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AWS CWI Exam · Last updated November 2026

AWS CWI Part B Practical Exam (Certified Welding Inspector): free practice test

Part B is the practical: you measure plastic weld replicas with real gauges, review WPSs, PQRs and welder test records, read NDE photos, and judge each item against the AWS Book of Specifications. You must take it before Parts A and C, which then have to be completed within 120 days.

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About the CWI Part B exam

Part B is the practical: you measure plastic weld replicas with real gauges, review WPSs, PQRs and welder test records, read NDE photos, and judge each item against the AWS Book of Specifications. You must take it before Parts A and C, which then have to be completed within 120 days.

What's on the exam

CWI Part B
Inspection Tools and Dimensional Tolerances
7 key facts
Structural Steel Acceptance Criteria
7 key facts
Pipeline Acceptance Criteria
7 key facts
Pressure Piping Acceptance Criteria
7 key facts
WPS and PQR Review
7 key facts
Welder Performance Qualification
6 key facts
Mechanical Tests and NDE Exhibits
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 B exam

  • The Book of Specifications is free to download from aws.org. Read it cover to cover before exam day: every answer comes from it, not from D1.1 or API 1104 memory.
  • 46 questions in 120 minutes is about 2.5 minutes each, but measuring replicas takes time. Answer the document questions (WPS, PQR, welder qualification) quickly to save minutes for the gauges.
  • Know your tools: fillet weld gauges, the V-WAC gauge, dial caliper, hi-lo gauge and the AWS C4.1 roughness gauge, including how to zero them.
  • Watch which clause applies. Structural, pipeline and pressure piping each have their own acceptance criteria, and the numbers differ (pipeline offset 1/8 in., pressure piping misalignment 1/16 in.).

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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 B prep

Premium CWI Part B 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, 50 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 7 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    Inspection Tools and Dimensional Tolerances9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 450 practice questions in 18 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    Structural Steel Acceptance Criteria9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
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  3. 3
    Pipeline Acceptance Criteria9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  4. 4
    Pressure Piping Acceptance Criteria9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  5. 5
    WPS and PQR Review8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  6. 6
    Welder Performance Qualification8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  7. 7
    Mechanical Tests and NDE Exhibits8 key notes, 110 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25
    Premium
  8. Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
    Premium
Free with an account

