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AWS CWI Exam · Last updated November 2026

AWS CWI Part A Fundamentals Exam (Certified Welding Inspector): free practice test

Part A tests the welding fundamentals every inspector must know without a book: terms and definitions, welding processes, welding and NDE symbols, weld examination, procedure and welder qualification, NDT, metallurgy, calculations, inspector duties, destructive tests and cutting. You take it at a Prometric center after Part B, the practical.

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About the CWI Part A exam

Part A tests the welding fundamentals every inspector must know without a book: terms and definitions, welding processes, welding and NDE symbols, weld examination, procedure and welder qualification, NDT, metallurgy, calculations, inspector duties, destructive tests and cutting. You take it at a Prometric center after Part B, the practical.

What's on the exam

CWI Part A
Definitions, Terminology and Joint Design
7 key facts
Welding Processes and Cutting
7 key facts
Welding and NDE Symbols
7 key facts
Weld Examination and Discontinuities
7 key facts
WPS, PQR and Welder Qualification
6 key facts
Nondestructive Testing Methods
6 key facts
Metallurgy, Heat Control and Destructive Tests
7 key facts
Calculations, Duties and Safety
7 key facts

Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →

How to pass the CWI Part A exam

  • 165 questions in 135 minutes is just under 50 seconds each. Definition and symbol questions should take 20 seconds so you bank time for calculations.
  • Definitions and terminology (12%) and welding processes (12%) are the two biggest content areas. Learn the exact AWS A3.0 terms: undercut vs. underfill, root face vs. root opening.
  • Symbols are at least 10% of the exam and it's closed book. Practice reading AWS A2.4 welding and NDE symbols until arrow side vs. other side is automatic.
  • 15 questions are unscored pretest items and you can't tell which. Treat every question as if it counts.

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Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the CWI Formula & Values Sheet.

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What's in the premium CWI Part A prep

Premium CWI Part A prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained
6full-length mock exams, 150 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 8 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    Definitions, Terminology and Joint Design8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    Welding Processes and Cutting8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  3. 3
    Welding and NDE Symbols8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  4. 4
    Weld Examination and Discontinuities8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  5. 5
    WPS, PQR and Welder Qualification7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  6. 6
    Nondestructive Testing Methods7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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  7. 7
    Metallurgy, Heat Control and Destructive Tests7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  8. 8
    Calculations, Duties and Safety7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  9. Final step: 6 full mock exams150 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
    Premium
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Read the complete CWI Part A study notes for “Definitions, Terminology and Joint Design”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 15 minutes of reading: Joints and weld types · Groove terms · Parts of a weld · Size versus throat · Welding positions, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.

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Study tools included

3,000 practice questions

3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.

6 full mock exams

6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.

Exam Readiness Score

One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.

800 flashcards + spaced repetition

800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.

60 comprehensive key notes

60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.

Mind maps

See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.

Sample questions with answers

These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.

