This week we take on the FG test — the Fundamentals of Geology exam — the very first step on the road to becoming a professionally licensed geologist. Jesse just sat the exam this past fall (yes, a geology professor going back to take Geology 101), and we get into exactly what that was like: the nerves, the cram sessions, and the very real fear of an embarrassing fail.
We break down what's actually on the ASBOG FG exam — 110 multiple-choice questions across eight content domains, from general and field geology to hydrogeology, engineering geology, mineralogy, structure, and economic geology — and which sections scared us the most (looking at you, Darcy's law and soil mechanics). We talk through why university programs prepare students so differently, why the exam exists in the first place, and how we'd study for it if we only had two weeks.
Then we put it all to the test: Josh takes on a round of real and AI-generated practice questions live on the mic, and we share our honest take on using tools like Claude to build your own study guide. Whether you're a student staring down the FG exam, a geologist heading back to the field after years away, or just curious how much a PhD really remembers, this one's for you.
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A good study guide? Getting reps. Our Camp Geo mobile app is our intro-to-geology companion — grab it from the first link in the show notes.
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On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
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