Free Minnesota Land Surveyor Examination (MNLS) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Minnesota Land Surveyor Examination (MNLS) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A county finds that original United States public-land-survey corner monuments are becoming obscure. Whom may the county board employ to perpetuate them?

   1. A. A Minnesota-licensed land surveyor
   2. B. The county assessor
   3. C. A Minnesota-licensed professional engineer
   4. D. The county recorder

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 381.12, subd. 1 provides that when federal public-land-survey monuments "have been destroyed or are becoming obscure," the county board may employ a chapter 326 licensed land surveyor to perpetuate them. The specified professional is a licensed land surveyor.

   Reference: Sec. 381.12 MN Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 381.12, subd. 1

2. 2What sheet size must a Minnesota statutory plat use?

   1. A. 18 inches by 24 inches
   2. B. 24 inches by 36 inches
   3. C. 22 inches by 34 inches
   4. D. 30 inches by 42 inches

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 505.021, subd. 1 states: "Plat sheet size shall be 22 inches by 34 inches."

   Reference: Cite — Minn. Stat. § 505.021, subd. 1

3. 3When may a Minnesota registrar require an owner to file a registered land survey before conveying part of unplatted registered land?

   1. A. When the part is not a full government subdivision or a simple fractional or quantity part
   2. B. Whenever the owner conveys the entire certificate of title
   3. C. Only when the parcel is already platted into lots and blocks
   4. D. Only when the conveyance is a lease of three years or less

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 508.47, subd. 2 permits the requirement when the conveyed part "is not a full government subdivision, or simple fractional or quantity part of a full government subdivision."

   Reference: Cite — Minn. Stat. § 508.47, subd. 2

4. 4After placing highway-boundary monuments, what continuing duty does a Minnesota road authority have toward those devices?

   1. A. Preserve and maintain them
   2. B. File their locations with the registrar of titles
   3. C. Establish three reference ties to each device
   4. D. Prepare a government-corner certificate for each device

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 160.14, subd. 1 says road authorities "may place and shall thereafter preserve and maintain suitable monuments or other marking devices" that clearly indicate highway boundaries. Preservation and maintenance is the continuing duty for these devices.

   Reference: Mnls Handbook — Minn. Stat. § 160.14, subd. 1

5. 5How many zones does Minnesota's statutory plane-coordinate system divide the state into?

   1. A. 2
   2. B. 3
   3. C. 4
   4. D. 6

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 505.18 states: "For the purpose of the use of this system the state is divided into a "North Zone," a "Central Zone," and a "South Zone."" Those three named zones make 3 the unique answer.

   Reference: Cite — Minn. Stat. § 505.18

6. 6On appeal from a Minnesota practical-boundary determination, when will the trial court's findings be reversed?

   1. A. When the appellate court would have weighed testimony differently
   2. B. When they are manifestly and palpably contrary to the evidence
   3. C. When either party commissions a later resurvey
   4. D. When the record boundary differs from the occupied line

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The official Jacobsen v. Salin opinion states that the findings "will not be reversed on appeal unless they are manifestly and palpably contrary to the evidence." That demanding standard controls appellate review.

   Reference: Jacobsen v. Salin — Jacobsen v. Salin, C7-99-980, Practical Location of Boundary section

7. 7Under Minnesota's statutory definition, what line is the boundary of public waters and public-waters wetlands?

   1. A. The ordinary high-water level
   2. B. The established high-water mark
   3. C. The ordinary low-water mark
   4. D. The regulatory flood-protection elevation

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 103G.005, subd. 14 says the term "means the boundary of water basins, watercourses, public waters, and public waters wetlands." The defined term is ordinary high-water level.

   Reference: Minn. Stat. § 103G.005 — Minn. Stat. § 103G.005, subd. 14

8. 8What minimum notice interval applies when a Minnesota land surveyor contacts the notification center before a boundary survey?

   1. A. 24 hours
   2. B. 48 hours
   3. C. 72 hours
   4. D. 96 hours

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 216D.04, subd. 1(a) permits the surveyor to "provide notice at least 48 hours, excluding the day of notification, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays." The minimum interval is 48 hours with those exclusions.

   Reference: Sec. 216D.04 MN Statutes — Minn. Stat. § 216D.04, subd. 1(a)

9. 9A Minnesota licensee learns that another licensee committed an act prohibited by chapter 1805. What recipient does the rule specify for the report?

   1. A. The professional's client
   2. B. The licensing board
   3. C. The county attorney
   4. D. The professional society

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Minn. R. 1805.0200, subp. 3a states that a licensee with knowledge of prohibited acts "shall report such knowledge to the board." The specified recipient is the licensing board.

   Reference: 1805 - MN Rules Chapter — Minn. R. 1805.0200, subp. 3a

10. 10Which owner categories may establish a cemetery on their own land under Minnesota section 307.01?

    1. A. A private person or religious corporation
    2. B. A cemetery association or municipal corporation
    3. C. A county or town board
    4. D. A funeral establishment or crematory

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Minn. Stat. § 307.01 states: "Any private person and any religious corporation may establish a cemetery on the person's or corporation's own land." Those are the specified owner categories.

    Reference: Cite — Minn. Stat. § 307.01