Free Wisconsin Land Surveyor Jurisdictional Licensing Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Wisconsin Land Surveyor Jurisdictional Licensing Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Between which years did the federal government survey the land area now known as Wisconsin?

   1. A.1803 to 1820
   2. B.1833 to 1866Correct answer: B
   3. C.1848 to 1900
   4. D.1866 to 1910

   Explanation: The Wisconsin BCPL history states: "The land area that is now known as the State of Wisconsin was surveyed by the federal government between 1833 and 1866." Therefore 1833–1866 is correct.

   Reference: Exterior and interior lines paragraph — Opening paragraph

2. 2Within how many days after completing a survey must a Wisconsin county surveyor file a true copy of the field notes and calculations in the county surveyor's office?

   1. A.10 days
   2. B.30 days
   3. C.60 daysCorrect answer: C
   4. D.90 days

   Explanation: Wis. Stat. § 59.45(1) requires filing "within 60 days after completing any survey." The statutory deadline is therefore 60 days.

   Reference: Law5945 — Wis. Stat. § 59.45(1)

3. 3Which measurement relationship does Wisconsin § 60.84(4) require in a record for an erected section or quarter-section monument?

   1. A.Boundary lengths and bearings for every parcel in the section
   2. B.Exact bearings and distances to the nearest monuments on town linesCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Four witness ties measured from the surveyed parcel boundary
   4. D.Coordinates and elevations for every monument in the township

   Explanation: Section 60.84(4) requires "the exact bearings and distances of each monument from each other monument nearest it on any line in the town." Choice B states that relationship.

   Reference: Scope3 Stat60 84 — Wis. Stat. § 60.84(4)

4. 4Which Wisconsin state boundary also serves as the PLSS baseline at the state's initial point?

   1. A.Northern boundary
   2. B.Eastern boundary
   3. C.Southern boundaryCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Western boundary

   Explanation: BCPL identifies "the baseline, which is also the southern state boundary." Therefore Wisconsin's southern boundary is the coincident line.

   Reference: Exterior and interior lines paragraph — Starting point paragraph

5. 5Which record set must the Wisconsin county surveyor carefully preserve under Wis. Stat. § 59.45(1)?

   1. A.Original field notes and calculationsCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Recorded plats and correction instruments
   3. C.Tax rolls and assessment notices
   4. D.Deeds and title abstracts

   Explanation: The statute directs the county surveyor to "carefully preserve all the original field notes and calculation thereof." Choice A states that record set.

   Reference: Ae7 — Wis. Stat. § 59.45(1)

6. 6How many required elements does Wisconsin's U.S. public land survey monument-record form specify?

   1. A.7 elements
   2. B.8 elements
   3. C.9 elementsCorrect answer: C
   4. D.10 elements

   Explanation: The Wisconsin form says the record "shall include all of the following nine elements (a through i)." The required count is nine.

   Reference: Scope3 Monument Record Visual — U.S. Public Land Survey Monument Record instructions

7. 7According to Wisconsin's official PLSS history, where is its initial point?

   1. A.On the Illinois border, 5 miles east of the Mississippi
   2. B.On the Illinois border, 10 miles west of the Mississippi
   3. C.On the Illinois border, 10 miles east of the MississippiCorrect answer: C
   4. D.On the Illinois border, 20 miles east of the Mississippi

   Explanation: BCPL places it "on the Wisconsin - Illinois border about 10 miles east of the Mississippi." Choice C matches both the boundary and approximate distance.

   Reference: Exterior and interior lines paragraph — Starting point paragraph

8. 8Where must a Wisconsin DOT-employed professional land surveyor file highway-related field notes and records?

   1. A.DOT district or main office, plus a county-surveyor copyCorrect answer: A
   2. B.County highway commissioner's office, plus a county-surveyor copy
   3. C.Register of deeds, plus a town-clerk copy
   4. D.County planning agency, plus a DOT copy

   Explanation: Section 59.74(2)(h) says a state-employed surveyor shall file them "in the district office or main office of the department of transportation" and also file a copy with the county surveyor.

   Reference: Stat59 — Wis. Stat. § 59.74(2)(h)

9. 9What pair gives Wisconsin's minimum PLSS monument-record witness ties outside and inside a municipality, respectively?

   1. A.2 outside; 1 inside
   2. B.3 outside; 2 inside
   3. C.4 outside; 2 insideCorrect answer: C
   4. D.4 outside; 3 inside

   Explanation: The form requires "at least 4 witness monuments, or, if the location is within a municipality, to at least 2 witness monuments." The general and municipal minima are four and two.

   Reference: Scope3 Monument Record Visual — U.S. Public Land Survey Monument Record instruction (c)

10. 10What is the principal meridian running north from Wisconsin's PLSS initial point called?

    1. A.First Principal Meridian
    2. B.Second Principal Meridian
    3. C.Third Principal Meridian
    4. D.Fourth Principal MeridianCorrect answer: D

    Explanation: The Wisconsin source expressly says: "In Wisconsin, this line is known as the Fourth Principal Meridian." Hence the Fourth Principal Meridian controls.

    Reference: Exterior and interior lines paragraph — Starting point paragraph