CSWP Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
Pass the CSWP exam with confidence. Practice questions with detailed explanations and instant feedback on every answer.
The Certified SolidWorks Professional (cswp) credential is one of the most respected certifications in mechanical design and 3D CAD modeling. Issued directly by Dassault Systèmes, the CSWP exam validates that you can solve real engineering problems using SolidWorks — not just navigate menus, but build complex parts from scratch, manage multi-configuration assemblies, and extract precise mass properties within a tight tolerance. The practice questions in our free PDF mirror the format and difficulty of the actual exam, covering all three segments so you know exactly what to expect on test day. Practice with the free Certified Solidworks Professional practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Preparing with printed materials gives you a distinct advantage: you can annotate questions, work through geometry problems by hand, and review your answers away from a screen. Download the PDF below, print it out, and use it alongside your SolidWorks practice sessions to reinforce your understanding of part modeling, configurations, and advanced assemblies — the three domains that determine whether you pass.
CSWP: upcoming dates and official changes
- Updated Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility is now No prerequisite (K–12 academic candidates need CSWA first) (previously No prerequisite (K–12 academic candidates need CSWA first)).
- Updated Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions is now 3 segments (previously 3 segments).
Facts verified Oct 25, 2026 against Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
- The CSWP exam is made up of three segments that can be purchased and taken together or individually. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- CSWP Segment 1 (Part Modeling from a Drawing) allows 70 minutes. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- CSWP Segment 2 (Configurations and Design Tables) allows 50 minutes. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- CSWP Segment 1 (Part Modeling from a Drawing) requires 75 of 105 points to pass. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- CSWP Segment 2 (Configurations and Design Tables) requires 77 of 104 points to pass. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- CSWP segment retakes require a minimum 14-day wait between attempts of the same segment, and a new exam credit must be purchased for each attempt. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- A passed CSWP segment never needs to be retaken, and the CSWP certification is awarded automatically once all three segments are passed. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- The CSWP exam segments can be taken in any order and at any time, and SOLIDWORKS 2015 or later is required to take the exam. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
- The CSWP exam has no prerequisite, except that K–12 students taking it through a SOLIDWORKS Academic Certification Provider must pass the CSWA first. (Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS)
Facts verified Oct 25, 2026 against Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
CSWP Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 3 segments | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Time limit (Segment 1: Part Modeling from a Drawing) | 70 minutes | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Time limit (Segment 2: Configurations and Design Tables) | 50 minutes | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Time limit (Segment 3: Assembly Modeling) | 80 minutes | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Passing score (Segment 1: Part Modeling from a Drawing) | 75 of 105 points | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Passing score (Segment 2: Configurations and Design Tables) | 77 of 104 points | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Passing score (Segment 3: Assembly Modeling) | 77 of 109 points | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Retake policy | 14-day wait; new credit per attempt | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Validity | Passed segments never need retaking; certification awarded automatically after all three | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Delivery | Segments in any order, any time; SOLIDWORKS 2015+ required | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
| Eligibility | No prerequisite (K–12 academic candidates need CSWA first) | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS |
Facts verified Oct 25, 2026 against Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Free Certified Solidworks Professional Study Tools
Interactive Certified Solidworks Professional resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- Certified Solidworks Professional flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- Certified Solidworks Professional study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- Certified Solidworks Professional cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
Key Takeaway: CSWP certification demonstrates expertise in this field. Most candidates spend 4-8 weeks preparing with practice tests before taking the exam.
Understanding the Three CSWP Exam Segments
The CSWP is not a single sitting. Dassault Systèmes splits the credential into three focused segments, each testing a distinct area of SolidWorks competency. You can take them on the same day or schedule them separately, but all three must be passed to earn the full CSWP designation. Understanding what each segment demands is the foundation of an effective study plan.
Segment 1 — Part Modeling (70 Minutes)
Segment 1 runs 70 minutes (75 of 105 points needed to pass) and is, for most candidates, the most technically demanding. You are given a series of engineering drawings and tasked with building parametric SolidWorks parts that match the specified geometry exactly. The segment emphasizes base features, boss extrudes, cuts, fillets, chamfers, and more advanced operations such as lofts with guide curves, sweeps along 3D paths, and multi-body part techniques. After building or modifying each part, the exam asks you to report a specific mass property — typically mass in grams or kilograms, center of mass coordinates, or moment of inertia — and that value must land within ±1% of the answer key.
Global variables and equations are frequently tested in Segment 1. A well-built model uses linked dimensions so that changing a single driving variable cascades correctly through the entire feature tree. Candidates who hard-code individual dimensions rather than driving them from equations often run out of time when later questions require design changes to the same part. Sheet metal, weldments, and surfacing are tested in separate advanced CSWP exams (CSWP-SM, CSWP-WD, CSWP-SU), so focus core CSWP practice on solid modeling.
Segment 2 — Configurations and Design Tables (50 Minutes)
Segment 2 tests your ability to manage multiple design variants of a single part or assembly without rebuilding geometry from scratch. SolidWorks configurations allow engineers to capture different sizes, states, or appearances within one file, and design tables — driven by a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet embedded in the SolidWorks document — automate the creation and control of those configurations.
