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Kansas Welding Contractor
Examination — Local Jurisdiction
Practice Exam 2026 | 100 Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. Which welding process uses a continuously fed consumable wire electrode
and shielding gas, with the arc established between the wire and the
workpiece?
A. GTAW
B. SMAW
C. GMAW
D. SAW
Answer: GMAW
Rationale: GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) uses a continuously supplied
consumable wire electrode and an externally supplied shielding gas.
2. When welding carbon steel with SMAW, which electrode classification is
commonly selected when a low-hydrogen deposit with good mechanical
properties is required?
,A. E6010
B. E6011
C. E7018
D. E7024
Answer: E7018
Rationale: E7018 is a low-hydrogen electrode commonly used for structural
carbon-steel welding where strength and crack resistance are important.
3. What does the “70” in an AWS E7018 electrode classification primarily
indicate?
A. Minimum elongation
B. Maximum amperage
C. Minimum tensile strength of 70 ksi
D. Welding position
Answer: Minimum tensile strength of 70 ksi
Rationale: In E7018, the first two digits indicate a minimum tensile strength of
approximately 70,000 psi.
4. A welder observes excessive porosity in a GMAW weld. Which condition
should be investigated first?
A. Excessive electrode stick-out only
B. Loss or contamination of shielding gas
C. Excessive joint restraint only
D. Excessive preheat
Answer: Loss or contamination of shielding gas
Rationale: Porosity is frequently caused by inadequate shielding, leaks,
contaminated gas, drafts, or improper gas flow.
5. What is the principal purpose of preheating carbon steel before welding?
,A. Increase electrode consumption
B. Eliminate all distortion
C. Control cooling rate and reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking
D. Eliminate the need for inspection
Answer: Control cooling rate and reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking
Rationale: Preheating slows cooling, reduces thermal gradients, and helps
minimize hydrogen-assisted cracking in susceptible steels.
6. Which welding process uses a nonconsumable tungsten electrode?
A. GMAW
B. FCAW
C. SMAW
D. GTAW
Answer: GTAW
Rationale: GTAW, commonly called TIG welding, uses a nonconsumable
tungsten electrode and may use a separate filler metal.
7. What is the primary function of shielding gas during arc welding?
A. Increase joint restraint
B. Protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination
C. Increase plate thickness
D. Harden the base metal
Answer: Protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination
Rationale: Shielding gases prevent oxygen, nitrogen, and other atmospheric
contaminants from reacting with the molten weld metal.
8. Which discontinuity occurs when the weld metal fails to fuse properly with
the base metal?
, A. Porosity
B. Undercut
C. Lack of fusion
D. Slag inclusion
Answer: Lack of fusion
Rationale: Lack of fusion occurs when the deposited weld metal does not
properly bond with the base material or a preceding weld layer.
9. Which condition is most likely to produce excessive undercut?
A. Proper travel speed
B. Excessive current or travel speed
C. Correct electrode angle
D. Proper shielding
Answer: Excessive current or travel speed
Rationale: Excessive amperage or overly rapid travel can melt away the base-
metal edge without adequately filling the resulting groove.
10.What is the primary reason for removing slag between SMAW passes?
A. Increase electrical resistance
B. Prevent slag inclusions and ensure sound fusion
C. Reduce electrode diameter
D. Increase moisture content
Answer: Prevent slag inclusions and ensure sound fusion
Rationale: Slag remaining between passes can become trapped in the weld and
create a serious internal discontinuity.
11.Which electrode is generally considered a fast-freeze electrode?
A. E7024
B. E7018
Kansas Welding Contractor
Examination — Local Jurisdiction
Practice Exam 2026 | 100 Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. Which welding process uses a continuously fed consumable wire electrode
and shielding gas, with the arc established between the wire and the
workpiece?
A. GTAW
B. SMAW
C. GMAW
D. SAW
Answer: GMAW
Rationale: GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) uses a continuously supplied
consumable wire electrode and an externally supplied shielding gas.
2. When welding carbon steel with SMAW, which electrode classification is
commonly selected when a low-hydrogen deposit with good mechanical
properties is required?
,A. E6010
B. E6011
C. E7018
D. E7024
Answer: E7018
Rationale: E7018 is a low-hydrogen electrode commonly used for structural
carbon-steel welding where strength and crack resistance are important.
3. What does the “70” in an AWS E7018 electrode classification primarily
indicate?
A. Minimum elongation
B. Maximum amperage
C. Minimum tensile strength of 70 ksi
D. Welding position
Answer: Minimum tensile strength of 70 ksi
Rationale: In E7018, the first two digits indicate a minimum tensile strength of
approximately 70,000 psi.
4. A welder observes excessive porosity in a GMAW weld. Which condition
should be investigated first?
A. Excessive electrode stick-out only
B. Loss or contamination of shielding gas
C. Excessive joint restraint only
D. Excessive preheat
Answer: Loss or contamination of shielding gas
Rationale: Porosity is frequently caused by inadequate shielding, leaks,
contaminated gas, drafts, or improper gas flow.
5. What is the principal purpose of preheating carbon steel before welding?
,A. Increase electrode consumption
B. Eliminate all distortion
C. Control cooling rate and reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking
D. Eliminate the need for inspection
Answer: Control cooling rate and reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking
Rationale: Preheating slows cooling, reduces thermal gradients, and helps
minimize hydrogen-assisted cracking in susceptible steels.
6. Which welding process uses a nonconsumable tungsten electrode?
A. GMAW
B. FCAW
C. SMAW
D. GTAW
Answer: GTAW
Rationale: GTAW, commonly called TIG welding, uses a nonconsumable
tungsten electrode and may use a separate filler metal.
7. What is the primary function of shielding gas during arc welding?
A. Increase joint restraint
B. Protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination
C. Increase plate thickness
D. Harden the base metal
Answer: Protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination
Rationale: Shielding gases prevent oxygen, nitrogen, and other atmospheric
contaminants from reacting with the molten weld metal.
8. Which discontinuity occurs when the weld metal fails to fuse properly with
the base metal?
, A. Porosity
B. Undercut
C. Lack of fusion
D. Slag inclusion
Answer: Lack of fusion
Rationale: Lack of fusion occurs when the deposited weld metal does not
properly bond with the base material or a preceding weld layer.
9. Which condition is most likely to produce excessive undercut?
A. Proper travel speed
B. Excessive current or travel speed
C. Correct electrode angle
D. Proper shielding
Answer: Excessive current or travel speed
Rationale: Excessive amperage or overly rapid travel can melt away the base-
metal edge without adequately filling the resulting groove.
10.What is the primary reason for removing slag between SMAW passes?
A. Increase electrical resistance
B. Prevent slag inclusions and ensure sound fusion
C. Reduce electrode diameter
D. Increase moisture content
Answer: Prevent slag inclusions and ensure sound fusion
Rationale: Slag remaining between passes can become trapped in the weld and
create a serious internal discontinuity.
11.Which electrode is generally considered a fast-freeze electrode?
A. E7024
B. E7018
