CSWP Practice Test

The CSWP (SOLIDWORKS CAD Design Professional) is taken by people who already model in SOLIDWORKS and want a credential from Dassault Systèmes. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, three worked examples with full explanations, a study plan, and a plain summary of how the exam is scored and retaken.

CSWP Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Oct 27, 2026 against Dassault Systèmes. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

What the CSWP is and how it works

According to Dassault Systèmes, “70 minutes, 75 of 105 points to pass”^[1]

The CSWP is the SOLIDWORKS CAD Design Professional certification, awarded by Dassault Systèmes. It tests whether you can build and edit models in SOLIDWORKS, not whether you can recall definitions. It is split into 3 segments, and you must complete all of them to earn the certification.

Delivery. All testing is done online through the TesterPRO Client software. Segments can be taken in any order and at any time, so there is no fixed exam date to plan around.

Scoring. Each segment has its own time limit and passing score:

• Segment 1: 70 minutes, 75 of 105 points to pass
• Segment 2: 50 minutes, 77 of 104 points to pass
• Segment 3: 80 minutes, 77 of 109 points to pass

Once all 3 segments are successfully completed, the certification is awarded automatically.

Eligibility. There is no general prerequisite, and SOLIDWORKS 2015+ is required. K–12 students taking the exam through a SOLIDWORKS Academic Certification Provider must pass the CSWA (SOLIDWORKS Design Associate) first.

Retakes. There is a 14-day waiting period between attempts of the same segment, and an exam credit must be purchased for each attempt. Fees and local arrangements can vary, so check the official SOLIDWORKS certification pages before you book.

Worked examples: how to reason through CSWP questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: When editing a Swept Cut that removes material along a path, which option controls whether the profile remains perpendicular to the path (normal) or keeps a fixed orientation in space?

1. Follow Path vs. Keep Normal Constant
2. Merge Tangent Faces vs. Show Preview
3. Thin Feature vs. Solid Feature
4. Circular Profile vs. Sketch Profile

Answer: A. Follow Path vs. Keep Normal Constant

Explanation:

The correct answer is Follow Path vs. Keep Normal Constant. These are the orientation choices for a sweep. Follow Path turns the profile as the path curves, so it stays normal to the path. Keep Normal Constant holds the profile's original orientation in space for the whole sweep.

The other pairs are real options, but they do something different. Merge Tangent Faces and Show Preview control face merging and display. Thin Feature and Solid Feature decide whether the result is a shell or a filled body. Circular Profile and Sketch Profile choose where the profile comes from, not how it is oriented.

Rule to remember: when a sweep option is about direction or twist, look for the orientation setting. Options about the result's thickness or the profile's source are a separate group.

Example 2

Question: What is the function of 'Intersect' as a feature tool (not the sketch tool) in SOLIDWORKS parts?

1. It trims surfaces at their mutual boundary
2. It creates regions from the intersection of selected solids, surfaces, or planes and lets you keep or discard each region
3. It projects one body's silhouette onto another
4. It merges two bodies into one without removing material

Answer: B. It creates regions from the intersection of selected solids, surfaces, or planes and lets you keep or discard each region

Explanation:

The correct answer is that Intersect creates regions from the overlap of selected solids, surfaces or planes, and lets you keep or discard each region. You reach it through Insert > Features > Intersect. It calculates every region the selected geometry bounds, then you choose which ones stay in the model.

Trimming surfaces at their mutual boundary describes a surface trim, not Intersect. Projecting a silhouette is a different operation and is not what this tool is for. Merging two bodies without removing material describes a combine or a union, whereas Intersect can remove material because you discard regions.

Rule to remember: the feature tool is about selecting regions to keep. The sketch tool with a similar name only creates sketch geometry, so read the question for which one it means.

Example 3

Question: What is the most important professional competency for CSWP certification in weldments?

1. Speed of task completion
2. Deep knowledge combined with practical application skills
3. Ability to work alone exclusively
4. Memorization of all reference materials

Answer: B. Deep knowledge combined with practical application skills

Explanation:

The correct answer is deep knowledge combined with practical application skills. This is a general question, and it reflects how the CSWP is built: you need to understand weldment concepts and also apply them while modeling.

Speed of task completion matters because segments are timed, but speed without accuracy does not earn points. Working alone exclusively is not a competency, and nothing in a certification exam rewards it. Memorizing reference materials alone does not help when the task asks you to build something.

Rule to remember: on broad, wording-based questions, the option that pairs understanding with practice is usually the intended one, and absolute words such as exclusively or all are a warning sign. Treat questions like this as light checks, and spend your real study time on hands-on modeling.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the SOLIDWORKS certification page for the CSWP and note the exam format, time limits and passing scores for each segment. Then decide which segment to attempt first; since they can be taken in any order, you can start with the one you feel strongest on.

Next, take one of our practice sets on a topic you use often, and record which questions you miss. Do not just reread the answers. Open SOLIDWORKS and rebuild the feature each missed question describes, so you see the option behave. Our explanations are written with AI tools and are a starting point, so confirm anything doubtful in the SOLIDWORKS help or the official materials.

• Work through the sets for features you use rarely, such as Sheet Metal Design, Weldments and Configurations.
• Practise modeling against the clock, because each segment is timed.
• Repeat a set only after you have fixed the gaps it showed.

When you start to answer consistently, try the full practice test. Remember the retake rule: a failed segment means waiting 14 days and buying another exam credit, so it is worth being ready before you book.