In this segment you will be asked to create derived configurations from a parent, suppress or unsuppress features per configuration, change dimensions so that each configuration reflects a different variant (for example, a flange with three bolt-circle diameters stored as three configurations), and extract mass or other properties from a specified configuration. Mistakes here often come from not understanding which parameters a design table column controls or from accidentally editing the wrong configuration. Practicing with realistic design table spreadsheets — not just textbook examples — is the most reliable preparation method.
Segment 3 — Advanced Assemblies (80 Minutes)
Segment 3 moves from individual parts to fully mated assembly documents. Expect questions on in-context modeling (editing a part while the assembly is open so that the part geometry references other components), assembly-level features such as holes and cuts that span multiple bodies, interference and collision detection, inserting subassemblies, replacing one part with another, and creating a coordinate system to report mass properties. Mates — coincident, concentric, distance, angle, width, path, and gear — are applied under time pressure, so fluency with the Mate PropertyManager is essential.
Many candidates underestimate Segment 3 because assemblies feel more intuitive than parametric part modeling. In practice, the segment is unforgiving: a single incorrect mate can shift the entire assembly's mass center, causing every downstream answer to be wrong. Before sitting the exam, practice building assemblies from scratch using only a drawing and a set of pre-modeled part files, then verify interference, replace a component, and extract mass properties relative to a custom coordinate system — all within 80 minutes.
Key SolidWorks Skills the CSWP Tests in Depth
Beyond segment structure, several cross-cutting skills appear throughout all three segments and deserve dedicated practice time.
Multi-Body Parts and Boolean Operations
Multi-body modeling — creating more than one solid body within a single part file — is tested both as an end goal and as an intermediate modeling strategy. Combine features (add, subtract, common) merge or subtract bodies. Knowing when to use a multi-body approach versus a separate assembly can save significant modeling time on Segment 1, especially when the drawing shows interlocking geometry that would require complex cuts if modeled as a single body from the start.
Equations, Global Variables, and Dimension Linking
CSWP exam questions routinely require you to change a driving dimension and verify that the model updates correctly. If your part uses hard-coded values, each change requires hunting through the feature tree. Equations and global variables eliminate that problem: define a variable (for example, FlangeDia = 120mm), reference it in multiple sketch dimensions and feature depths, and the entire part updates when you change one number. The exam tests this by giving you an initial geometry, asking for a mass property, then modifying a parameter and asking for the updated mass — a two-step question that rewards proper parametric modeling practice.
Loft and Sweep with Guide Curves
Basic extrudes and revolves are CSWA territory. The CSWP expects you to handle lofted bosses that blend between two or more profiles along a path, controlled by guide curves that prevent twisting or bulging. Common errors include profiles that are not properly coincident with guide curve endpoints and loft connector lines that cross, causing self-intersecting geometry. Practicing three to five varied loft problems — including those with centerline parameters and start/end tangency constraints — builds the muscle memory needed to execute quickly under exam conditions.
CSWP vs. CSWA — What Changes at the Professional Level
The Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) is the entry-level credential and tests basic sketching, simple extrudes, revolves, basic mates, and first-order mass properties. The CSWP assumes all of that knowledge and goes significantly further. Where the CSWA might show a simple bracket and ask for its mass, the CSWP shows a multi-feature casting with suppressed configurations and asks for mass in a specific configuration after a dimensional change. The jump in complexity is substantial, which is why Dassault Systèmes targets the CSWP at people who have used SOLIDWORKS full time for six months or more.
Design tables, in-context assembly modeling, interference detection, and coordinate-system mass properties are essentially absent from the CSWA and central to the CSWP. If you are transitioning from associate to professional preparation, expand your practice to include these areas immediately rather than drilling basic sketch problems you already know.
If you want more targeted practice, the cswp practice exam page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.
If you want more targeted practice, the cswp practice exam page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.
- ✓Build at least 20 practice parts from engineering drawings without reference, checking mass properties after each
- ✓Create a design table with at least 6 configurations controlling different dimensions and suppression states
- ✓Practice deriving sub-configurations from a parent configuration and verifying mass per config
- ✓Build 5 assemblies using only advanced mates (width, gear, path, cam) and verify interference detection output
- ✓Model 3 lofted bosses using guide curves with at least two profiles and confirm no self-intersecting geometry
- ✓Write 10 equations using global variables and verify cascading updates when the driving variable changes
- ✓Complete a full Segment 1 simulation under a 70-minute timer and review every incorrect mass property answer
- ✓Practice in-context part editing inside an assembly, referencing another component's geometry as a design reference
- ✓Create a coordinate system in a practice assembly and report its mass and center of mass relative to that coordinate system
- ✓Rebuild the official Sample CSWP Exam from the SOLIDWORKS certification page under the real segment timers (70, 50 and 80 minutes)
Ready to test your knowledge before exam day? Work through our full cswp practice questions online for instant feedback on every answer, detailed explanations, and a segment-by-segment score breakdown. Pair the online tests with the printable PDF to cover both screen-based and offline study sessions — the combination gives you the broadest exposure to question types and ensures no topic catches you off guard on the actual CSWP exam.
