cwi exam

[pattimelt]

Am preparing for the CWI exam. Have signed up for the week-long clinic, but am also studying in my (very little) spare time. Is that a good idea? Can I look at this stuff too much? Should I just take what I learn in the seminar and put it with my field experience? Anyone have any ideas?

 

[connectegr]

Extra studying can't hurt. The AWS prep course is good. Spend your spare time on the areas that you have the least experience. In my case, as an engineer, the math, mechanics and material science where familiar. I was also very familiar with the D1.1 code. But the practical welding information, welding processes, and precedures required a lot of study. The prep course and practice tests were great at identifying my weaknesses.

Don't bring work with you the week of the course. It requires your attention.

http://www.FerrellEngineering.com

 

[SMRTY]

I don't believe that a person can study too much for this exam.

 

[henri2]

In the fundamentals exam, they will have some questions which are not found in any of their main references - and these are questions not covered in the one week AWS seminar. Nontheless, in my opinion, they were valid questions.

 

[SectionIX]

I can appreciate the work/life balance concept, but for this one, extra time, even an hour or so per day spent studying will pay dividends.

Hints and tips:

1. Make sure that you are familiar with the relevant welding Code for the test. You don't need to memorise the code, but make sure that you know where the infornation can be found. You won't have time to learn the code during the prep course.

2. Become familiar with your (non-programmable) calculator. Many quys bring new calculators to the test w/o knowing how to use them. A basic scientific calculator will suffice. A back-up calculator is a good idea as well.

3. Know your basic math and welding symbols.

4. Spend a reasonable time each evening during the course looking over the material. Ask your instructor to clarify as necessary. In my prep class, a few of the guys spent more time at the pub than studying..and it showed.

5. Get a good night sleep the night before the test...you either know the information or you don't by this point.

 

[holdpt]

I would tell you what i was told because most people fail the hands-on. UGLY IS NOT IN THE BOOK.

 

[SectionIX]

I agree, hoklpt. The plastic weld replicas look like someone had used them as either a dartboard or a doorstop. The "sample code" was rough too.

Having said that, if you take your time, you should have success.

 

[pattimelt]

Halfway through this monster - I wish I had paid more attention to my science classes in high school. Have been able to navigate the code so far (but I do a lot of code referencing at work out of AWS, AISC, ACI, etc.) but that Metallurgy - that is a butt kicker!

 

[connectegr]

I recommend that you tab your D1.1. Our course instructor actually provided tabs for key information. This is helpful during the exam, versus using the index. Are you using the Welding Inspection Technology book in your course? The book is a good study guide for the metalurgy and welding/cutting process information. Work the questions at the end of each section.

http://www.FerrellEngineering.com

Providing fabrication and erection efficient structural design of connections. Consulting services for structural welding and bolting.

 

[pattimelt]

Yes to both questions, connectegr. Our instructor has given us many, many sample tests. Have done well navigating but my biggest errors are stupid ones - not taking the time to fully read the question. Have till Sunday to get out of that habit. The WIT book and workbook are very beneficial, but it would help in those areas if I had that basis in metalurgy

 

[SectionIX]

API RP 577 is a good source for welding-metallurgy based information.

http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?doc_no=api|rp_577;product_id=1183365

Alternately, I could send you my library of metallurgy books, lol....

 

[gtaw]

The CWI examination includes question on basic metallurgy, but the bulk of the questions relate to ferrous metallurgy. Familiarity of the various heat treatments used to alter the properties of the ferrous metals is also important. The reasons why ferrous metals are preheated, how tempering affects hardened steels, why stress relief may be required, and the differences between preheat, stress relief, normalizing, and annealing must be understood. The candidate must also understand how and why steels are quenched and what the resultant properties are.

Basic stuff, but not well understood be many people involved in welding.

ASM has several good books available on the subject. Metallurgy for the Nonmetallurgist is a good book to read. There is a good book that might be found on Amazon that is out of print written by Doty and Stout. I would check my titles and spelling of the author's names if I could find them in this mess I call an office. For that I apologize, but I think there are a number of good sources of information available from AWS and ASM to satisfy your needs for additional information on the subject of metallurgy.


Best regards - Al