How hard is the CWI exam?

The CWI exam is hard, mostly because of its structure. You must score at least 72% on each of three separate parts and also reach a 72% composite, Part A gives you about 49 seconds per question with no books, and Part C is open book but tightly timed (AWS Examination User Guide). A strong welder can still fail on definitions, metallurgy or lookup speed.

AWS does not publish a CWI pass rate. Figures you see online, such as "30 to 40% pass the first time," are not from AWS, and we could not trace them to a source. What we can do is show where the difficulty comes from, part by part.

Why it is hard: the structure

	Part A	Part B	Part C
What it tests	Fundamentals, from memory	Practical inspection with real tools	Applying a code, D1.1 for most
Questions	165 (150 scored)	46, with hands-on tasks	50 to 60 scored
Time	135 minutes	See AWS's Part B information	120 minutes (135 with pretest items)
Books	None	See AWS's Part B information	Open book
Pace	About 49 seconds a question		About 2 minutes a question
Pass mark	72%	72%	72%

Sources: AWS's CWI page and its Part A and Part C exam information documents.

Three things make this structure harder than one long exam:

1. No part can carry another. A 90% on Part C does not make up for a 70% on Part A. You need 72% on each part and on the composite.

2. Part B comes first. AWS requires you to take Part B before Parts A and C. Many candidates are least familiar with hands-on inspection tasks, and those come at the start.

3. Retakes wait until the end. According to AWS's CWI page, you complete all three parts before retaking any of them. A failed part means a second round of fees and another sitting.

Part A: wide, closed book and fast

Part A covers 11 topics, from welding processes to destructive testing to calculations. AWS's Part A guide sets minimum shares: 12% each for definitions and welding processes, 10% each for symbols and weld examination, and smaller shares for the rest.

What makes it hard:

• Exact vocabulary. Distractors swap correct AWS terms for shop slang or a near twin: throat versus leg, joint penetration versus fusion, back weld versus backing weld. If you learned the work on the job, you may know the thing but not its AWS name. Start with the terminology guide.
• Topics welders rarely use. NDE methods, metallurgy and destructive tests are outside most welders' daily work. See the NDE guide and metallurgy guide.
• Speed. At about 49 seconds a question, a slow calculation costs you two or three other questions. Practice heat input and stress by hand with the calculations guide.
• Symbols. One position change on a welding symbol flips the answer. Read our welding symbols chart and the symbols guide.

Part B: hands-on

Part B uses AWS-supplied equipment and replicas, with 46 questions. It tests whether you can use the gauges and judge welds against a specification. It is not covered by our questions, because it needs physical tools. If you have not used a fillet gauge, a bridge cam gauge or a magnifier on real welds, get hands-on practice before your seminar.

Part C: open book, but fast

Many people expect an open-book exam to be the easy part. On Part C, everyone has the answers in front of them. The skill is knowing where in D1.1 to look, and reading the table under the right conditions: statically or cyclically loaded, tubular or nontubular, prequalified or qualified by test.

At about two minutes a question, there is no time to read a clause from the start. If you learned on D1.1:2015, the 2020 edition renumbered most clauses, which can slow you down. Our Part C guide covers how to tab your code and a four-step method for each question.

Who finds it hardest

From the structure, you can predict where your own risk is:

Background	Likely strong	Likely weak
Welder, many years in the shop	Processes, Part B, discontinuities	Terminology, metallurgy, NDE, code navigation
QC or NDT technician	NDE, inspection duties	Welding processes, symbols
Engineer	Metallurgy, calculations, design	Practical gauges, shop terms
New to the field	Fresh study habits	Experience-based judgment on Parts B and C

This is a guide, not a rule. The fastest way to know your real weak spots is to test yourself. The free Part A diagnostic scores you on every topic in about 25 questions.

How long people study

There is no AWS figure for study time. Many candidates combine self-study with an AWS seminar, which AWS runs as one-week, two-week and eight-week online formats (AWS). A seminar is a review, not a first look. Plan to start studying well before the seminar week, so the seminar fills gaps instead of teaching from zero.

A reasonable plan is to work through one or two Part A topics a week, with practice questions after each, and to start tabbing your D1.1 code at the same time. The CWI practice test page explains how to use practice questions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate for the CWI exam?

AWS does not publish a CWI pass rate. Numbers quoted online do not come from AWS, and we could not trace them to a source. What AWS does publish is the standard: 72% on each part and a 72% composite.

Which part of the CWI exam is the hardest?

It depends on your background. Part A is closed book across 11 topics, so terminology, metallurgy and NDE catch many welders. Part C is open book but timed at about two minutes a question, so slow code navigation is the common problem there.

Can I fail one part and pass the others?

Yes, the parts are scored separately, and each needs 72%. AWS's CWI page says you complete all three parts before retaking any of them. You would then retake only the part you failed, at the retest fee for that part.

Is the CWI harder than the CAWI?

They use the same three exam parts. The difference is the score and experience needed. A CWI needs 72% on each part and more years of work experience. See our CWI vs CAWI comparison.

How much time do I get per question?

On Part A, 135 minutes for 165 questions works out to about 49 seconds each. On Part C, 120 minutes for up to 60 scored questions is about two minutes each, or slightly more on forms with pretest items and 135 minutes.

Is the CWI exam worth it?

For many welders it is the main route into inspection and quality roles. It costs money and study time: the initial exams start at $1,255 for AWS members in 2026, before any seminar. See CWI exam cost for the full fee list.

Questions? support@cwiready.com