CWB Level 2 Welding Inspector Exam
Questions with Detailed Answers (CSA W178.2)
This exam is organized around the core knowledge areas commonly covered in CWB
(Canadian Welding Bureau) Level 2 Visual Welding Inspector certification preparation
under CSA W178.2, including welding processes, power sources, metallurgy, weld
defects, blueprint reading and symbols, codes and standards, nondestructive/destructive
testing, inspector roles, safety, and filler metals. Each question is followed immediately by
the correct answer and a detailed rationale.
Section 1: Welding Processes Fundamentals (SMAW,
GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW)
Q1. What does SMAW stand for?
A. Submerged Metal Arc Welding
B. Shielded Metal Arc Welding
C. Solid Metal Arc Welding
D. Semi-automatic Metal Arc Welding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), commonly called 'stick
welding,' uses a flux-coated consumable electrode that shields the weld
pool with gas and slag produced as the coating burns.
Q2. In GMAW, what provides shielding to the weld pool?
A. A flux coating on the electrode
B. An externally supplied shielding gas
C. A flux core within the wire
D. No shielding is used
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding, commonly called MIG) uses
an externally supplied shielding gas (such as argon, CO2, or a mixture) to
protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination.
Q3. What is a key difference between FCAW-G and FCAW-S?
A. FCAW-G requires no shielding at all
B. FCAW-G uses an auxiliary shielding gas while FCAW-S is self-shielded
by flux only
C. FCAW-S can only be used on aluminum
D. There is no difference
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FCAW-G (gas-shielded flux-cored arc welding) uses an
external shielding gas in addition to the flux core, while FCAW-S
(self-shielded) relies solely on the flux core to generate shielding gas and
slag, making it more suited to outdoor/windy conditions.
Q4. Which process typically produces the highest quality, most precise
welds on thin materials and is often used for root passes on pipe?
A. SMAW
B. GTAW
C. FCAW-S
D. SAW
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, commonly called TIG)
uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and offers excellent control,
making it ideal for thin materials and high-quality root passes.
Q5. What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes SAW
(Submerged Arc Welding)?
A. The arc and weld pool are submerged under a blanket of granular flux
B. It uses no electrode
C. It is only performed vertically
D. It requires a tungsten electrode
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In SAW, a granular flux blanket completely covers the arc and
molten weld pool, shielding it from the atmosphere and producing a
hidden arc; this method offers high deposition rates for flat, heavy
production welding.
Q6. Which welding process uses a non-consumable electrode?
A. SMAW
B. GMAW
C. GTAW
D. FCAW
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: GTAW uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create
the arc; filler metal, when needed, is added separately as a filler rod,
unlike SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW which use consumable electrodes.
Q7. What does the term 'polarity' refer to in arc welding?
A. The chemical composition of the electrode
B. The direction of current flow relative to the electrode (positive or
negative)
C. The type of shielding gas used
D. The travel speed of the torch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Polarity describes whether the electrode is connected to the
positive or negative terminal of the power source (DCEP/DCEN), which
affects penetration, bead shape, and cleaning action.
Q8. DCEP (direct current electrode positive) is generally associated
with which characteristic?
A. Shallow penetration and a wide bead
B. Deeper penetration in many processes such as SMAW and GMAW
C. No arc formation
D. Only usable for aluminum GTAW
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DCEP (also called reverse polarity) generally provides deeper
penetration in SMAW and GMAW because more heat is concentrated at
the workpiece, and it also provides a cleaning action useful for removing
oxide layers.
Q9. Why is AC current commonly used for GTAW welding of aluminum?
A. AC provides both cleaning action (oxide removal) and adequate
penetration for aluminum's oxide layer
B. AC cannot form an arc
C. Aluminum cannot be welded with DC under any circumstance
D. AC is only used for SMAW
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aluminum forms a tenacious, high-melting-point oxide layer.
AC current alternates between polarities, providing the surface-cleaning
(oxide-breaking) action of DCEP and the deeper penetration of DCEN,
making it well-suited for GTAW on aluminum.
Q10. What is 'duty cycle' as it relates to a welding power source?
A. The number of years a machine will last
B. The percentage of a 10-minute period a machine can operate at a
given output without overheating
C. The amount of flux required per weld
D. The number of electrodes used per shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Duty cycle expresses, as a percentage of a 10-minute cycle,
how long a welding power source can operate continuously at a rated
output before it must be allowed to cool to avoid overheating.
Q11. A welding power source with a constant current (CC) output is
generally best suited for which process?
