The moment has come. SOLIDWORKS is the best CAD system on the market and you’re ready to capitalize on its massive capabilities. To do that, you need to work it like a pro – a Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional, that is.
Tests of any kind can be intimidating, especially one that can raise your business, and your career, to new heights like the CSWP exam. That’s why we’re giving you a sneak peek at what to expect as well as some helpful hints for navigating the exam.
Overview of the Exam
The CSWP (Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional) consists of three segments: modeling, configurations, and assemblies. Each certification is taken using the SOLIDWORKS VirtualTester Certification Center. Refer to the Exam Guide & Practice Test to see how to set it up. The testing environment runs as a standalone application alongside SOLIDWORKS and is a simple interface: the problem statement, a back button, a forward button, a button displaying the status of all questions (answered/unanswered), and a timer.
• Time: 70 minutes
• Minimum of 75 points out of 105 points are required to pass.
• Content: This segment focuses on creating parts from scratch based on drawings and using global variables and equations to quickly make changes to the model.
Experience Preparing and Taking the Exam
Segments of the CSWP exam can be taken in any order. I decided to go in numerical order, and I’m glad I did. Since the content of segment one was straightforward, it allowed me to get a feel for the testing environment.
I first started prepping for the segment one exam by accessing the Exam Guide & Practice Test.
This document walks you through how to get started taking the real exam. It also goes into detail about each of the three CSWP segments, but the sample questions focus on segment one. I tried answering the questions on my own at first, then checked my results with the answer key provided. If you get the wrong answer, do not fear! You can make great use out of your MySOLIDWORKS account which is available to all users who have a current subscription. MySOLIDWORKS has videos and tutorials that will guide you as you prepare for the exam.
Log in to your MySOLIDWORKS account using your email. The training tab is where you can view all the lessons. Within here, you can add the certifications filter and view plenty of walkthrough tutorials that are helpful for any SOLIDWORKS certification exam. I found the videos for segment one and followed along. The videos matched up with the sample questions on the document and showed me how to get the correct answers.
Learning Goals and Tips
Two is Better Than One
It is helpful to have two monitors during the exam: one to display the test, and the other to work on SOLIDWORKS. Avoid toggling between multiple screens and save yourself some valuable time.
Watch the Clips
Attempt the practice exam on your own, then watch all the associated video clips within your MySOLIDWORKS account (even if you get all the right answers on your first try). You may learn an extra thing or two by watching the videos since models can often be built in different ways.
Verify Your Variables
Practice using global variables and equations; this will be a big-time saver during the exam. The exam questi¬ons usually focus on changing variables or adding features, so efficiency is key!
Master the Materials
One final hint: always pay attention to the material they want you to assign to the part since this will largely impact your results. You will use the mass properties feature in SOLIDWORKS to answer all your questions (found within tools, then evaluate).
There you have it – everything you need in order master the first segment of the exam. Still feeling nervous about the test? We’re here to help. Contact us at Hawk Ridge Systems, and be sure to explore our available SOLIDWORKS courses.
Don’t miss the next blog in this series, “CSWP Certification Series Part Two: Confident and Competent.” We can’t wait to see the letters “CSWP” behind your name!
