CWI Ready

CWI study guide

One page per exam domain, in the order of AWS's current content outline. The percentage is that domain's share of the exam.

Part A: Fundamentals (closed book)165 questions · 135 min

  1. 1 Definitions and Terminology
    Standard welding terms from AWS A3.0: joint types, weld types, joint and weld geometry, positions and process vocabulary.     15%
  2. 2 Welding Processes
    How SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW, ESW, plasma, oxyfuel, brazing and soldering work, their equipment, consumables and typical problems.     15%
  3. 3 Symbols: Welding and NDE
    Reading and applying AWS A2.4 welding symbols, supplementary symbols, dimensions and nondestructive examination symbols.     12%
  4. 4 Weld Examination
    Visual inspection before, during and after welding, discontinuity types and causes, gauges and measuring weld size and profile.     12%
  5. 5 Welding Performance
    Welding procedure specifications, procedure qualification records, welder and welding operator qualification and essential variables.     11%
  6. 6 Test Methods: NDE
    Principles, uses and limits of visual, penetrant, magnetic particle, radiographic, ultrasonic, eddy current and leak testing.     10%
  7. 7 Heat Control and Metallurgy
    Carbon and low-alloy steel metallurgy: heat-affected zone, hydrogen cracking, preheat and interpass temperature, heat treatment and mechanical properties.     7%
  8. 8 Welding-Related Calculations
    On-the-job math: unit conversions, heat input, stress and elongation, fillet weld geometry, carbon equivalent and weld metal volume.     7%
  9. 9 Duties, Responsibilities and Safety
    The inspector's role, ethics, documentation and communication under AWS QC1 and B5.1, plus welding safety basics from ANSI Z49.1.     5%
  10. 10 Destructive Tests
    Tension, bend, Charpy impact, hardness, macroetch, nick-break and fillet-break tests and what each one tells you.     4%
  11. 11 Cutting
    Oxyfuel, plasma arc and air carbon arc cutting and gouging: principles, settings, cut quality and common defects.     2%

Part C: Code Application, AWS D1.1:2020 (open book)65 questions · 135 min

  1. 1 D1.1 Qualification
    Applying AWS D1.1 Clause 5 (prequalified WPSs) and Clause 6 (WPS, welder and welding operator qualification) to real situations.     30%
  2. 2 D1.1 Fabrication
    Applying AWS D1.1 Clause 7: consumables, preheat, welding environment, joint fit-up tolerances, weld profiles and repairs.     30%
  3. 3 D1.1 Inspection
    Applying AWS D1.1 Clause 8: inspector duties, visual acceptance criteria, NDT requirements and acceptance of discontinuities.     30%
  4. 4 D1.1 Design, Materials and Records
    Navigating AWS D1.1 Clauses 1 to 4, base metal and filler metal tables, stud welding and the records the code requires.     10%
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We are not affiliated with AWS and never see real exam questions. Every question is written from AWS's public content outline and the standards it names, so nothing here is a leaked or recalled item. How we write questions

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