1. Which of the following is NOT one of the five basic joint types defined in AWS A3.0?
Answer: Groove joint. The five basic joint types are butt, corner, edge, lap and T. A groove is a weld type, not a joint type: a groove weld can be made in a butt, corner or T-joint.
2. In a single-V-groove butt joint, the part of the groove face within the joint root (the 'land') is called the:
Answer: Root face. The root face is the portion of the groove face within the joint root. The root opening is the gap between the workpieces at the root. Mixing the two up is a classic Part A trap.
3. In the SMAW electrode classification E7018, what does the digit '1' indicate?
Answer: The electrode is usable in all positions. E = electrode, 70 = 70 ksi minimum tensile strength of the weld metal, 1 = all positions (2 would mean flat and horizontal fillets only). The last two digits together, '18', give the coating and current type: low-hydrogen potassium, iron powder, AC or DCEP.
4. Why is conventional oxyfuel cutting not used to cut austenitic stainless steel?
Answer: The chromium oxides formed melt at a higher temperature than the base metal and block the cutting reaction. Oxyfuel cutting depends on rapid oxidation of iron, and the oxide must melt below the base metal so the oxygen jet can blow it away. Chromium oxide is refractory, so the cut stalls. Plasma arc cutting is the usual choice for stainless steel and aluminum.
5. On an AWS A2.4 welding symbol, a fillet weld symbol placed below the reference line means the weld is made:
Answer: On the arrow side of the joint. Below the reference line = arrow side; above = other side; on both sides of the line = both sides. A field weld is shown by a flag, not by the symbol's position.
6. A welding symbol shows a fillet weld symbol with '1/4' to its left and '2-6' to its right. What does '2-6' mean?
Answer: Welds 2 in. long with a 6 in. pitch (center to center). Size goes to the left of the weld symbol, length-pitch to the right. Pitch is the center-to-center distance between intermittent welds, not the gap between them. Here: 1/4 in. fillets, 2 in. long, at 6 in. centers.
7. A groove melted into the base metal next to the weld toe and left unfilled by weld metal is called:
Answer: Undercut. That's undercut. Underfill is a weld face or root surface below the adjacent base-metal surface. Overlap is weld metal protruding beyond the toe without fusing to the base metal.
8. A star-shaped crack at the end of a weld bead is most likely caused by:
Answer: Breaking the arc and leaving an unfilled crater. Crater cracks form as the shallow, unfilled crater shrinks on cooling. Filling the crater or backstepping before breaking the arc prevents them. Any crack, crater cracks included, is rejectable under most codes.
9. Which document records the actual welding variables used to weld a test coupon and the results of the tests made on it?
Answer: Procedure qualification record (PQR). The PQR records what was actually used and the test results. The WPS gives the welder directions for production, with ranges supported by one or more PQRs. A welder performance record documents the welder's own test.
10. In welding procedure qualification, an essential variable is one that:
Answer: When changed beyond the specified limits, requires the procedure to be requalified. An essential variable is a change considered to affect the mechanical properties of the weld, so a change beyond the code's limits means new qualification testing. Supplementary essential variables are the extra ones that apply when toughness testing is required.
11. Which NDT method cannot be used on austenitic stainless steel welds?
Answer: Magnetic particle testing. Magnetic particle testing needs a ferromagnetic material, and austenitic stainless steel is essentially nonmagnetic. Penetrant testing works on any nonporous surface, and RT and UT can still be used (UT is harder on coarse austenitic grains).
12. Preheating carbon steel before welding mainly helps prevent hydrogen cracking by:
Answer: Slowing the cooling rate, which reduces hard microstructures and lets hydrogen diffuse out. Hydrogen cracking needs hydrogen, a hard susceptible microstructure (such as martensite) and tensile stress. Preheat slows cooling, which lowers hardness and gives hydrogen time to escape. It lowers the risk; it doesn't raise hardness.
13. Which mechanical test measures the notch toughness (impact energy) of weld metal?
Answer: Charpy V-notch test. The Charpy V-notch test breaks a notched specimen with a pendulum and records the energy absorbed, usually at a specified low temperature. Bend tests check soundness and ductility; nick-break tests expose internal discontinuities.
14. A weld is made at 25 volts, 200 amps and a travel speed of 10 in./min. What is the heat input?
Answer: 30,000 J/in.. Heat input = volts × amps × 60 ÷ travel speed (in./min) = 25 × 200 × 60 ÷ 10 = 30,000 J/in. (30 kJ/in.). Forgetting the 60 (seconds per minute) gives the 500 J/in. trap answer.
15. A round tensile specimen with a 0.505 in. diameter breaks at a load of 16,000 lb. What is its approximate tensile strength?
Answer: 80,000 psi. Area = π × d² ÷ 4 = 3.1416 × 0.505² ÷ 4 ≈ 0.200 in². Tensile strength = load ÷ area = 16,000 ÷ 0.200 = 80,000 psi. The 0.505 in. specimen is chosen because its area is almost exactly 0.2 in².

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Certification guide

CWI exam guide: The AWS Certified Welding Inspector exam has three parts, and you need at least 72% on each one. Part B, the hands-on practical, comes first; Parts A and C follow on computer at a Prometric test center. Here is what each part tests, what it costs and what happens if you need a retest, based on [AWS's CWI page](https://www.aws.org/certification-and-education/professional-certification/certified-welding-inspector/) and its current exam guides.

CWI Part A exam FAQ

How many questions are on the CWI Part A exam?

150 scored multiple-choice questions plus 15 unscored pretest items (165 in total), with a time limit of 135 minutes. Format: closed book, computer-based.

What is the passing score for CWI Part A?

72% on Part A (each of Parts A, B and C must be passed at 72%).

How much does the CWI Part A exam cost?

Included in the initial CWI exam fee for all three parts: US$1,255 for AWS members or US$1,520 for non-members (non-member price includes a 3-year AWS membership). A Part A retest costs US$445. AWS fees can change without notice, so confirm on aws.org before you apply.

Which languages is the CWI Part A exam offered in?

English, or language-assisted forms in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese (English shown alongside).

Where do I take the CWI Part A exam?

Prometric test center (computer-based).

Is this CWI Part A practice test free?

Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full CWI Part A prep is Premium at $147 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium CWI Part A prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Definitions, Terminology and Joint Design: 375; Welding Processes and Cutting: 375; Welding and NDE Symbols: 375; Weld Examination and Discontinuities: 375; WPS, PQR and Welder Qualification: 375; Nondestructive Testing Methods: 375; Metallurgy, Heat Control and Destructive Tests: 375; Calculations, Duties and Safety: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 150 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

Compare CWI Part A with the other CWI parts

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Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in October 2026. AWS changes formats and fees, so confirm with American Welding Society (AWS) before you book. CWIQuizBank is not affiliated with the American Welding Society or Prometric.

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