IIW IWS study guide
IIW IWS · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The International Welding Specialist (IWS) is an IIW personnel qualification for people who coordinate welding work rather than primarily strike arcs themselves: production planners, workshop supervisors, quality and inspection staff, and engineers moving into welding coordination. It sits below the International Welding Technologist and Engineer in the IIW qualification structure, with a more practical, execution-focused syllabus. The IIW IWS study guide has 8 sections and about 2,879 words.
01Welding Processes and Equipment
This module tests whether you can classify a process by heat source and transfer mode, then match the power-source characteristic, consumable and shielding medium to the job. Questions usually ask why a parameter is chosen, not just its value.
363 words, about 2 min02Materials and Their Behaviour During Welding
This module tests your ability to predict what the thermal cycle does to the parent metal and weld metal, and to specify the measures that prevent cracking and loss of properties. Hydrogen-assisted cold cracking needs four things together: diffusible hydrogen, a susceptible (hard) microstructure, tensile restraint and low temperature.
360 words, about 2 min03Construction and Design
This module tests whether you can read a design intent, size a weld for static load, recognise when fatigue rather than strength governs, and design details that can actually be made and inspected. ISO 2553 governs weld symbols: arrow line, reference line, dashed identification line, supplementary symbols for all-round, site and flush welds.
373 words, about 2 min04Fabrication, Applications and Quality Management
This module tests the document chain that takes a design into a compliant weld, and the quality system that keeps it compliant in production. Preliminary WPS (pWPS) prepared by welding coordination personnel.
371 words, about 2 min05Welding Inspection and Testing
This module tests whether you can select the right inspection method for a given defect, material and geometry, and interpret the acceptance criteria correctly. Visual (VT) first, always: profile, undercut, alignment, spatter, root condition.
348 words, about 2 min06Health, Safety and Environment
This module tests the specific hazards of arc welding and cutting and the engineered controls that come before personal protection. Welding fume is classified by IARC as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans).
349 words, about 2 min07Practical Welding and Process Operation
This module tests whether you can set, hold and justify process parameters, and diagnose defects from the way the arc behaves. Current controls penetration and deposition; voltage controls arc length and bead width; travel speed controls bead section and heat input; stick-out and torch angle control penetration and gas coverage; gas flow rate must be enough to shield without turbulence.
367 words, about 2 min08Supervision, Planning and Cost Awareness
This module tests the supervisor's role under ISO 14731 - planning work so that qualified procedures, qualified welders and controlled consumables converge at the right time - and the arithmetic of weld cost. Confirm the correct WPS revision is at the workplace and being followed.
348 words, about 2 min