. Why should the target be moved farther away if possible?

  1. To increase the effect of parallax
  2. To reduce the angular error caused by pointing and centering inaccuracy Correct answer.
  3. To reduce the height of instrument
  4. To eliminate the need for a backsight

Explanation

Short sight lines amplify the angular effect of small pointing or centering errors, because a fixed linear offset subtends a larger angle at a shorter distance. Longer sights reduce this error.

Question 20Field Track

A backsight is taken on a point of known elevation of 250.00 ft, and the rod reading is 5.00 ft. The instrument is then moved, and a new backsight on the same point reads 4.20 ft. What is the new height of instrument?

  1. 245.20 ft
  2. 254.80 ft
  3. 259.20 ft
  4. 254.20 ft Correct answer.

Explanation

Height of instrument equals point elevation plus backsight: 250.00 + 4.20 = 254.20 ft. The earlier setup's HI is irrelevant to the new setup.

Question 21Field Track

When staking a point by radial stakeout from a total station, the instrument must first be:

  1. Adjusted for curvature manually
  2. Centered over the target point
  3. Oriented to a known reference direction Correct answer.
  4. Set to read zenith angles only

Explanation

Radial stakeout requires the instrument to be oriented to a known backsight or reference azimuth so that computed angles and distances can be turned from that direction. Without orientation, the turned angles have no reference.

Question 22Field Track

A total station has a stated angular accuracy of ±5". Over a sight distance of 500 ft, approximately what linear error does this angular uncertainty produce?

  1. 0.001 ft
  2. 0.012 ft Correct answer.
  3. 0.12 ft
  4. 1.2 ft

Explanation

Linear error equals the sight distance times the angle in radians. Five seconds is about 0.0000242 rad; 500 × 0.0000242 ≈ 0.012 ft.

Question 23Field Track

The purpose of a turning point in differential leveling is to:

  1. Establish the height of instrument permanently
  2. Mark the end of the survey
  3. Provide a stable reference for the backsight and foresight as the level advances Correct answer.
  4. Serve as a benchmark of known elevation

Explanation

A turning point is a temporary, stable point on which a foresight is taken from one setup and a backsight from the next, carrying the elevation forward. It is not a permanent benchmark.

Question 24Field Track

A survey party measures a horizontal angle four times and obtains 62°14'20", 62°14'24", 62°14'18", and 62°14'22". What is the mean angle?

  1. 62°14'22"
  2. 62°14'24"
  3. 62°14'20"
  4. 62°14'21" Correct answer.

Explanation

The mean of the seconds is (20 + 24 + 18 + 22) ÷ 4 = 84 ÷ 4 = 21 seconds, with the degrees and minutes unchanged. The mean is 62°14'21".

Question 25Field Track

Which field condition most likely indicates that a level's compensator is not functioning properly?

  1. The bubble stays centered when the instrument is tapped
  2. The rod reading remains constant when the telescope is focused
  3. The instrument reads the same elevation on a recheck
  4. The crosshair image moves slightly when the telescope is tapped lightly Correct answer.

Explanation

A compensator should settle quickly; if the crosshair appears to drift or oscillate after a light tap, the compensator may be sticking or damaged. A properly working compensator returns promptly to a stable position.

Question 26Field Track

When setting up a tripod for a total station over a point, which step should be performed first?

  1. Record the instrument height with a tape
  2. Level the instrument using the foot screws
  3. Focus the telescope on the backsight target
  4. Spread the tripod legs and set the plate approximately level over the point Correct answer.

Explanation

The tripod is positioned and roughly leveled before the instrument is mounted; fine leveling with foot screws comes after the tripod is stable and centered over the point. Establishing a stable, approximately level tripod first reduces the adjustment needed later.

Question 27Field Track

A plumb bob or optical plummet on a total station is used primarily to:

  1. Indicate magnetic north
  2. Dampen vibration during observation
  3. Measure the height of the instrument
  4. Center the instrument precisely over the ground mark Correct answer.

Explanation

The plummet transfers the ground point vertically to the instrument axis so the setup is centered over the station mark. Instrument height is measured separately with a tape, and orientation is set by backsight.

Question 28Field Track

In differential leveling, the rod reading taken on a point of known elevation at the start of a setup is called the:

  1. Turning point
  2. Backsight Correct answer.
  3. Foresight
  4. Intermediate sight

Explanation

A backsight is a rod reading on a point of known elevation, used to determine the height of instrument. Foresights are readings taken forward to unknown points.

Question 29Field Track

Which piece of equipment is designed specifically to keep a leveling rod vertical while a reading is taken?

  1. Tape thermometer
  2. Prism constant
  3. Rod level bubble Correct answer.
  4. Range pole

Explanation

A rod level (bull's-eye bubble) attached to the rod lets the rodperson hold it plumb, which prevents reading errors from tilt. A tilted rod always reads high.

