CWI Part A prep · free · no signup
CWI Part A fundamentals practice test
41 original questions across the eleven content areas of the AWS Certified Welding Inspector Part A fundamentals exam. Answer each one for an instant explanation, then get a breakdown of exactly which topics to study next. Part A is the closed-book fundamentals part; the cost and endorsement tools handle the rest of the decision.
What the CWI Part A fundamentals exam covers
Part A is the closed-book fundamentals part of the AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) exam: 165 questions in 135 minutes at a Prometric center, and you need 72% to pass it. The American Welding Society publishes the content areas and the minimum share of questions each carries (AWS B5.1, Clause 7.1). The table below shows those eleven areas, their official minimum weight, and how many questions this practice test puts in each.
| Content area | Exam weight | Questions here | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definitions and Terminology | 12% | 6 | Joint types, welding positions, and weld nomenclature: toe, root, face, throat, leg, and joint penetration. |
| Welding Processes | 12% | 6 | SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SAW: what each is, how each shields the arc, and its common process name. |
| Welding and NDE Symbols | 10% | 5 | Reading AWS weld symbols: arrow side versus other side, fillet leg size, the field-weld flag, weld-all-around, and the NDE method in the tail. |
| Weld Examination | 10% | 5 | Visual inspection timing and surface discontinuities: undercut, overlap, and porosity, plus the discontinuity-versus-defect distinction. |
| Welding Performance | 9% | 4 | The WPS and PQR, essential variables, and the difference between procedure qualification and welder performance qualification. |
| NDE Test Methods | 8% | 4 | Liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, radiographic, and ultrasonic testing: what each can and cannot detect. |
| Heat Control and Metallurgy | 6% | 3 | Preheat, the heat-affected zone, and postweld heat treatment on carbon and low-alloy steel. |
| Welding Calculations | 6% | 3 | Fillet-weld throat geometry, percentages and rejection rates, and unit and temperature conversions. |
| Duties and Responsibilities | 4% | 2 | The inspector's ethics and impartiality, and keeping accurate, traceable records. |
| Destructive Tests | 3% | 2 | Tensile and guided-bend tests for strength, ductility, and weld soundness. |
| Cutting | 2% | 1 | Oxyfuel gas cutting fundamentals and why it does not suit stainless steel or aluminum. |
Weights are the official minimum percent of questions per area (AWS B5.1, Clause 7.1); they sum above 80% because each is a floor, not an exact split. Question counts here are allocated in proportion to those weights.
How this practice test works
Instant explanations
Answer a question and see right or wrong immediately, with the full explanation and the content area it was written from, so every question teaches even when you miss it.
A real weak-spot report
At the end you get your overall score, a bar for each content area, and a weakest-first study order. Retake just your weakest area in one click.
Spaced repetition built in
Questions you miss are scheduled to return on a spaced-repetition curve stored on your device, so the fundamentals actually stick before test day.
Free and ungated
Every question and your full breakdown run with no signup, no email, and no paywall. Your answers stay in your browser; only anonymous, banded aggregate statistics are sent.
Sample questions
A preview of the kind of questions in the bank, one each from three different content areas. Each is written from the public Part A body of knowledge and the underlying welding fundamentals. Open the answer to see the explanation and its content area.
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Welding Processes
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) uses which type of electrode?
- A A consumable bare wire fed continuously
- B A consumable flux-covered stick
- C A nonconsumable tungsten electrode
- D A consumable flux-cored tubular wire
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. A nonconsumable tungsten electrode
GTAW, often called TIG, uses a nonconsumable tungsten electrode to sustain the arc, with filler added separately when needed. It gives high-quality, precise welds and is common on thin sections and code work.
Source: Public AWS CWI Part A body of knowledge (welding processes, GTAW), authored 2026-07-23
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Weld Examination
Undercut is best described as which of the following?
- A Weld metal that extends beyond the weld toe with no fusion
- B A groove melted into the base metal next to the weld toe or root and left unfilled by weld metal
- C A rounded cavity in the weld caused by trapped gas
- D Excess weld metal above the base-metal surface
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. A groove melted into the base metal next to the weld toe or root and left unfilled by weld metal
Undercut is a groove melted into the base metal adjacent to the weld toe or root and left unfilled. It reduces cross section and creates a stress concentration, so codes limit its depth and length.
Source: Public AWS CWI Part A body of knowledge (weld examination, surface discontinuities), authored 2026-07-23
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Welding and NDE Symbols
On an AWS welding symbol, a weld symbol placed BELOW the reference line specifies a weld on which side of the joint?
- A The other side
- B The arrow side
- C Both sides equally
- D Whichever side is convenient
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The arrow side
A weld symbol below the reference line means the weld is on the arrow side of the joint. A symbol above the line means the other side, and symbols on both sides mean weld both sides. The rule does not depend on how the arrow is drawn.
Source: Public AWS CWI Part A body of knowledge (welding and NDE symbols, arrow-side and other-side convention), authored 2026-07-23
Practice test FAQ
Is this CWI Part A practice test really free?
Yes. All 41 questions, every explanation, and your full topic breakdown are free with no signup, no email, and no credit card. Your progress is saved only on your own device.
Does this cover all three parts of the CWI exam?
No. This bank drills Part A, the closed-book fundamentals part. Part B is the hands-on practical with weld replicas and a Book of Specifications, and Part C is the open-book code-application part. See the exam guide and the Part B practical guide for those.
How is Part A structured on the real exam?
Part A is a closed-book computer-based test of 165 questions in 135 minutes, delivered at a Prometric center, and you need 72% to pass it. Each of the three parts is scored independently with no averaging. See how hard the CWI exam is.
Is this the same as the AWS CWI exam?
No. Welding Inspector Prep is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the American Welding Society. The questions are original, written from the public Part A body of knowledge, and this is a supplement, not a substitute for the required preparation and the official exam.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, on this device. Your answers and a spaced-repetition schedule live in your browser's local storage, so missed questions can resurface when they are due. That record stays on the device; when you finish a run we receive only anonymous, banded aggregate statistics, with no account and no identifier. See our privacy policy.