I want to share my experience because I wish someone had told me this stuff before I wasted six months studying the wrong way. I'm a certified welding inspector at a structural fab shop and my company pushed me to get the CWS certification. Failed the first attempt with a 68 (passing is 72) and the second time I hit a 70. I was ready to give up honestly.
What finally clicked was switching from just reading the AWS reference materials to actually doing timed practice. I found a solid CWS practice test that simulated the real question format — metallurgy and weld symbols killed me on my first two attempts because I'd memorized definitions instead of learning how to apply them. The study guide I'd been using was way too surface-level on SMAW and FCAW process variables.
Third attempt I scored an 81. If you're preparing for this cert, what study materials are you using? Happy to share more specifics on the topics that tripped me up.