Page 1 of 141
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Exam
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Examination Practice Questions
10 MOST-TESTED EXAM COVERAGE AREAS
1. Welding Processes and Equipment — SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW, welding machines,
electrodes, shielding gases, polarity, current, voltage, travel speed, and process variables.
2. Welding Metallurgy and Materials — carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, heat-affected
zone, grain structure, hardening, cracking, hydrogen, carbon equivalent, and material
properties.
3. Welding Symbols and Drawings — weld symbols, dimensions, reference lines, arrow sides,
other-side welds, contour symbols, finish symbols, tail information, and drawing interpretation.
4. Welding Procedure Specifications and Qualification — WPS, PQR, essential variables, welder
qualification, procedure qualification, ranges of qualification, and qualification records.
5. Welding Inspection Methods — visual inspection, dimensional inspection, surface examination,
radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, and liquid penetrant testing.
6. Weld Discontinuities and Defects — cracks, porosity, slag inclusions, lack of fusion, incomplete
penetration, undercut, overlap, burn-through, arc strikes, and excessive reinforcement.
7. Codes, Standards, and Specifications — AWS D1.1, applicable welding codes, acceptance
criteria, inspection requirements, code terminology, and responsibility of the inspector.
8. Inspection Before, During, and After Welding — base material, joint preparation, fit-up,
preheat, consumables, welding parameters, interpass temperature, cleaning, final inspection,
and documentation.
9. Welding Safety and Inspector Responsibilities — PPE, electrical hazards, fumes, radiation,
compressed gases, hot work, confined spaces, inspector ethics, impartiality, and reporting.
10. Inspection Records and Quality Control — inspection reports, traceability, welder identification,
material identification, nonconformance reports, repair procedures, documentation, and quality
assurance.
1.
Before welding begins, which item should a CWI verify to confirm that the joint preparation matches the
approved welding requirements?
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A. Welder's lunch schedule
B. Joint design and dimensions
C. Welding booth color
D. Number of nearby tools
Answer: B
Rationale: The inspector verifies joint design, dimensions, fit-up, and preparation before welding starts.
2.
Which welding process uses a continuously fed consumable wire electrode and normally requires
external shielding gas?
A. GTAW
B. SMAW
C. GMAW
D. Oxyfuel welding
Answer: C
Rationale: GMAW uses a continuously fed wire electrode with shielding gas.
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3.
What is the main purpose of preheating the base metal before welding certain steels?
A. Increase weld color
B. Reduce cooling rate
C. Remove all weld reinforcement
D. Increase welding speed only
Answer: B
Rationale: Preheating can slow cooling and reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking and excessive hardness.
4.
During visual inspection, what condition most directly indicates incomplete joint fit-up?
A. Correct electrode storage
B. Incorrect root opening
C. Proper weld profile
D. Correct shielding gas
Answer: B
Rationale: Root opening is a critical fit-up dimension and must meet the specified requirement.
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5.
Which discontinuity is generally described as a separation or fracture in the weld or base metal?
A. Porosity
B. Crack
C. Undercut
D. Overlap
Answer: B
Rationale: A crack is a fracture-type discontinuity and is generally one of the most serious weld
discontinuities.
6.
What document normally gives the required welding variables that a welder must follow during
production welding?
A. WPS
B. Purchase order
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Exam
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Examination Practice Questions
10 MOST-TESTED EXAM COVERAGE AREAS
1. Welding Processes and Equipment — SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW, welding machines,
electrodes, shielding gases, polarity, current, voltage, travel speed, and process variables.
2. Welding Metallurgy and Materials — carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, heat-affected
zone, grain structure, hardening, cracking, hydrogen, carbon equivalent, and material
properties.
3. Welding Symbols and Drawings — weld symbols, dimensions, reference lines, arrow sides,
other-side welds, contour symbols, finish symbols, tail information, and drawing interpretation.
4. Welding Procedure Specifications and Qualification — WPS, PQR, essential variables, welder
qualification, procedure qualification, ranges of qualification, and qualification records.
5. Welding Inspection Methods — visual inspection, dimensional inspection, surface examination,
radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, and liquid penetrant testing.
6. Weld Discontinuities and Defects — cracks, porosity, slag inclusions, lack of fusion, incomplete
penetration, undercut, overlap, burn-through, arc strikes, and excessive reinforcement.
7. Codes, Standards, and Specifications — AWS D1.1, applicable welding codes, acceptance
criteria, inspection requirements, code terminology, and responsibility of the inspector.
8. Inspection Before, During, and After Welding — base material, joint preparation, fit-up,
preheat, consumables, welding parameters, interpass temperature, cleaning, final inspection,
and documentation.
9. Welding Safety and Inspector Responsibilities — PPE, electrical hazards, fumes, radiation,
compressed gases, hot work, confined spaces, inspector ethics, impartiality, and reporting.
10. Inspection Records and Quality Control — inspection reports, traceability, welder identification,
material identification, nonconformance reports, repair procedures, documentation, and quality
assurance.
1.
Before welding begins, which item should a CWI verify to confirm that the joint preparation matches the
approved welding requirements?
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A. Welder's lunch schedule
B. Joint design and dimensions
C. Welding booth color
D. Number of nearby tools
Answer: B
Rationale: The inspector verifies joint design, dimensions, fit-up, and preparation before welding starts.
2.
Which welding process uses a continuously fed consumable wire electrode and normally requires
external shielding gas?
A. GTAW
B. SMAW
C. GMAW
D. Oxyfuel welding
Answer: C
Rationale: GMAW uses a continuously fed wire electrode with shielding gas.
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3.
What is the main purpose of preheating the base metal before welding certain steels?
A. Increase weld color
B. Reduce cooling rate
C. Remove all weld reinforcement
D. Increase welding speed only
Answer: B
Rationale: Preheating can slow cooling and reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking and excessive hardness.
4.
During visual inspection, what condition most directly indicates incomplete joint fit-up?
A. Correct electrode storage
B. Incorrect root opening
C. Proper weld profile
D. Correct shielding gas
Answer: B
Rationale: Root opening is a critical fit-up dimension and must meet the specified requirement.
, Page 4 of 141
5.
Which discontinuity is generally described as a separation or fracture in the weld or base metal?
A. Porosity
B. Crack
C. Undercut
D. Overlap
Answer: B
Rationale: A crack is a fracture-type discontinuity and is generally one of the most serious weld
discontinuities.
6.
What document normally gives the required welding variables that a welder must follow during
production welding?
A. WPS
B. Purchase order
