Save your SOLIDWORKS models frequently. Some questions will require you to reuse the same model, so saving each one will prevent you from having to remodel something if your progress is lost.

Complete the questions you can first, then come back and spend the remainder of your time on the harder questions. You want to be able to get through the questions at a reasonable pace and not spend all your time on one question.

Keep your eye on the clock. Throughout the exam, check in with how much time is left.

You don’t want to waste any time waiting for SOLIDWORKS to load.

Run SOLIDWORKS first. Start and run SOLIDWORKS before launching the exam application.

This isn’t required, but it’ll help you be more efficient by avoiding switching tabs on a single screen.

Use two monitors on exam day. If you can, try to use two monitors so you can run SOLIDWORKS on one monitor and the exam application on the other.

Get comfortable using SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts. One of the easiest ways to increase your speed on the timed CSWA exam is to use SOLIDWORKS keyboard shortcuts.

READ CSWA FAQs: Learn everything you need to know about the CSWA exam.

The CSWA exam requires SOLIDWORKS 11 or later versions.

The CSWA exam has a 14-day waiting period between retakes.

The CSWA exam has a time limit of 3 hours.

Here are a few important details to know before you begin your CSWA exam practice: While the CSWA exam is the easiest of the three SOLIDWORKS Certifications, that doesn’t make it easy to pass. The exam questions are the exact same as the regular CSWA however the CSWA - Academic exam must be proctored by an educator and is broken up into two days, rather than a single three-hour block.

SOLIDWORKS also offers the CSWA - Academic for students. The other two exams are the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) and the Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE). The CSWA exam is the first of three SOLIDWORKS Certification levels. The Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) exam tests your basic knowledge of SOLIDWORKS. Before you begin your CSWA exam practice, there are a few things you need to know.

Solidworks free certification exam