MTTC Welding Trade Test study plan

Classify SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, and SAW by electrode type, shielding method, and typical current range, writing a one-page comparison table from memory.

Identify the major components of a constant-current and a constant-voltage power source and explain which process each serves.

List the OSHA and shop-level hazards tied to arc radiation, fumes, and electric shock, and state one control for each.

Demonstrate correct setup and shutdown sequence for at least two processes on shop equipment, narrating each step aloud.

Convert between amperage, voltage, and duty cycle using a worked example for a 60% duty-cycle machine at 200 A.

Explain the operating principle and current path for GTAW, plasma arc, and resistance welding, including one common defect for each.

Diagnose three given weld defect scenarios (porosity, incomplete fusion, undercut) and name the equipment or parameter cause most likely responsible.

Select the correct groove type, root opening, and land for a given plate thickness using standard joint design guidance.

Describe five joint types and the fit-up checks (root gap, mismatch, bevel angle, alignment) used before tacking.

Set welding parameters for a 1/4-inch V-groove butt joint in carbon steel and justify each setting.

Interpret the iron-carbon diagram, naming the phases and the temperature ranges for ferrite, austenite, pearlite, and martensite.

Explain how carbon content and cooling rate affect hardenability, and describe preheat and interpass temperature control for a medium-carbon steel.

Compare the weldability of carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, listing one filler and one shielding requirement for each.

Identify common base-metal and filler-metal classification systems (AISI/SAE numbering, AWS filler designations) and decode two examples.

Predict three likely weld defects when welding high-carbon steel without preheat and state the corrective action for each.

Read a set of working drawings and extract dimensions, weld symbols, and notes into a takeoff list without relying on visual aids.

Sketch and label the standard weld symbol elements: reference line, arrow, tail, size, length, pitch, and contour finish.

Interpret supplementary symbols for all-around, field weld, backing, and groove angle, and apply them to a written joint description.

Explain five nondestructive examination methods (visual, PT, MT, UT, RT) and state one strength and one limit for each.

Choose an appropriate inspection method for three described weld scenarios and justify the choice.

Distinguish welding procedure specification and procedure qualification record content and explain how each is used on the job.

Describe the purpose and limits of welder performance qualification and how continuity and requalification are handled.

Identify the roles of the inspector, welder, and engineer under a typical fabrication code and where acceptance criteria come from.

Explain destructive tests (guided bend, tensile, nick-break) and what each reveals about weld quality.

Apply written acceptance criteria to three sample weld inspection results and record pass or fail with a reason.

Evaluate ventilation, fume extraction, and confined-space entry requirements for three described work situations and select the correct control.

Explain the hazards of oxygen-fuel gas cutting and the function of a flashback arrestor and reverse-flow check valve.

Compare oxyfuel cutting, plasma cutting, and air-carbon arc gouging by applicable metals, cut quality, and safety concerns.

Describe the brazing and soldering processes, filler and flux selection, and how capillary action differs from fusion welding.

Select a thermal cutting process for four given material and thickness combinations and justify each choice.

Estimate the cost of a small weldment by calculating labor hours, filler consumption, gas use, and overhead.

Draft a job plan that sequences fit-up, welding, and inspection for a multi-part assembly within a stated time budget.

Summarize the rights and responsibilities of an apprentice or entry-level welder regarding certification records, continuing education, and safe refusal of unsafe work.

Explain how a welding instructor would sequence a lesson on vertical-up welding, including demonstration, guided practice, and feedback.

Identify three employability skills (reliability, documentation, communication) and describe how each is demonstrated on a shop floor.

Complete a timed 60-question mixed practice exam across all nine domains and record the score by domain.

Review every missed item, write the correct reasoning in your own words, and tag the underlying domain.

Re-drill the two weakest domains with targeted questions until each reaches 80% or better.

Recite from memory the key facts for process selection, symbol interpretation, metallurgy, and inspection methods.

Build a final one-page summary sheet of the highest-yield facts across all domains for last-week review.