Read the complete CWI Part B study notes for “Inspection Tools and Dimensional Tolerances”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 15 minutes of reading: What you'll be given · What each tool is for · Decimal and fractional tolerances · Weld length, spacing and size · Shall, should and may, 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. Under the Book of Specifications' general dimensional tolerances, a drawing dimension of 4 in. (a whole number from 1 to 6 in.) may measure:
Answer: 3-15/16 in. to 4-1/16 in.. BOS 1.3.2: whole numbers from 1 to 6 in. inclusive get ±1/16 in.; over 6 in. get ±1/8 in. These tolerances don't apply to test specimens, Annex IV or discontinuity limits, and not to fillet weld size.
2. Which tool in the Part B kit is designed to measure internal misalignment (high-low) between pipe ends?
Answer: Hi-lo gauge. The hi-lo gauge measures internal misalignment. The V-WAC gauge measures undercut depth, reinforcement height and pore size, the C4.1 gauge compares cut-surface roughness, and fillet gauges check leg size and convexity or concavity.
3. Under Table 1 of the Book of Specifications, a continuous fillet weld specified as 1/4 in. may be undersize without correction by up to:
Answer: 3/32 in.. Table 1 item 6: L ≤ 3/16 in. allows 1/16 in.; L = 1/4 in. allows 3/32 in.; L ≥ 5/16 in. allows 1/8 in. So a 1/4 in. fillet measuring 5/32 in. is still acceptable.
4. A cyclically loaded lap joint has a 5/16 in. fillet weld that ends at a corner. Under the Book of Specifications, how must the weld be terminated?
Answer: Wrapped around the corner for 5/8 in. to 1-1/4 in.. BOS 2.2.4.2: cyclically loaded connections must wrap around the corner for not less than 2 times nor more than 4 times the weld size, so 5/8 in. to 1-1/4 in. Holding the weld back is an option only for statically loaded connections.
5. A cut plate edge shows a mill-induced discontinuity 1-1/2 in. long and 3/16 in. deep. Under the Book of Specifications, what's required?
Answer: Completely remove it and repair weld. BOS 2.1.1: over 1 in. long with depth over 1/8 in. but not over 1/4 in. must be completely removed and repair welded. Up to 1/8 in. deep: no repair but explore the depth. Over 1/4 in. deep: refer to the Engineer.
6. On a pipeline weld, a burn-through (BT) is a defect under the Book of Specifications when its maximum dimension exceeds:
Answer: 1/4 in.. BOS 3.2.4: a BT is a defect if its maximum dimension exceeds 1/4 in., or if separate BTs add up to more than 1/2 in. in any continuous 12 in. of weld (or the total weld length, whichever is less).
7. A pipeline weld joins two pipes with 0.375 in. nominal wall. A single pore measures 0.10 in. Under the Book of Specifications, the pore is:
Answer: A defect because it exceeds 25% of the wall thickness. BOS 3.2.5 has two limits: a pore over 1/8 in., or over 25% of the thinner nominal wall. 25% of 0.375 in. is 0.094 in., so a 0.10 in. pore is a defect even though it's under 1/8 in. The smaller limit governs.
8. Under Table 5 of the Book of Specifications, what is the maximum reinforcement on a pressure piping butt weld in 3/4 in. wall pipe with a 500°F design temperature?
Answer: 3/16 in.. Table 5: base metal over 1/2 in. to 1 in., design temperature 350°F to 750°F, gives 3/16 in. For single-welded butt joints the limit applies to the outside surface only, based on the thinner material joined.
9. Pressure piping ends to be joined show 3/32 in. internal misalignment. Under the Book of Specifications:
Answer: It exceeds the 1/16 in. limit; trimming the component whose wall extends inside is preferred, keeping at least minimum thickness and a contour change no steeper than 30°. BOS 4.1.1 limits internal misalignment to 1/16 in. and prefers internal trimming, as long as the component stays at or above minimum allowable thickness and the contour change doesn't exceed 30°. The 1/8 in. figure is the pipeline offset limit (3.1.3), a common mix-up.
10. A PQR test weldment is 1/2 in. plate (no PWHT, no single pass over 1/2 in., not GMAW-S). What base metal thickness range does it qualify under Table 7?
Answer: 3/16 in. to 1 in.. Table 7: a test weldment over 3/8 in. but less than 3/4 in. qualifies a minimum of 3/16 in. and a maximum of 2T. 2 × 1/2 in. = 1 in., so the range is 3/16 in. to 1 in.
11. A PQR was welded with a 200°F preheat. Under the Book of Specifications, which WPS change requires requalification?
Answer: Lowering the minimum preheat to 75°F. Table 8 (5.2.3.4): a decrease in preheat of more than 100°F from that qualified is a qualification variable. 200°F to 75°F is a 125°F drop. Raising preheat, a 50°F drop, or a change not listed in Table 8 needs only a revised WPS.
12. A welder passes plate groove tests in the 3G and 4G positions. Under Table 15, which groove welding positions on plate is the welder qualified for?
Answer: Flat, vertical and overhead. Table 15: 3G + 4G plate groove qualifies F, V and O for groove welds on plate and pipe over 24 in. O.D., and all positions for fillets. To be qualified for groove welds in all positions on plate, the welder needs 2G, 3G and 4G.
13. Under the Book of Specifications' visual acceptance criteria for welder performance test weldments, which condition fails the test?
Answer: Undercut 1/32 in. deep on 1/4 in. plate. BOS 6.4.1.2: undercut must not exceed the lesser of 10% of the base metal thickness or 1/32 in. On 1/4 in. plate, 10% is 0.025 in., which is less than 1/32 in. (0.031 in.), so 1/32 in. undercut fails. Reinforcement up to 1/8 in. and single pores up to 3/32 in. are acceptable.
14. A structural steel bend specimen shows three open discontinuities on the convex surface: 1/16, 3/32 and 1/8 in. There are no corner cracks. Under the Book of Specifications, the specimen:
Answer: Passes, because none exceeds 1/8 in. and their sum is under 3/8 in.. BOS 5.4.2.1: reject if any discontinuity exceeds 1/8 in., or if the discontinuities over 1/32 in. up to 1/8 in. add up to more than 3/8 in. Here 2/32 + 3/32 + 4/32 = 9/32 in., under 12/32 (3/8) in., so it passes.
15. Under the PQR tension test criteria, a specimen breaks in the base metal outside the weld at 3% below the base metal's specified minimum tensile strength. The result is:
Answer: Accepted, because a base metal break may be up to 5% below the specified minimum. BOS 5.4.3.3: if the specimen breaks in the base metal outside the weld or weld interface, the test is accepted provided the strength is not more than 5% below the base metal's specified minimum tensile strength.

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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 B exam FAQ

How many questions are on the CWI Part B exam?

46 questions on hands-on tasks with plastic weld replicas, inspection tools and a Book of Exhibits, with a time limit of 120 minutes. Format: open book: the part b book of specifications (2017) is provided, paper-based.

What is the passing score for CWI Part B?

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

How much does the CWI Part B 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 (US$2,000 / US$2,265 with Part B training). A Part B retest costs US$385. AWS fees can change without notice, so confirm on aws.org before you apply.

Which languages is the CWI Part B exam offered in?

English (U.S. customary units in the US and Canada, metric elsewhere); language-assisted forms in several languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese.

Where do I take the CWI Part B exam?

AWS-authorized exam sites (paper-based, usually at the end of an AWS seminar week).

Is this CWI Part B 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 B prep is Premium at $147 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium CWI Part B prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Inspection Tools and Dimensional Tolerances: 450; Structural Steel Acceptance Criteria: 425; Pipeline Acceptance Criteria: 425; Pressure Piping Acceptance Criteria: 425; WPS and PQR Review: 425; Welder Performance Qualification: 425; Mechanical Tests and NDE Exhibits: 425), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 7 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

Compare CWI Part B 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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