Free VA State Specific Land Surveyor Exam (LS) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the VA State Specific Land Surveyor Exam (LS) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A Virginia land boundary traverse in a rural area contains 16 measured angles. What is the maximum angular error of closure allowed by the state minimum standards?

   1. A. 40 seconds
   2. B. 60 seconds
   3. C. 80 seconds
   4. D. 100 seconds

   Answer: C

   Explanation: 18VAC10-20-370 D 1 limits rural angular closure to 20 seconds times the square root of the number of angles. For 16 angles, 20 × 4 equals 80 seconds.

   Reference: 18VAC10-20 and Code of Virginia Title 54.1 — 18VAC10-20-370 D 1

2. 2A physical-improvements survey is ordered for a Fairfax County parcel, and the prospective mortgagor agrees in writing that corner monumentation will not be provided. Which Virginia statutory exception applies?

   1. A. Board regulations cannot require corner monumentation or a boundary survey for this work
   2. B. A complete boundary survey remains mandatory, but monuments may be deferred
   3. C. Only the rural angular-closure standard is waived
   4. D. Only the title-report statement may be omitted

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Code of Virginia § 54.1-407 creates the stated monumentation and boundary-survey exception for qualifying physical-improvements surveys in Fairfax County and the other listed localities when the required written agreement exists.

   Reference: Apels Statute — Article 1. Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Landscape Architects.

3. 3Which pair identifies Virginia's two statutory coordinate-system zones?

   1. A. East Zone and West Zone
   2. B. Coastal Zone and Mountain Zone
   3. C. North Zone and South Zone
   4. D. Upper Zone and Lower Zone

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Code of Virginia § 1-601 divides the Commonwealth into a North Zone and a South Zone for its coordinate systems.

   Reference: Va Recheck 20261019 Title1 Full — § 1-601

4. 4For at least how long must an approved and recorded final subdivision plat generally remain valid in Virginia?

   1. A. Two years
   2. B. Three years
   3. C. Five years
   4. D. Ten years

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Virginia Code § 15.2-2261 provides that an approved recorded plat is valid for not less than five years from approval, subject to the statute's terms.

   Reference: definition and treatment of boundary-line agreements — Article 6. Land Subdivision and Development.

5. 5Under the VDOT Survey Manual, which pipe culvert size generally triggers stakeout by the Contract Surveyor even without a special request?

   1. A. 24 inches and larger
   2. B. 36 inches and larger
   3. C. 48 inches and larger
   4. D. 60 inches and larger

   Answer: C

   Explanation: VDOT Survey Manual Chapter 11 states that pipe culverts 48 inches and larger are staked under the cited construction provisions.

   Reference: borrow pits section — Section 11.06

6. 6Outside a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area, what default disturbed-area threshold brings a qualifying Virginia activity under the sub-acre erosion criteria?

   1. A. 2,500 square feet
   2. B. 5,000 square feet
   3. C. 10,000 square feet
   4. D. 20,000 square feet

   Answer: C

   Explanation: 9VAC25-875-70 A 1 uses a default threshold of 10,000 square feet for the described sub-acre activity outside a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area, though a locality may lower it.

   Reference: Va Recheck 20261019 9Vac25 875 — 9VAC25-875-70 A 1

7. 7A Virginia boundary corner is independently positioned with GNSS. What maximum positional uncertainty applies at the 95% confidence level?

   1. A. 0.05 foot plus 30 ppm
   2. B. 0.07 foot plus 50 ppm
   3. C. 0.10 foot plus 50 ppm
   4. D. 0.20 foot

   Answer: B

   Explanation: 18VAC10-20-370 D sets the maximum permissible uncertainty for an independent boundary corner or boundary point established with global positioning systems at 0.07 foot, or 20 millimeters, plus 50 ppm at the 95% confidence level.

   Reference: 18VAC10-20 and Code of Virginia Title 54.1 — 18VAC10-20-370 D, GPS positional-uncertainty paragraph

8. 8For a Virginia topographic survey using a one-foot contour interval, what is the listed vertical positional accuracy for contour lines?

   1. A. ±0.30 foot
   2. B. ±0.60 foot
   3. C. ±1.19 feet
   4. D. ±2.38 feet

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The 18VAC10-20-382 vertical-accuracy table lists ±0.60 foot for contours at a one-foot interval, at the 95% confidence level.

   Reference: 18VAC10-20 and Code of Virginia Title 54.1 — 18VAC10-20-382 C 2

9. 9Under Virginia Department of Transportation hydraulic-survey classifications, which feature is a small hydraulic structure?

   1. A. A 2-foot-diameter culvert
   2. B. A 5-foot-diameter culvert
   3. C. A 12-foot-top-width channel
   4. D. A 20-foot-diameter culvert

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 8.03.1 defines small hydraulic structures as "Culverts less than 3 feet in diameter and ditches with top span less than 10 feet." A 2-foot-diameter culvert falls within that definition.

   Reference: Chapter 8 Hydraulic Survey — Section 8.03.1

10. 10A closed-loop control traverse for an urban Virginia boundary survey has 25 angles. What angular error of closure is the maximum permitted?

    1. A. 40 seconds
    2. B. 50 seconds
    3. C. 75 seconds
    4. D. 100 seconds

    Answer: B

    Explanation: Under 18VAC10-20-370 D 2, the urban or suburban limit is 10 seconds times the square root of the number of angles. The square root of 25 is 5, giving 50 seconds.

    Reference: 18VAC10-20 and Code of Virginia Title 54.1 — 18VAC10-20-370 D 2