5 Things FS Exam Repeat Takers Must Know
Introduction
The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam is necessary to become a professional surveyor.
Many people who appear for the FS exam struggle to pass it on their first attempt.
Passing the FS exam is difficult, especially if you are a repeat taker. The pass rate of FS exam repeat takers is 36%.
Here are some things you should learn before retaking the FS exam.
Understand Your Weaknesses
One of the most common reasons people fail the FS exam is because they do not adequately prepare for areas of weakness.
Save the diagnostic report included with your previous FS exam result.
Analyze the diagnostic to identify the areas where you struggled.
Then focus your study efforts on these topics to improve your understanding and increase your chances of success.
Do not Self-Study - Seek Expert Help
Preparing for the FS exam can be draining. Self-studying with FS exam prep materials may work for a few, but it does not work out for many others.
Sometimes, the best option is to acknowledge you need expert guidance to teach you what you do not know.
School of PE offers comprehensive FS exam prep courses to help you pass the exam. Our courses are taught by experienced instructors who know how to prepare students for FS exam success.
We offer top-notch study materials for our prep course, including practice exams, eBooks, downloadable course notes, and more.
Please choose from our Live-Online or On-Demand options and prepare for the FS exam.
Master Your Calculator's Functions
Calculators are indispensable tools for solving the mathematical questions presented on the FS exam.
And you can only use an NCEES-approved calculator model in the FS exam.
So, ensure you own an approved calculator and familiarize yourself with the calculator's functions to solve problems quickly on exam day.
The School of PE offers complementary calculator training as a part of the FS exam prep course.

Have a Test-Taking Strategy
Often, people fail the FS exam because they run out of time to solve the questions.
The FS exam is a timed test. You have 5 hours and 20 minutes to solve 110 questions.

You get approximately 3 minutes to solve each question.
Read the questions carefully and solve the easy question before moving on to the challenging questions.
If you are stuck on a question for over 3 minutes, flag it and move on to the next question.
Stay Motivated and Confident
Failing the FS exam multiple times can be discouraging. Staying motivated is essential to passing your exam.
Set mini-goals and celebrate small victories to stay motivated. For instance, treat yourself after completing a complex topic or solving a challenging practice exam.
Conclusion
The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam may be tough to pass, but with the right mindset and expert guidance, repeat takers can pass it. By following these tips, repeat-takers can enhance their FS exam prep and increase their chances of passing the exam.