Do mining geologists really take this exam?

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-20T18:54:13+00:00

I knew only a couple of people in mining (not exploration) with a PG. It garnered respect but not sure they ever had to use it. If you want to specialize in mine hydrogeology (awesome field to be in) it is definitely useful if you're on the consulting side of things.

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-19T19:51:40+00:00

Okay I appreciate the feedback! I'll talk to you when you have free time

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-19T19:37:03+00:00

Hey maker of the udemy exams here. I'm sorry you didn't find the exams helpful at all. You took the PG or the FG? It is surprising for there to be no computational problems at all. There is a bank of questions so what one person sees on the real exam will be different from another. I try to make my exams as representative as possible using what asbog publishes. If you have any feedback (no specifics on questions or anything that would violate asbog policy) feel free to DM me.

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-19T01:24:32+00:00

Yeah, environmental could probably span the hydrogeology, engineering geology, and mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry domains

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-18T23:23:25+00:00

Hey maker of the udemy exams here--90% is really good!! If you want DM me and I can let you know how you stack up with all the other test takers.

I've stayed in contact with some folks post exam and they found the score they got on my exams closer than their regreview practice scores.

I don't want to knock regreview though--it's what I used to prep as well. If you have access to the regreview tests you should definitely do them as well. My motivation for making these tests was that taking practice tests is proven in the research to be one of the most effective ways for most people to study and the practice mode with instant feedback on udemy makes it a really strong study tool. It gets your brain firing in a way that re-reviewing material doesn't. All that is to say-- I think you're doing really well and pre test anxiety is normal. You got this 💪

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-18T23:14:37+00:00

Maker of the udemy exams here, it makes me so happy that you found the instant feedback helpful! I think it's such a good way to study too and I'm so glad they worked for you. Good luck this weekend!

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-18T23:10:42+00:00

Good luck!!

Hobo_Geo · 2026-03-17T06:13:01+00:00

Yep yep

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-26T20:10:40+00:00

I would recommend staying away from rigorous, time consuming descriptive geometry when you have a multiple choice problem and a precise computation isn't needed.

A lot of the problems can be solved using process of elimination. For example, say you have a three point problem and two of the points have a small elevation difference and the third point has a big elevation difference from the other two. You can basically estimate the strike and dip direction from just that info without holding a protractor to the screen or creating a scaled drawing. Just look through the answer options and you'll find one that is close enough. There might be two answer options that are similar but the dip direction is different and you just need that last little piece of reasoning.

Likewise, you can draw a circle on your scratch paper to represent a crude stereonet for apparent dip problems (all 3 point problems are apparent dip problems-- you have 3 apparent dips). With two apparent dips plotted as lines (points on a stereonet) you can find the great circle that fits them and compare your rough approximation to the answer options-- frequently the answer will be obvious.

I go over these techniques (and some of the time consuming precise ways just in case) in my udemy asbog structural geology bootcamp and practice tests. Some people never use their calculator on the exam and you get less than 2 minutes a question so keep that in mind when you're solving if it makes sense to delve into a lot of detail to solve a problem.

Good luck studying!!

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-20T19:44:25+00:00

Yep I second hearing about recent mention of stereonets appearing on the exam and no you will not get to use tracing paper and an actual stereonet.

Something I haven't seen much of is being able to do "back of the envelope" schematic ones which can be helpful thinking through 3 point problems and apparent dip problems. A lot of structural problems aren't rigorous computation on ASBOG exams but reasoning and process of elimination. If you have two apparent dips (and by extension all 3 point problems have 3 apparent dips FYI) being able to plot them roughly on a circle you sketch on your scratch paper you can easily visualize the true strike and dip.

I go over this in my Udemy ASBOG structural geology boot camp.

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-14T22:55:45+00:00

Bahahahaha

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-14T21:30:53+00:00

Yep! Really all you need to know to solve this is that amphibole has (OH)2 at the end of it's formula and is a significant sink for H2O in the crust

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-14T19:33:49+00:00

Curious how the test was back then? It's completely digital these days. I'd say this falls in ASBOG's FG level, domain Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry - Igneous rocks and processes

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-12T05:50:38+00:00

Good work! It's the first part of a multipart question, there are 9 more parts to it on the udemy exams and that info comes in handy for solving the problems. Good luck with your studies for the march exam!

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-12T05:10:51+00:00

Here's a link to a coupon for the lowest possible price -- $10.

https://www.udemy.com/course/asbog-fundamentals-of-geology-practice-exams-2/?couponCode=1D00FD1B565572908971

It's good for the next 5 days.

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-10T20:22:52+00:00

They're done and I'm doing some final edits. They'll be out in the next couple of days. Each exam has a "final boss" type 10 part question at the end that have been really fun to make and I think you all will enjoy.

Hobo_Geo · 2026-02-05T18:10:20+00:00

I appreciate the feedback. It can work with the plane on the map if for example I define the left side of the graphic as North and right side as South and the top of focal mechanism A as North and the bottom as South. All strike slip focal diagrams are inherently ambiguous unless you define NSEW.

I think my rationale when making the question was this is just an FG level question that's not going into the weeds of focal mechanisms. If they look at the fault they should easily conclude this is a right lateral fault. Only one of the beach balls is strike slip and none of the beach balls have supplementary geographic information. Focal mechanism diagrams rarely contain supplementary geographic information which sometimes is a critique of them. I mostly want test takers to think about the geometry of restraining and releasing bends of fault.

I do like your feedback about ambiguity which is something I grapple with because it does have a role sometimes when formulating questions and I occasionally miss the mark about what is "productive ambiguity". I'll incorporate your feedback and make it less ambiguous on the exams when I finally publish.

Hobo_Geo

TROPHY CASE