I took the course (Mon-Fri)and then the exam on Saturday. I felt like taking it while the info was fresh in my mind and I did pass all three parts on the first time around.
John Wright
D2:
Much is depends on your welding experience, learning ability and short term memory. All the advice in the world will not help you during the exam other than test-taking tips. These include not spending too much time on any one question, don't drink too much coffee, or bring extra no. 2 pencils to name a few.
I would like to caution you (or anyone else prepping for the exam) not to look for advice from others with regards to YOUR ability, only you know your skill level, learning habits and test taking abilites. The reason being many of us learn and different rates, our retention of study and test material vary greatly.
I have heard people asking for exam advice only to wind up with a CAWI card in the mail. The person giving the advice is providing you with his/her ability to pass this exam. Many are able to pass the first time, I did. But I don't advise others on what will work for them. The only peole I typically provide advice are my students whom I've had a chance to evaluate during training. (Take more notes! Your weak on weld symbols. Don't highlight your expensive code book, now it is covered with yellow stuff and the entire book is now highlighted, etc., etc.)
When I took my exam in 1991, I did not ask for exam advice, but studied for 1 year on my own. I passed the 1st time, but others may not and don't. I did not attend the seminar. I did not attend the SCWI seminar either, but did pass on round 2 with further studying and by contesting some of the really poor test questions.
One of my clients took the exam recently, I did evaluate him and told him and his employer he was not prepared, he is currently a CAWI. He took the seminar and test at the end of the week. I think his employer told him to go for it. Pleae note the seminar is fairly rapidly paced due to all the subject matter involved.
How well are you prepared, do you have the experience and knowledge and can you learn all of the material in one week from a seminar? You should ask yourself these questions.
DGXL is right, they really open up the top of your head and pour the info in, very fast paced. Myself and another guy from our company went together and quizzed each other at night back in our rooms before and after supper. I thought he knew the material better than I did, but he did not pass.
John Wright
I fully concur with all that has been said about preparing for an exam. Consider yourself as part of the subject matter. The importance of familiarity with the reference materials is that you can locate the right information quickly and get on to the next question. Your study habits were formed in grammar school. It may take some time to re establish those habits or replace bad ones with good. Take a good hard look at yourself and KNOW you are ready before jumping into something. One thing an exam may not measure is the individuals character. Like Shakespeare said, "to thine own self be true"
The method I have advocated with a fair degree of success is this:
Obtain study materials from AWS and go over until you feel you have gotten all you can out of them.
Learn your code book and practice finding the answers in print. Make up questions if you have to.
When you have covered all you can, go to a seminar and take the test offered with it.
If you fail or get CAWI when you need CWI, schedule for another exam ASAP.
This has worked for several people I know. It also worked for me with the exception that I didn't have the luxury of taking the seminar.
However as DXGL thoroughly pointed out. You know yourself the best of anyone. You should handle your learning in the way you feel will work.
Good luck with it,
CHGuilford
D2,
I think CHGuilford gave you the best advice anyone could give you. Try to get all the study material you can from AWS, and if you do attend the seminar, study all the test questions every night.
For the open book portion of the exam, know where the material is located. Quite a few individuals, like myself, tabed the various sections. It really does help. But like the other CWI's mentioned above, it all depends on whether your ready for the test after the seminar. Another words, can you retain the material you learned in class, or do you need more time to study. What ever you do D2, I wish you the best of luck.
gcherny44
As said by DGXL, everyone has a different ability to learn. Much is based on your level of knowledge before you took the class.
I didn't take the course myself but if I had and during the class I had to constantly scratch my head and take massive notes, I would question my ability to retain the material and apply it at a later date.
If I sat in the class and most of the material was something I was already familar with, I would take the test at the next possible sitting.
If you feel you are ready, which is something only you know, then test. If not, study more on your own.
One opinion that I have is that if you study to pass a test, you learned to pass the test. If you study to be knowledgeable about a subject or subjects, you then know the subject. Which is more valuable in the long run?
Have a good day
Gerald Austin
Sorry this is lengthy, but here it goes.
As has already been said, it depends upon your study habits and ability. Try your local AWS Section for educational material, resources and the feedback from others in your area. Ask others that know you to give you an honest assessment of your abilities. Do not get offended what they tell you, use it to improve yourself. I ran our local AWS section educational department for 5 years and our section ran a course for 3 months leading up to AWS coming to our city to give test. Passed an overwhelming percentage of pupils. Used AWS materials. Gave pre-tests, post-tests and tests after each module to prepare candidate for real thing. Brought in local specialists for each module (metallurgy, NDT, processes, code book, etc.).
If you ARE qualified to take the test, there are certain things you will be strong in and other things you may be weak in. As long as your training and background is sound, you do not need to spend much time studying the strong points. Study that which you are weak in. Remember 70% is passing for CWI. You can miss 45 on Fund. and 13 on Code and Practical and still pass. You will not know every answer! Also, GENERALLY SPEAKING (nobody get their panties in a wad!), inspectors do better than welders because inspectors are used to doing things by a procedure and the right way. Inspectors usually have more formal training. Welders generally are used to doing thing the way they have always done it. Unless welders are formally trained, they usually do not understand technical reasons for why things are done the way they are done. Metallurgy tough for all but college graduates!
Night before test: DO NOT CRAM, if you don't already know it, it will do little good to stay up late. Get good rest. Get up and eat regular breakfast. Too heavy and you will get sleepy, too lite and you will be hungry. Neither is good.
Test time: Read each question carefully. Ask yourself what it is asking. Questions often worded "tricky" or "backwards". I think all I can recall are valid though. If you KNOW the answer, answer it. If unsure, go to the next question (you are allowed to write in test book so circle questions you have skipped so they are easier to come back to) and come back to that question later. Be accurate as to which block you darken, especially if you skip questions. Don't get hung up on one question too long; go to the next one and make sure you get to read all questions. One question will often answer another. If time allows, double check your answers. Take the full 2 hours if you need it! Bring a calculator that is allowed and know how to use it before you get there!
Practical test: Accurately evaluate each plastic weld. Often pretty ones have subtle deficiencies that are rejectable and ugly ones have nothing rejectable on them. READ the little code book. It is similar to, but not exactly like structural code.
Code book: Again, if you have sound, formal training, code book should be relatively easy. Correct answers are quoted from code book. Be familiar with but do not try to memorize the code book. Be extremely good at using the index to find varied topics. Be familiar with forms. Use code book you are most familiar with, even if it is not AWS's. Generally speaking, API is to vague, ASME is too detailed and index is not as good. AWS used to be best, but newer codes not as easy to use. Military code?
Good luck! It is VERY rewarding when you pass!
Forum
