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Brian Y.OP
May 27, 2026
Taking my Certified SolidWorks Associate exam next week. I'm a mechanical engineering student, been using SolidWorks for about 18 months in coursework. The online practice CSWA exam I did took me 2h 45min (limit is 3 hours) and I got 82% — need 70% to pass.
The part modeling questions I'm comfortable with. The assembly section is where I lose time because I second-guess my mate selections. Any quick tips for the assembly questions specifically?
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Amanda H.
May 28, 2026
For assembly questions, read what they're asking for very carefully before placing any mates. Most errors come from interpreting the motion constraints wrong. Sketch it out mentally first.
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Nicole F.
May 28, 2026
Concentric + coincident covers 80% of assembly scenarios in the CSWA. Don't overthink the mate types — use the simplest combination that achieves the required relationship.
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Samantha C.
May 28, 2026
Your 82% practice score with time to spare is a good sign. The real exam has similar question types. Just stay calm and remember to check your part orientation before adding mates — most assembly mistakes start there.