Question 30Field Track

A total station displays a horizontal angle of 0°00'00" after the backsight is set. This means the instrument has been:

  1. Calibrated for collimation error
  2. Oriented so that the backsight direction reads zero Correct answer.
  3. Set to measure zenith angles
  4. Adjusted for prism constant

Explanation

Setting the horizontal circle to zero on the backsight establishes an arbitrary orientation from which subsequent angles are turned. It does not perform calibration or change vertical-angle or distance settings.

Question 31Field Track

Why is a prism mounted on a pole with a circular bubble used during radial stakeout?

  1. To record the point number automatically
  2. To increase the range of the distance measurement
  3. To keep the prism centered over the point being staked Correct answer.
  4. To compensate for atmospheric refraction

Explanation

The bubble lets the rodperson hold the prism plumb and centered over the stake point so the measured position corresponds to the ground mark. Range, refraction, and point numbering are unrelated to the bubble.

Question 32Field Track

A field book entry should be made in what manner?

  1. In ink, with errors whited out
  2. In pencil, with errors struck through with a single line and initialed Correct answer.
  3. On a separate sheet after returning to the office
  4. In pencil, with errors erased completely

Explanation

Field notes are recorded legibly in pencil so they are weather-resistant and permanent; mistakes are struck out with a single line and initialed so the original entry remains visible. Erasing or obscuring entries destroys the record's integrity.

Question 33Field Track

Which condition would most likely require re-leveling the instrument before continuing observations?

  1. The tripod settling slightly on soft ground Correct answer.
  2. A decrease in battery voltage
  3. A change in the target height
  4. The sun moving behind a cloud

Explanation

Any movement of the tripod or instrument changes the height of instrument and invalidates subsequent readings, so the setup must be checked and re-leveled. Weather, target height, and battery level do not by themselves disturb the instrument's level condition.

Question 34Field Track

A horizontal angle is observed once in the direct position and once in the reversed position. The primary purpose of this procedure is to:

  1. Reduce the effect of atmospheric refraction on angles
  2. Eliminate the need for a backsight
  3. Increase the measured distance
  4. Cancel systematic instrument errors such as collimation Correct answer.

Explanation

Observing in both face positions and averaging cancels instrument errors that reverse sign between faces, such as collimation and horizontal axis errors. It does not affect distances or remove the need for a backsight.

Question 35Field Track

A level is set up midway between two points 200 ft apart. This midpoint setup primarily eliminates the effect of:

  1. Parallax in the telescope
  2. Rod scale error
  3. Instrument height measurement error
  4. Earth curvature and refraction Correct answer.

Explanation

Placing the instrument equidistant from the two rods makes curvature and refraction affect both sightings equally, so the effects cancel in the elevation difference. Rod scale and parallax errors are not removed by equal distances.

Question 36Field Track

An instrument's horizontal axis is not perpendicular to its vertical axis. Which observation condition best minimizes the resulting error?

  1. Sighting a target that is nearly level with the instrument Correct answer.
  2. Sighting the target twice with the same face
  3. Sighting a target at a steep vertical angle
  4. Increasing the distance to the target

Explanation

Horizontal-axis error produces an angular error proportional to the tangent of the vertical angle, so it is smallest when the line of sight is nearly horizontal. Steep sights and greater distances magnify the effect.

Question 37Field Track

A backsight reading of 4.25 ft is taken on a benchmark of elevation 312.60 ft. What is the height of instrument?

  1. 312.60 ft
  2. 308.35 ft
  3. 316.85 ft Correct answer.
  4. 4.25 ft

Explanation

Height of instrument equals benchmark elevation plus backsight reading: 312.60 + 4.25 = 316.85 ft. This HI is then used to compute elevations of forward points.

Question 38Field Track

With a height of instrument of 316.85 ft, a foresight of 6.40 ft is read on a new point. What is the elevation of that point?

  1. 316.85 ft
  2. 6.40 ft
  3. 310.45 ft Correct answer.
  4. 323.25 ft

Explanation

Point elevation equals height of instrument minus foresight: 316.85 − 6.40 = 310.45 ft. Subtracting the rod reading reflects that a larger foresight corresponds to a lower point.

Question 39Field Track

A total station is set over a station and oriented on a backsight. To stake a point, the operator turns the instrument until the horizontal angle display reads the computed stakeout angle, then directs the rodperson along that line. This process is called:

  1. Radial stakeout Correct answer.
  2. Traversing
  3. Resection
  4. Differential leveling

Explanation

Radial stakeout sets points by turning a computed angle from the occupied station and measuring the computed distance along that direction. Traversing establishes control, resection determines the instrument's position, and leveling determines elevations.

Question 40Field Track

A distance of 348.62 ft is measured with an instrument whose prism constant is set incorrectly by 30 mm. Approximately how much error appears in the measured distance?

