Position Arc Welding
POSITION ARC WELDING | EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED NCCER WELDING POSITIONS AND SMAW |
2026/2027
POSITION ARC WELDING
1. Under AWS A3.0 designation, the flat position for a groove weld in
plate is identified as:
A. 2G
B. 1G
C. 1F
D. 3G
B. 1G
The number 1 denotes flat and the letter G denotes a groove weld, so 1G
is a flat groove weld.
2. A fillet weld made on a horizontal plate against a vertical plate, with
the weld axis horizontal, is designated:
A. 1F
B. 2F
C. 2G
D. 3F
B. 2F
2F is the horizontal fillet position, where the weld axis is horizontal and
metal is deposited on the upper side of the horizontal surface.
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, Position Arc Welding
3. In the 3G position, the plate and the weld axis are oriented:
A. Plate horizontal, weld axis horizontal
B. Plate vertical, weld axis horizontal
C. Plate overhead, weld axis horizontal
D. Plate vertical, weld axis vertical
D. Plate vertical, weld axis vertical
3G is the vertical groove position; both the plate surface and the weld axis
run vertically.
4. The 4G test position refers to a groove weld made in the:
A. Flat position with rotation
B. Horizontal position
C. Overhead position
D. Vertical position
C. Overhead position
4G is the overhead groove position, with the weld deposited from the
underside of the joint.
5. A pipe that is rolled while the welder deposits metal at or near the
top is welded in which position?
A. 5G
B. 2G
C. 1G
D. 6G
C. 1G
In 1G pipe welding the axis is horizontal and the pipe is rotated so
welding is done essentially in the flat position.
6. In the 2G pipe position, the pipe axis is:
A. Vertical, with the weld traveling horizontally around the pipe
B. Horizontal, with the pipe fixed
C. Inclined at 45 degrees
D. Horizontal, with the pipe rotated
A. Vertical, with the weld traveling horizontally around the pipe
2G pipe has a vertical axis, so the circumferential weld is made in the
horizontal position.
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, Position Arc Welding
7. The 5G pipe position is best described as:
A. Vertical axis, pipe fixed
B. Horizontal axis, pipe fixed and not rotated
C. Axis inclined 45 degrees, pipe fixed
D. Horizontal axis, pipe rolled
B. Horizontal axis, pipe fixed and not rotated
In 5G the pipe sits horizontally and cannot be rotated, so the welder
passes through flat, vertical, and overhead positions.
8. The 6G pipe position places the pipe axis at approximately:
A. 45 degrees from horizontal, pipe fixed
B. 90 degrees from horizontal, pipe fixed
C. 0 degrees, pipe rotated
D. 30 degrees, pipe rotated
A. 45 degrees from horizontal, pipe fixed
6G pipe is fixed at roughly 45 degrees, combining all positions in one test.
9. The 6GR test differs from the standard 6G test because it includes:
A. A rotated pipe
B. A backing ring inside the pipe
C. A larger root opening only
D. A restriction ring placed adjacent to the joint
D. A restriction ring placed adjacent to the joint
The R stands for restricted; a restriction ring limits access and simulates
tight field conditions such as T, K, and Y connections.
10. Which test position generally qualifies a welder for all positions on
pipe groove welds?
A. 5G
B. 2G
C. 6G
D. 1G
C. 6G
Because 6G covers flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead in one test, it
typically qualifies for all positions.
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, Position Arc Welding
11. The vertical fillet weld test position is designated:
A. 3G
B. 2F
C. 3F
D. 4F
C. 3F
3F identifies a fillet weld with its axis running vertically.
12. A 4F fillet weld is made with the weld deposited:
A. On a rolled pipe
B. From the underside of the joint, overhead
C. In the flat position
D. Vertically uphill
B. From the underside of the joint, overhead
4F is the overhead fillet position.
13. In plate welding, the term 'vertical-up' progression means the
welder:
A. Welds overhead with a forward angle
B. Starts at the bottom and travels upward
C. Travels horizontally across the joint
D. Starts at the top and travels downward
B. Starts at the bottom and travels upward
Vertical-up, or uphill, begins at the bottom of the joint and progresses
toward the top.
14. Vertical-down progression is most commonly associated with:
A. Thick structural plate requiring deep penetration
B. Low-hydrogen E7018 fill passes
C. Overhead cover passes only
D. Thin material and E6010 or E6011 pipeline root passes
D. Thin material and E6010 or E6011 pipeline root passes
Downhill welding is fast with shallow penetration, making it suitable for
thin material and cellulosic pipeline roots.
