CWI exam-day guide
CWI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
The name on the ID must match the name on your exam registration exactly. Bring the original; photocopies are not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted if your ID is from another country.
Exam admission or confirmation letter/email
Printed or on paper (do not rely on your phone, since phones are typically not permitted in the testing room). Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Silent non-programmable calculator
Bring one you already know how to use, plus spare batteries. Programmable, graphing, or wireless-capable calculators are usually prohibited. Confirm with the provider whether any calculator models are restricted.
Pencils, eraser, and pens
Several sharpened No. 2 pencils, a good eraser, and a pen for the practical recording section. Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper is supplied or prohibited.
Your own code book(s) for the open-book portion
Bring the exact code and edition specified for your exam (for example AWS D1.1, API 1104, or ASME Section IX as applicable). Confirm with the provider which edition is used before the exam date.
Practical inspection tools, if you must supply them
Typical kit: fillet weld gauge, undercut/V-WAC gauge, hi-lo gauge, weld reinforcement gauge, magnifier, flashlight, 6-inch rule, tape measure, dividers. Confirm with the provider exactly which tools are supplied at the station and which you must bring; do not assume.
Small tool pouch or container
Keeps gauges and scales together and easy to find under time pressure. Confirm with the provider whether containers must be clear or are subject to inspection.
Reading glasses or loupes if you use them
Fine measurement work on the practical portion is unforgiving; bring whatever magnification you normally use in the shop.
A non-smart watch
Useful for pacing the practical section. Confirm with the provider whether a clock is visible in the room and whether watches are permitted.
Travel, parking, and arrival plan
Know the testing location, parking or transit, and building/room number in advance. Plan to arrive well before the start time; late arrivals may be refused entry per provider policy.
Water and a snack for breaks
The exam is long and often runs through part of the day. Confirm with the provider what food and drink are allowed in the room and whether breaks are scheduled.
Nothing on this list: phones, smart watches, notes, or loose papers
Leave them in your vehicle or locker. Bringing prohibited items into the testing room can result in removal from the exam; confirm the provider's policy on secure storage.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and your admission letter end to end. Verify the test center address, reporting time, ID requirements, calculator policy, and which code editions and tools are permitted. Resolve any ambiguity by contacting the provider.
Confirm which exam parts you are sitting for and in what order (typically a fundamentals portion, a practical hands-on portion, and an open-book code portion). Adjust your preparation time to match.
Do a timed run-through of the practical measurements using your own gauges on scrap welds: fillet leg and throat, undercut, misalignment, reinforcement height, and pipe/plate dimensions. Practice recording each reading the same way every time.
Practice navigating your code book by index and table under time pressure. If you plan to tab or highlight, confirm with the provider what annotations are allowed in the testing room before you do it.
Pack the bag: ID, admission letter, calculator and spare batteries, pencils/eraser/pen, code book, tools, glasses, watch, snack. Check gauge zero points and that your scale markings are readable.
Light review only: formula sheet you write from memory, common definition and symbol recall, and the document structure of your code. Do not start new material the night before.
Set two alarms, lay out clothes, confirm the route and travel time, and get a full night of sleep. Fatigue costs more points on measurement questions than one more hour of study gains.
Eat a real meal and hydrate. Arrive earlier than you think you need to; allow buffer for traffic, parking, and security screening.
At the door: turn off and stow your phone, present your ID and admission letter, and listen carefully to the proctor's instructions on timing, breaks, and materials. Ask the proctor, not another candidate, if anything is unclear.
Work the closed-book portion first-pass on questions you know, flag the rest, and return to them. Watch the clock against the number of questions remaining rather than against your feelings.
On the practical portion, measure every dimension twice with the correct gauge, hold the gauge square to the surface, and write the reading immediately. Do not round or estimate unless the question directs you to.
On the open-book portion, use the code's table of contents and index rather than reading chapters. Verify the edition and the clause number before you commit to an answer.
Before each portion ends, confirm you have transferred every answer to the required format and that no question is blank; unanswered items cost the same as wrong ones.
Rules to check
Bring government-issued photo ID matching your registration name; you will likely be refused admission without it. If your documents are unusual (name change, foreign ID), confirm acceptability with the provider in advance.
Electronic devices, including phones, smart watches, and programmable calculators, are typically prohibited in the testing room. Confirm the provider's exact policy on calculators and secure storage before exam day.
The open-book privilege is usually limited to the code documents specified for the exam. Loose notes, sticky notes with writing, and unbound pages are commonly disallowed; confirm with the provider what tabs and highlighting are acceptable.
Breaks are generally at the proctor's discretion and may not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider whether scheduled breaks exist and whether exam time is paused.
Scoring is per part, and a candidate typically must meet the minimum score on each part of the exam rather than on the average. Confirm the current passing standard and retake policy with the provider, as these change.
Follow all proctor instructions on timing, materials, and conduct. Talking, sharing tools or references, or leaving the room without permission can result in invalidation of your exam.
Report any defective gauge, damaged specimen, or misprinted question to the proctor immediately rather than guessing; document the issue as instructed.
Use only your own materials at your own station. Sharing a code book, calculator, or gauges during the exam is generally treated as misconduct.