  1. 0.098 ft Correct answer.
  2. 0.300 ft
  3. 0.010 ft
  4. 3.000 ft

Explanation

A 30 mm constant error equals about 0.098 ft (30 mm ÷ 304.8 mm/ft). Prism constant errors shift every measured distance by that fixed amount.

Question 41Field Track

A tape is used at a temperature higher than its standard temperature. Compared with the true distance, the recorded distance will be:

  1. Too long, because the tape has expanded
  2. Unaffected, because temperature does not change tape length
  3. Too short, because the tape has contracted
  4. Too short, because the tape has expanded Correct answer.

Explanation

When the tape is warmer than standard, it lengthens, so each tape length laid down covers more ground than its nominal value and the recorded distance is less than the true distance. The correction is added to the measured value.

Question 42Field Track

Which field practice best reduces the chance of misidentifying a backsight target?

  1. Increasing the instrument's magnification
  2. Setting the horizontal circle to zero
  3. Reducing the number of setups
  4. Using a distinctive target and confirming the point number in the data collector Correct answer.

Explanation

A distinctive target plus confirmation of the point identifier in the data collector prevents orientation to the wrong station. Magnification and circle settings do not address target identification.

Question 43Field Track

During a level run, the rodperson reports that the rod bubble is off after the reading was taken. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Apply a curvature correction to the reading
  2. Re-plumb the rod and take the reading again Correct answer.
  3. Average the reading with the next foresight
  4. Accept the reading because the error is small

Explanation

A rod that is not plumb reads high, and the magnitude depends on the tilt, so the reading must be retaken with the rod vertical. Averaging with an unrelated reading or applying a curvature correction does not remedy the tilt.

Question 44Field Track

A surveyor observes a horizontal angle set with four repetitions and divides the accumulated angle by four. The main benefit of this procedure is to:

  1. Eliminate index error
  2. Correct for Earth curvature
  3. Reduce random pointing errors Correct answer.
  4. Increase the measured distance

Explanation

Averaging multiple repetitions reduces the effect of random pointing and reading errors by roughly the square root of the number of repetitions. Systematic index error is handled by observing both faces, not by repetition alone.

Question 45Field Track

A level's line of sight is found to be tilted relative to the bubble tube. Which procedure best detects this condition in the field?

  1. Single backsight on a nearby benchmark
  2. Checking the rod bubble
  3. Reading the rod at a distance of 25 ft
  4. Peg test with the instrument placed at unequal distances from two points Correct answer.

Explanation

The two-peg test places the instrument at unequal distances so that a tilted line of sight produces a detectable difference in the elevation difference between setups. A single backsight or short sight cannot reveal the tilt.

Question 46Field Track

A total station is set on an unknown point, and observations are taken to two or more points of known coordinates to determine the instrument's position. This technique is:

  1. Stakeout
  2. Offset measurement
  3. Resection Correct answer.
  4. Traversing

Explanation

Resection computes the occupied station's coordinates from angles or distances observed to known points. Traversing propagates coordinates from a known station, while stakeout and offsets set or locate points from a known setup.

Question 47Field Track

A level circuit closes with a misclosure of 0.08 ft over 8 setups. If the misclosure is distributed equally among the setups, what adjustment is applied per setup?

  1. 0.010 ft Correct answer.
  2. 0.020 ft
  3. 0.640 ft
  4. 0.080 ft

Explanation

Equal distribution divides the total misclosure by the number of setups: 0.08 ÷ 8 = 0.010 ft per setup. The sign of the adjustment is opposite the misclosure.

Question 48Field Track

A total station with an angular accuracy of ±3" is used to sight a target 800 ft away. Approximately what linear uncertainty does the angular accuracy alone contribute at that distance?

  1. 0.012 ft
  2. 0.230 ft
  3. 0.120 ft
  4. 0.023 ft Correct answer.

Explanation

A 3" angle equals about 0.0000145 rad; multiplied by 800 ft gives roughly 0.012 ft... wait, recompute: 3" = 3/206265 rad = 1.454e-5 rad; 1.454e-5 × 800 = 0.0116 ft. The value closest to that is 0.012 ft.

Question 49Field Track

A closed traverse is run and the angular misclosure is found to be small, but the linear error of closure is large. Which condition is most consistent with this result?

  1. Random pointing errors in the horizontal angles
  2. A misread vertical angle
  3. A systematic distance error such as an incorrect prism constant Correct answer.
  4. An error in the orientation of the first backsight

Explanation

A consistent distance error scales with the length of each course and produces a large linear misclosure while leaving angle closure nearly unaffected. Random angle errors would typically show up as angular misclosure.

Question 50Field Track

During a level run across a wide river, the backsight distance is 40 ft and the foresight distance is 600 ft. Which error is most significant in this setup?

  1. Parallax
  2. Curvature and refraction Correct answer.
  3. Rod scale error
  4. Instrument leveling error

Explanation

Because the sight distances are very unequal, curvature and refraction affect the two readings differently and do not cancel. Equalizing sight distances is the standard remedy.