IIW IWI-S exam-day guide
IIW IWI-S · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission letter / exam confirmation
Bring the confirmation document issued by your authorised national body or examining centre (the body that registered you for the IWI-S practical). It normally states date, venue, and your candidate details. If you have not received one, confirm with the provider what document is accepted as proof of registration.
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you used at registration (passport or national ID). Check with the provider in advance whether a driving licence or photocopy is acceptable; do not assume.
Welding inspection kit
Bring the inspection tools you normally use and are trained on: fillet weld gauge or weld measuring set, undercut gauge, magnifying glass, torch, tape measure/steel rule, and a low-power inspection mirror. Confirm with the provider which tools are supplied at the venue and which you must bring yourself.
Calculator (non-programmable)
Some centres supply calculators; programmable or networked devices are commonly prohibited. Confirm the provider's device policy before relying on your own calculator.
Writing materials
Pens, pencils, eraser, and a straight edge for sketches and notes. Bring a spare pen; do not rely on materials being handed out.
Standards extracts / permitted references
If the provider allows annotated standards or extracts (for example acceptance criteria tables) in the practical, bring only the permitted, unmarked copies. Confirm with the provider exactly which documents and which editions are allowed, and whether handwritten notes are permitted.
Personal protective equipment
If any part of the practical takes place in a workshop or near live welding, bring safety shoes, helmet, eye protection, and coveralls as required by the site. Confirm the provider's PPE requirements and site induction rules.
Review acceptance criteria for the relevant standards
Know how to look up and apply acceptance levels for the weld types and standards named in your syllabus (for example ISO 5817 quality levels or the relevant application standard). Practise reading the tables quickly; the practical rewards correct lookup and clear reporting, not memorised numbers.
Practise inspection report writing
Rehearse writing a concise inspection report: identification, reference standard and acceptance level, examination method and stage, findings with location and size, verdict, and signature/date. Use a template you can reproduce under time pressure.
Plan travel and arrival time
Confirm venue address, arrival time, and registration cut-off with the provider. Arrive with margin for security checks; late arrival rules vary by centre and cannot be assumed.
Check prohibited items policy
Phones, smart watches, and recording devices are commonly restricted during the test. Confirm the provider's policy and where to leave belongings. needs_review
Medical/access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other reasonable adjustment, confirm with the provider well before the exam that it has been approved and is recorded on your registration. needs_review
Plan the day
Re-read the syllabus and the provider's candidate instructions. Identify the exact standards, weld types, and acceptance levels the practical covers, and confirm which documents you may bring. Contact the provider with any open question about tools, references, or ID now, not on the day.
Do one timed dry run: inspect a described or available weld sample, record discontinuities with sizes and locations, look up acceptance criteria, and write a full report in the time you expect to have. Identify where you lose time - usually measuring and report writing - and fix that.
Rehearse tool handling: fillet gauge, weld measuring set, undercut gauge, and mirror. Practise measuring leg length, throat thickness, reinforcement, and undercut depth, and writing values with correct units and reasonable precision.
Prepare and pack the kit against the checklist, including spares. Lay out ID, admission letter, and permitted references in one folder. Confirm travel route and departure time, and check the venue's arrival and registration instructions once more.
Do light revision only: acceptance-level tables, common discontinuity definitions, and your report template. Avoid learning new material. Sleep adequately; fatigue degrades visual inspection and measurement accuracy more than extra revision helps.
Eat properly, arrive early, and re-check that prohibited items are left behind or stored as instructed. Keep your references and tools organised so you are not searching during the test. Listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing on timing, materials, and conduct.
Read the whole task before starting. Allocate time explicitly: inspection and measurement, then criteria lookup, then report writing, with a few minutes for review. Record measurements as you take them rather than relying on memory, and state units.
If a tool is missing, a sample is unclear, or a reference is not what you expected, raise it with the invigilator immediately and note it. Do not borrow another candidate's equipment or notes. Before handing in, check that every finding has a location, size, and verdict, and that your identification details are complete.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your registration and present it when asked. If your ID has changed since registration, confirm with the provider beforehand how to handle it; centres may refuse entry without acceptable identification.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on which references, notes, and tools are permitted. Using unauthorised material or another candidate's work is misconduct and can lead to invalidation of your result.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Confirm the provider's policy on devices and on leaving the room; do not assume you may keep a phone on your person.
Breaks are normally at the invigilator's discretion and may be escorted. Confirm with the provider in advance whether supervised breaks are available and how time is recorded, especially for a long practical session.
Work independently and do not communicate with other candidates during the test. If you believe the conditions are unfair or a sample is defective, report it to the invigilator and ask for it to be recorded rather than resolving it yourself.
Scoring is based on the assessment criteria set by the examining body, typically covering correct use of inspection methods, accuracy of measurements and findings, correct application of acceptance criteria, and quality of the written report. Confirm with the provider how marks are allocated and what the pass standard is; do not rely on hearsay.
Write legibly and in the language of the examination. Unclear measurements or ambiguous verdicts may be marked as incorrect, so state units, locations, and acceptance level explicitly.
Keep to the stated time. Stop working when instructed; continuing after time is called may be treated as misconduct. Confirm the provider's policy on late arrival and on what happens if you miss part of the session.