SOLIDWORKS Certification

Exam Guide & Practice Test

CSWA: Certified
SOLIDWORKS Associate

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Contents
About This Guide ................................................................................................................ 3
The CSWA Certification....................................................................................................... 4
CSWA Exam Details ............................................................................................................. 5
How to Prepare for the Exam ............................................................................................. 6
How to Take This Practice Exam ........................................................................................ 7
Taking the Real Exam ......................................................................................................... 8
Test Questions ..................................................................................................................16
Answer Key .......................................................................................................................29
Hints and Tips ...................................................................................................................30
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................31
Helpful Sites ......................................................................................................................33

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About This Guide
This guide contains information, advice, and practice for becoming a Certified
SOLIDWORKS Associate. Here, you will find:
 An overview of SOLIDWORKS Certifications
 Details about the CSWA Exam
 Advice on preparing for and taking the CSWA Exam
 A Practice CSWA Exam and answer key
 Directions to useful SOLIDWORKS websites

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The CSWA Certification
SOLIDWORKS Certifications are a benchmark to measure your knowledge and
competency with SOLIDWORKS software. A certification helps you stand out from the
crowd and showcases your expertise to businesses and professionals alike—a valuable
asset in a competitive job market.

A few popular SOLIDWORKS Certifications include:

 CSWA: Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate
 CSWP: Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional
 CSWPA: Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced:
o Sheet Metal
o Weldments
o Surfacing
o Mold Tools
o Drawing Tools
 CSWE: Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert
 CEPA: Certified Enterprise PDM Administrator

Why take the CSWA Exam?

Being a CSWA is the difference between saying “I’ve used SOLIDWORKS” and “I know
SOLIDWORKS.” The information in the CSWA Exam covers basic must-have skills for a
serious SOLIDWORKS user. The CSWA may also be your stepping stone towards
higher certifications, like the CSWP and the CSWPAs.

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CSWA Exam Details
The following is the topic and question breakdown of the CSWA exam:

Drafting Competencies (3 Questions of 5 Points Each):

 Miscellaneous questions on drafting functionality
Basic Part Creation and Modification (2 Questions of 15 Points Each):
 Sketching
 Extrude Boss
 Extrude Cut
 Modification of Key Dimensions
Intermediate Part Creation and Modification (2 Questions of 15 Points Each):




Advanced Part Creation and Modification (3 Questions of 15 Points Each):
 Sketching
 Sketch Offset
 Extrude Boss
 Extrude Cut
 Modification of Key Dimensions
 More Difficult Geometry Modifications
Assembly Creation (4 Questions of 30 Points Each):
 Placing of Base Part
 Mates
 Modification of Key Parameters in Assembly
Total Questions: 14
Total Points: 240
Points Needed to Pass: 165
Maximum Time: 180 min

The sample test in this guide shows the basic format of the CSWA exam in three sections:
 Drafting Competencies
 Part Modeling
 Assembly Creation

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How to Prepare for the Exam
Don’t let the exam questions take you by surprise! We recommend that you practice
creating and editing drawings, models, and assemblies beforehand, and that you ask
for help from SOLIDWORKS users.

No details to the solutions for either this sample exam or the real test will be
shared by the SOLIDWORKS Certification team. Please consult your SOLIDWORKS
reseller, your local user group, or the on-line SOLIDWORKS forums at
forum.solidworks.com to review any topics on the CSWA exam.

A great resource is the SOLIDWORKS website (solidworks.com).

 For training courses, go to Home > Support > Training > SOLIDWORKS
Courses.
 To download models to practice on, go to Home > Support > Training >
SOLIDWORKS Training Files
 You’ll find a wealth of access to videos, tutorials, blogs, events, and fellow
users in the SOLIDWORKS Community at Home > Resource Center

You can also log into my.solidworks.com to browse lessons, forums, models, and
much more.

Last but not least, make use of this exam guide to review realistic exam questions,
look over important topics, and familiarize yourself with the exam procedure.

To simulate test conditions, you can take the sample exam in the testing client
software. For instructions, go to the ‘Taking the Real Exam’ section.

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How to Take This Practice Exam
1. You must be running SOLIDWORKS on the computer, both for the practice and
actual test. SOLIDWORKS can only be installed with the Windows operating
system.
2. To simulate real conditions, it is best NOT to print this exam.
In the real test, the VirtualTester client window runs concurrently with
SOLIDWORKS, requiring you to switch between applications. Keep this
document open and consult it while running SOLIDWORKS.
3. After each question, save a version of your model in a different file for later
reference. This may also help you fix errors later on in the test.
4. The multiple choice will help you check that your model is on the right track. If
your answer is not listed in the selections offered, it is likely that there is
something wrong with your model.
5. This guide includes an answer key after the practice exam.
6. If you can complete this exam and get at least 6 out of 8 questions correct in
less than 90 minutes, you should be ready to take the real CSWA exam.
7. This practice exam is also available to take on-line for free in the testing client
software. To take the exam in the client software, follow the instructions in the
next section.

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Taking the Real Exam
The real exam can be taken on your personal computer at a time of your choosing.
The CSWA Exam is administered through the Tangix TesterPRO Client, an application
that you may download from the SOLIDWORKS VirtualTester website.

The sample exam in this packet can also be taken in the Tangix TesterPRO Client.

To learn the testing procedure in VirtualTester, if you have a MySolidWorks account,

please refer to this video:

http://my.solidworks.com/training/master/103/installing-and-viewing-the-test-
software

Alternatively, you may follow these steps:

1. Visit the SOLIDWORKS VirtualTester Certification Center at
https://SOLIDWORKS.virtualtester.com/.

2. Locate and click the button (right hand side of page) to download the Tangix
TesterPRO Client:

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3. Open the downloaded folder and run the executable file:

4. Agree to the License Agreement.

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5. Click the install button.

6. Click the finish button.

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7. When you run the program, select your language and click Continue.

If you have already taken a SOLIDWORKS Certification Exam, skip to step 9.

8. If this is your first exam, you will need to create an account. Fill in the required
fields and click continue:

Write down your login credentials for future use!

Skip to step 10.

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9. If you have already taken a SOLIDWORKS Certification Exam, select the option
below, fill in your credentials, and click continue.

10.If you are taking a sample exam online, scroll down and select the exam with a
gift icon.

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11.To take an exam from a credit, select an exam that has the words ‘Start Exam’
next to it (only exams that you have credits for will show as available):

If you do not have credit for the exam, do one of the following:
 If you have an Event ID or Voucher, type it into the field on this page and
click “Submit.”
 Purchase an exam credit online. This may be found on solidworks.com:
Click Support > Certification > Exam Registration.

12.You may be asked to select a language. Select a language and click “Start
Exam.”

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13.Confirm the exam you are about to begin:

14.Agree to the Confidentiality Agreement and Candidate Conduct Policy.

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 15.On the Examination Information page, read the information and then click
“Start Examination”, this will begin the timed portion of your exam.

The practice exam begins on the next page.

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