Page 4 of 52
POSITION ARC WELDING | EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED NCCER WELDING POSITIONS AND SMAW |
2026/2027
POSITION ARC WELDING
1. Under AWS A3.0 designation, the flat position for a groove weld in
plate is identified as:
A. 2G
B. 1G
C. 1F
D. 3G
B. 1G
The number 1 denotes flat and the letter G denotes a groove weld, so 1G
is a flat groove weld.
2. A fillet weld made on a horizontal plate against a vertical plate, with
the weld axis horizontal, is designated:
A. 1F
B. 2F
C. 2G
D. 3F
B. 2F
2F is the horizontal fillet position, where the weld axis is horizontal and
metal is deposited on the upper side of the horizontal surface.
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, Position Arc Welding
3. In the 3G position, the plate and the weld axis are oriented:
A. Plate horizontal, weld axis horizontal
B. Plate vertical, weld axis horizontal
C. Plate overhead, weld axis horizontal
D. Plate vertical, weld axis vertical
D. Plate vertical, weld axis vertical
3G is the vertical groove position; both the plate surface and the weld axis
run vertically.
4. The 4G test position refers to a groove weld made in the:
A. Flat position with rotation
B. Horizontal position
C. Overhead position
D. Vertical position
C. Overhead position
4G is the overhead groove position, with the weld deposited from the
underside of the joint.
5. A pipe that is rolled while the welder deposits metal at or near the
top is welded in which position?
A. 5G
B. 2G
C. 1G
D. 6G
C. 1G
In 1G pipe welding the axis is horizontal and the pipe is rotated so
welding is done essentially in the flat position.
6. In the 2G pipe position, the pipe axis is:
A. Vertical, with the weld traveling horizontally around the pipe
B. Horizontal, with the pipe fixed
C. Inclined at 45 degrees
D. Horizontal, with the pipe rotated
A. Vertical, with the weld traveling horizontally around the pipe
2G pipe has a vertical axis, so the circumferential weld is made in the
horizontal position.
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, Position Arc Welding
7. The 5G pipe position is best described as:
A. Vertical axis, pipe fixed
B. Horizontal axis, pipe fixed and not rotated
C. Axis inclined 45 degrees, pipe fixed
D. Horizontal axis, pipe rolled
B. Horizontal axis, pipe fixed and not rotated
In 5G the pipe sits horizontally and cannot be rotated, so the welder
passes through flat, vertical, and overhead positions.
8. The 6G pipe position places the pipe axis at approximately:
A. 45 degrees from horizontal, pipe fixed
B. 90 degrees from horizontal, pipe fixed
C. 0 degrees, pipe rotated
D. 30 degrees, pipe rotated
A. 45 degrees from horizontal, pipe fixed
6G pipe is fixed at roughly 45 degrees, combining all positions in one test.
9. The 6GR test differs from the standard 6G test because it includes:
A. A rotated pipe
B. A backing ring inside the pipe
C. A larger root opening only
D. A restriction ring placed adjacent to the joint
D. A restriction ring placed adjacent to the joint
The R stands for restricted; a restriction ring limits access and simulates
tight field conditions such as T, K, and Y connections.
10. Which test position generally qualifies a welder for all positions on
pipe groove welds?
A. 5G
B. 2G
C. 6G
D. 1G
C. 6G
Because 6G covers flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead in one test, it
typically qualifies for all positions.
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, Position Arc Welding
11. The vertical fillet weld test position is designated:
A. 3G
B. 2F
C. 3F
D. 4F
C. 3F
3F identifies a fillet weld with its axis running vertically.
12. A 4F fillet weld is made with the weld deposited:
A. On a rolled pipe
B. From the underside of the joint, overhead
C. In the flat position
D. Vertically uphill
B. From the underside of the joint, overhead
4F is the overhead fillet position.
13. In plate welding, the term 'vertical-up' progression means the
welder:
A. Welds overhead with a forward angle
B. Starts at the bottom and travels upward
C. Travels horizontally across the joint
D. Starts at the top and travels downward
B. Starts at the bottom and travels upward
Vertical-up, or uphill, begins at the bottom of the joint and progresses
toward the top.
14. Vertical-down progression is most commonly associated with:
A. Thick structural plate requiring deep penetration
B. Low-hydrogen E7018 fill passes
C. Overhead cover passes only
D. Thin material and E6010 or E6011 pipeline root passes
D. Thin material and E6010 or E6011 pipeline root passes
Downhill welding is fast with shallow penetration, making it suitable for
thin material and cellulosic pipeline roots.
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