Free Mississippi Section Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Mississippi Section Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which federal enactment first established the rectangular system for surveying and demarcating the public lands?

   1. A. Homestead Act of 1862
   2. B. Land Ordinance of 1785
   3. C. Quiet Title Act of 1972
   4. D. Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The BLM Manual explains that Congress passed the "Land Ordinance of 1785, establishing a system for surveying and thereby demarcating the public lands."

   Reference: Manual of Surveying Instructions 2009 — Rule 7.3.19, p. 38 — requires the Manual of Instructions for the Survey of U.S. Public Lands to be followed

2. 2A Mississippi survey reveals a difference between field results and the recorded description. Besides depicting the inconsistency, what related information must the survey indicate?

   1. A. The source of all information used in making the survey
   2. B. The assessed value assigned by the county for the current tax year
   3. C. The construction cost of each permanent improvement shown on the plat
   4. D. The title insurer's underwriting decision regarding the discrepancy

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Mississippi Rule 7.3 requires: "All discrepancies between the survey and the recorded description(s), and the source of all information used in making the survey shall be indicated." The survey must therefore identify its information sources.

   Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Rule 7.3.9, p. 37

3. 3When State Plane Coordinates are used in a Mississippi survey, which coordinate-system identification must appear on the plat?

   1. A. The State Plane Coordinate System zone
   2. B. The Universal Transverse Mercator band used for the nearest federal control station
   3. C. The county tax-map district code assigned by the local appraisal office
   4. D. The geographic-coordinate quadrant containing the parcel's approximate centroid

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Rule 7.3.18 requires the plat to show "the State Plane Coordinates System Zone."

   Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Rule 7.3.18(a), p. 38

4. 4Which examination combination is required for initial Mississippi surveying licensure?

   1. A. FS plus the Mississippi Section, with no PPS examination requirement
   2. B. PPS plus the Mississippi Section, with no FS examination requirement
   3. C. FS and PPS only, with no separate state-section examination requirement
   4. D. FS, PPS, and Mississippi Section

   Answer: D

   Explanation: Chapter 5 states that applicants must have "passed the FS, PPS and Mississippi Section examination."

   Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Chapter 5 introductory requirement 3, p. 12

5. 5A crew compares a GPS-derived elevation with a USGS topographic-map elevation at the same point and finds a substantial difference. What should the surveyor check before treating either elevation as erroneous?

   1. A. Whether the elevations use the same vertical datum and height reference
   2. B. Whether the elevations use the same State Plane projection zone
   3. C. Whether the elevations use the same grid convergence correction
   4. D. Whether the elevations use the same combined horizontal scale factor

   Answer: A

   Explanation: USGS explains, "Elevations provided by your GPS receiver might disagree with elevations on a USGS map, but they could both be correct if they reference different vertical and/or horizontal datums." The surveyor should reconcile the vertical datum and height reference before judging either elevation wrong. A State Plane zone, convergence correction, or combined horizontal factor does not make elevations share a vertical datum.

   Reference: U.S. Geological Survey, GPS and Map Elevations — FAQ, answer paragraph on datum differences

6. 6Which surveying examination is not supplied by NCEES for Mississippi licensure?

   1. A. FS
   2. B. PPS
   3. C. Mississippi Section
   4. D. All three are supplied by NCEES

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Rule 5.4 states that NCEES examinations are used "for all examinations except the Mississippi Section examination for surveyors."

   Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Rule 5.4, p. 22

7. 7From an initial point, in which direction is a principal meridian intended to extend?

   1. A. East or west on a true parallel
   2. B. North or south on a true meridian
   3. C. Northeast or southwest on a grid diagonal
   4. D. Along the nearest meanderable water boundary

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The Manual states: "A principal meridian is intended to conform to the true meridian, extending north or south, or in both directions, from the initial point as conditions require."

   Reference: Manual of Surveying Instructions 2009 — Rule 7.3.19, p. 38 — requires the Manual of Instructions for the Survey of U.S. Public Lands to be followed

8. 8For a Mississippi metes-and-bounds survey, which source is expressly acceptable as the reference for a monumented commencing point?

   1. A. An unrecorded owner sketch
   2. B. A county tax-assessment map alone
   3. C. The U.S. Public Land (GLO) Survey system
   4. D. A contractor's construction stake

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Rule 7.3 defines the commencing point as "a well-defined, monumented point referenced to the U.S. Public Land (GLO) Survey system or other recorded subdivision plat, recorded and monumented City or County plat or map." The GLO system is therefore an authorized reference.

   Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Rule 7.3.8, p. 37

9. 9Which datum information must accompany State Plane Coordinates used on a Mississippi plat?

   1. A. Only a tidal epoch
   2. B. The horizontal or vertical datum used
   3. C. Only a magnetic datum
   4. D. No datum if GPS was used

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Rule 7.3.18 requires "the horizontal or vertical datum used."

   Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Rule 7.3.18(b), p. 38

10. 10For initial licensure, when may an individual apply to be cited to the Mississippi Section examination?

    1. A. Before taking FS, after submitting an education record and the initial application fee
    2. B. After passing FS and PPS, obtaining required experience, and satisfying statute and rules
    3. C. After one year of any employment, regardless of its surveying content or supervision
    4. D. Only after receiving a comity license from another state and moving to Mississippi

    Answer: B

    Explanation: Rule 5.4(c)(1) requires application "after passing the FS and PPS, obtaining all required experience, and satisfying the requirements of Statute and the Rules and Regulations of the Board."

    Reference: Final Rules as Approved 11 21 (2025) — Rule 5.4(c)(1), p. 23