A. GMAW
B. SMAW and GTAW
C. SAW only
Questions with Detailed Answers (CSA W178.2)
This exam is organized around the core knowledge areas commonly covered in CWB
(Canadian Welding Bureau) Level 2 Visual Welding Inspector certification preparation
under CSA W178.2, including welding processes, power sources, metallurgy, weld
defects, blueprint reading and symbols, codes and standards, nondestructive/destructive
testing, inspector roles, safety, and filler metals. Each question is followed immediately by
the correct answer and a detailed rationale.
Section 1: Welding Processes Fundamentals (SMAW,
GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW)
Q1. What does SMAW stand for?
A. Submerged Metal Arc Welding
B. Shielded Metal Arc Welding
C. Solid Metal Arc Welding
D. Semi-automatic Metal Arc Welding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), commonly called 'stick
welding,' uses a flux-coated consumable electrode that shields the weld
pool with gas and slag produced as the coating burns.
Q2. In GMAW, what provides shielding to the weld pool?
A. A flux coating on the electrode
B. An externally supplied shielding gas
C. A flux core within the wire
D. No shielding is used
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding, commonly called MIG) uses
an externally supplied shielding gas (such as argon, CO2, or a mixture) to
protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination.
Q3. What is a key difference between FCAW-G and FCAW-S?
A. FCAW-G requires no shielding at all
B. FCAW-G uses an auxiliary shielding gas while FCAW-S is self-shielded
by flux only
C. FCAW-S can only be used on aluminum
D. There is no difference
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FCAW-G (gas-shielded flux-cored arc welding) uses an
external shielding gas in addition to the flux core, while FCAW-S
(self-shielded) relies solely on the flux core to generate shielding gas and
slag, making it more suited to outdoor/windy conditions.
Q4. Which process typically produces the highest quality, most precise
welds on thin materials and is often used for root passes on pipe?
A. SMAW
B. GTAW
C. FCAW-S
D. SAW
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, commonly called TIG)
uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and offers excellent control,
making it ideal for thin materials and high-quality root passes.
Q5. What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes SAW
(Submerged Arc Welding)?
A. The arc and weld pool are submerged under a blanket of granular flux
B. It uses no electrode
C. It is only performed vertically
D. It requires a tungsten electrode
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In SAW, a granular flux blanket completely covers the arc and
molten weld pool, shielding it from the atmosphere and producing a
hidden arc; this method offers high deposition rates for flat, heavy
production welding.
Q6. Which welding process uses a non-consumable electrode?
A. SMAW
B. GMAW
C. GTAW
D. FCAW
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: GTAW uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create
the arc; filler metal, when needed, is added separately as a filler rod,
unlike SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW which use consumable electrodes.
Q7. What does the term 'polarity' refer to in arc welding?
A. The chemical composition of the electrode
B. The direction of current flow relative to the electrode (positive or
negative)
C. The type of shielding gas used
D. The travel speed of the torch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Polarity describes whether the electrode is connected to the
positive or negative terminal of the power source (DCEP/DCEN), which
affects penetration, bead shape, and cleaning action.
Q8. DCEP (direct current electrode positive) is generally associated
with which characteristic?
A. Shallow penetration and a wide bead
B. Deeper penetration in many processes such as SMAW and GMAW
C. No arc formation
D. Only usable for aluminum GTAW
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DCEP (also called reverse polarity) generally provides deeper
penetration in SMAW and GMAW because more heat is concentrated at
the workpiece, and it also provides a cleaning action useful for removing
oxide layers.
Q9. Why is AC current commonly used for GTAW welding of aluminum?
A. AC provides both cleaning action (oxide removal) and adequate
penetration for aluminum's oxide layer
B. AC cannot form an arc
C. Aluminum cannot be welded with DC under any circumstance
D. AC is only used for SMAW
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aluminum forms a tenacious, high-melting-point oxide layer.
AC current alternates between polarities, providing the surface-cleaning
(oxide-breaking) action of DCEP and the deeper penetration of DCEN,
making it well-suited for GTAW on aluminum.
Q10. What is 'duty cycle' as it relates to a welding power source?
A. The number of years a machine will last
B. The percentage of a 10-minute period a machine can operate at a
given output without overheating
C. The amount of flux required per weld
D. The number of electrodes used per shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Duty cycle expresses, as a percentage of a 10-minute cycle,
how long a welding power source can operate continuously at a rated
output before it must be allowed to cool to avoid overheating.
Q11. A welding power source with a constant current (CC) output is
generally best suited for which process?
A. GMAW
B. SMAW and GTAW
C. SAW only