Sample Certified Solidworks Professional Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free Certified Solidworks Professional practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Which official Dassault Systèmes learning platform provides CSWP exam preparation courses and practice tests?
- A. Coursera
- B. 3DEXPERIENCE EDU
- C. LinkedIn Learning
- D. Udemy
Answer: B. 3DEXPERIENCE EDU
Dassault Systèmes offers official CSWP prep courses through its 3DEXPERIENCE EDU platform.
A CSWP holder wants to advance to a leadership role overseeing a CAD team. Which additional certification would complement CSWP most effectively?
- A. Certified SolidWorks Expert (CSWE)
- B. CompTIA A+
- C. Adobe Certified Professional
- D. Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
Answer: A. Certified SolidWorks Expert (CSWE)
The CSWE is the highest SolidWorks certification and signals expert-level competency, positioning the holder as a technical authority suitable for senior design leadership.
Why is hands-on practice crucial for CSWP preparation?
- A. The exam includes theoretical multiple-choice questions.
- B. The exam requires practical application of design skills.
- C. It ensures familiarity with SOLIDWORKS installation.
- D. It reduces exam fees for experienced users.
Answer: B. The exam requires practical application of design skills.
The CSWP exam is a hands-on, performance-based test that requires candidates to actively use SOLIDWORKS software to solve design problems. It assesses practical application of design skills, such as creating and modifying complex parts and assemblies, rather than just theoretical knowledge. Therefore, extensive hands-on practice is crucial to develop the speed, accuracy, and proficiency needed to pass the timed practical challenges.
Which free SolidWorks resource provides short tutorial videos and is widely recommended for CSWP preparation?
- A. MySolidWorks Tutorials
- B. GrabCAD Community Videos
- C. Autodesk Knowledge Network
- D. PTC Learning Connector
Answer: A. MySolidWorks Tutorials
MySolidWorks offers free tutorial videos covering CSWP exam topics directly on the official platform.
Take the full Certified Solidworks Professional practice test
⏱️ How long is the CSWP exam in total?
The CSWP runs 3 hours 20 minutes across three segments. Segment 1 is 70 minutes, Segment 2 is 50 minutes, and Segment 3 is 80 minutes, and each can be taken on a different day.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST🎯 What is the CSWP Segment 1 passing score?
Segment 1 (part modeling) needs 75 of 105 points to pass. It covers building a part from a drawing, linked dimensions, equations, and mass property analysis after design changes.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST⚙️ What is tested in CSWP Segment 2?
Segment 2 covers configurations: creating them from other configurations, building them with a Design Table, changing or rearranging features, and reporting mass properties. You need 77 of 104 points in 50 minutes.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST🔩 What is tested in CSWP Segment 3?
Segment 3 is assemblies: basic and advanced mates, inserting subassemblies, replacing parts, collision and interference detection, and mass properties measured from a custom coordinate system. The pass mark is 77 of 109 points in 80 minutes.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST💵 How much does the CSWP cost?
The CSWP is listed at $99 USD in North America for one attempt covering all three segments. Segments can also be bought individually if you only need to retake one.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST🔁 What is the CSWP retake policy?
You must wait at least 14 days before retaking the same segment, and each attempt needs a new exam credit. Passed segments never need to be retaken, and there is no limit on retakes.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST💻 Which SOLIDWORKS version do you need for the CSWP?
SOLIDWORKS 2015 or later is required; older versions cannot open some of the exam files. The test runs online in the TesterPRO Client next to your own SOLIDWORKS session.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST📋 Are there prerequisites for the CSWP?
No. Associate- and Professional-level SOLIDWORKS exams have no prerequisites, so you can sit the CSWP without passing the CSWA first. The CSWP is, however, required before the CSWE expert exam.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST📐 Why use equations and linked dimensions on the CSWP?
Segment 1 repeatedly changes driving dimensions and asks for the new mass. Linking dimensions and using equations lets one edit update the whole part, saving time and avoiding errors from editing values one by one.
START CSWP PRACTICE TEST📄 Is there an official CSWP sample exam PDF?
Yes. SOLIDWORKS publishes a free Sample CSWP Exam PDF on its CSWP exam page. Working it under the real timers is the closest practice to the actual segments.
START CSWP PRACTICE TESTOfficial Resources
- SOLIDWORKS (Dassault Systèmes) — the official SOLIDWORKS site, home of the certification program, the CSWP exam page and the free Sample CSWP Exam PDF.
- 3DEXPERIENCE Certification Center — the official testing portal where you redeem exam credits, take CSWP segments and download your certificate.
- Dassault Systèmes — the company that develops SOLIDWORKS and issues the CSWP credential.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- solidworks.com — Test delivery, eligibility, exam format, passing score, retake policy, time limit, score validity · verified Oct 2026