Free West Virginia Surveying Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1Under West Virginia's official-bond statute, which body ordinarily approves the bond of a county surveyor of lands?

   1. A. The county commission where the officer acts
   2. B. The circuit court for the officer's judicial circuit
   3. C. The surveying board at a public licensing meeting
   4. D. The Secretary of State through its licensing division

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 6-2-10 assigns approval of a surveyor of lands' bond to the county commission unless another law provides otherwise. The controlling text states: “county commission”.

   Reference: Code 30 1 Full — §6-2-10, first sentence

2. 2How does 23 CSR 1 define the “WV Examination”?

   1. A. The NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying examination
   2. B. A county surveyor civil-service test
   3. C. The state-specific West Virginia Professional Surveyors Examination
   4. D. The underground surveyor endorsement examination

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 2.24 of 23 CSR 1 identifies the WV Examination as the state-specific West Virginia Professional Surveyors Examination. The controlling text states: “West Virginia Professional Surveyors Examination”.

   Reference: 23 Csr 1 (2024) — 23 CSR 1, §2.24

3. 3What directional basis does West Virginia Code prescribe when land previously surveyed is resurveyed?

   1. A. Assumed north
   2. B. Grid north only
   3. C. The magnetic meridian, with required variation information
   4. D. Astronomic north only

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Section 37-12-1 directs that the resurvey be made by the magnetic meridian and that the plat certify the prescribed variations.

   Reference: Code · Wvlegislature — §37-12-1

4. 4What is the general West Virginia priority for conflicting calls when locating a rural boundary?

   1. A. Courses, distances, artificial monuments, natural landmarks
   2. B. Natural landmarks, artificial monuments, adjacent boundaries, courses and distances
   3. C. Tax maps, acreage, courses, monuments
   4. D. Occupancy, acreage, distances, natural landmarks

   Answer: B

   Explanation: West Virginia decisions state this order of priority, while recognizing that circumstances can affect the relationship between course and distance.

   Reference: WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS — Via v. Beckett, boundary-evidence hierarchy, page 14

5. 5Which West Virginia court has original and general jurisdiction in equity, including actions to remove a cloud on real-property title?

   1. A. Circuit court
   2. B. Magistrate court
   3. C. Family court
   4. D. Intermediate Court of Appeals

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Section 51-2-2(d) gives circuit courts original and general equity jurisdiction, expressly including removal of clouds on real-property title. The controlling text states: “original and general jurisdiction”.

   Reference: Code · Wvlegislature — §51-2-2(d)

6. 6What sources does the WVDOH Drainage Manual use to determine a watershed's drainage area?

   1. A. Tax tickets and deed acreage only
   2. B. Topographic maps and field surveys
   3. C. Rain gauges only
   4. D. Subdivision covenants and zoning maps only

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 4.4.5 of the WVDOH Drainage Manual states that watershed drainage area is determined from topographic maps and field surveys. The controlling text states: “topographic maps and field surveys”.

   Reference: WVDOH Drainage Manual — WVDOH Drainage Manual, §4.4.5, page 4-70

7. 7What penalty range must West Virginia set for the official bond of a surveyor of lands?

   1. A. $250 to $1,000
   2. B. $1,000 to $3,000
   3. C. $2,000 to $5,000
   4. D. $10,000 to $50,000

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 6-2-10 places the surveyor of lands' bond between $1,000 and $3,000; the other ranges apply to other listed officers. The controlling text states: “not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000”.

   Reference: Code · Wvlegislature — §6-2-10, bond penalty schedule

8. 8Under 23 CSR 1, what may the Board require to substantiate an applicant's claimed boundary-survey experience?

   1. A. Only a college transcript
   2. B. Survey documents that demonstrate the applicant's experience
   3. C. A county tax appraisal
   4. D. A client satisfaction affidavit for every project

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 3.1.c permits the Board to require records and survey documentation supporting the experience claimed in an application. The controlling text states: “survey documents”.

   Reference: 23 Csr 1 (2024) — 23 CSR 1, §3.1.c

9. 9What must a West Virginia boundary-survey plat show so users can interpret its bearings?

   1. A. Only a graphic scale
   2. B. A north arrow and the meridian used as the basis of directions
   3. C. Only the current magnetic declination
   4. D. A state-plane coordinate at every corner

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The boundary-plat standards require both a north arrow and identification of the meridian used for the bearings. The controlling text states: “north arrow”.

   Reference: Wvbps Minimum Standards Checklist — 23 CSR 5, §7.3.g.1

10. 10One called-for monument is established, the other is lost, and supported surveys materially disagree on the lost monument's location. Under Wilson v. McCoy as applied in West Virginia, who ordinarily resolves that factual conflict?

    1. A. The county assessor
    2. B. The surveying board
    3. C. The jury
    4. D. The recorder without testimony

    Answer: C

    Explanation: The cited West Virginia rule treats this kind of uncertain, conflicting monument-location evidence as peculiarly within the jury's province. The controlling text states: “peculiarly within the province of the jury”.

    Reference: WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS — Syllabus point 2 quoting Wilson v. McCoy