Hey guys, new to this forum, sorry if my wording sucks lol. At my Welding Foundations school we started on stick, did 1G, and 2G for ASME welds ( 3g, 4g not required), the open root wasn't  really a problem for me, got my signoffs done. Now we are onto CWB testing, with a backing strip (sorry i'm from Canada, I don't know what the americans call it), but this is the fit-up/ requirements:

3/8" plate (6" x 6")
Single Bevel
1/2" gap
1/4" x 2" x 9" backing strip
no reinforcement greater than 1/8"
(ALL WITH 5/32  E7018)

STUCK ON 1G:

..... Basically my biggest problems are:   
1. Undercut when putting in my first pass on the square edge. Travel angle: 10 deg. Work angle: 45-75 deg. no motion, 160 amps. how can i fix this?
2. would you weave, or stringer bead your fill passes? i feel i don't build enough material with 1, even 2 fill passes, to top it off with a cap. maybe go slower and turn up amps? i don't know, i know amps are your friend but i dont want my piece to get too hot and my puddle be so far behind me.

I will have to do 2g, 3g, and 4g with this setup. so any advice on these positions too would greatly help. any info i have missed please tell me!!

-FLOYD