Charles,

I took and successfully passed the FS exam in Oct. 2011. I can't say for certain if the NCEES changed the exam or not, because I never took the exam previously. However, I do have a suggestion for you regarding study material. I purchased the Power to Pass FS package that contained the Surveyor Reference Manual, Survey Problems Solved and a Sample FS Exam. Of these three, throw the sample exam in the trash. A month before I took the exam I ordered the sample FS exam directly from the NCEES, that would be the one I recommend using. PPI's sample FS exam seemed much more of a practical oriented exam, whereas the NCEES's sample FS exam was more abstract in the the questions. There seemed to be more theoretical type of math problems. That month before I took the exam I am glad that I looked into the NCEES's sample exam because it changed the way I studied the last month before. The NCEES's sample exam is much more typical of what you will see on the exam. Master that one, and you should pass the actual one with no problems.

I found that Curtis Brown's book, Boundary Control and Legal Principles, was very very helpful for the boundary questions. Read it through 2 or 3 times.

The Surveyor Reference Manual was helpful for overall general survey reading in areas I was weak. For example, how to pull chain the old school way.

Surveying Problems Solved was very helpful to learn and challenge what you think you know. Spend time in the different sections of that book to see where you need to focus more study in other books. Once you can answer the questions in each section successfully, you probably have a good handle on those areas of study.

There is more out there, but these would be the 3 I spent the most time in.

I went to the library a lot and found a quiet study room, put ear plugs in, and read and practice the math problems over and over again.

Good luck! It can be done!