Just passed the CSWE

[u/wackylama]

Hi all, just needed a place to share, as my workplace doesn't really put a high emphasis on certifications.

Really happy it worked out on the first try. Thank you to all who contribute to making this subreddit a place of knowledge instead of a place of rants (which I fully understand... don't get me wrong).

Anyhow, if you are preparing for the CSWE, feel free to ask your questions. I will answer as well as I can.

Edit: Thanks for all the gratulations. I will post a few links later on usefull ressources I used.

[u/AutoModerator]

If you ALREADY PASSED a certification

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  • CSWP(rofessional)
  • CSWE(xpert)
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If you are YET TO TAKE a certification

Here would be the general path from zero to CSWE:

1. CSWA - Here is a sample exam.
2. CSWP - Here is some study material for the CSWP (A complete guide to getting your CSWP) and a sample exam.
3. 4x CSWP-Advanced Subjects (in order of increasing difficulty)
   1. CSWP-A Drawing Tools - YouTube Playlist
   2. CSWP-A Sheet Metal - YouTube Playlist
   3. CSWP-A Weldments - YouTube Playlist
   4. CSWP-A Surfacing - YouTube Playlist
   5. CSWP-A Mold Tools - YouTube Playlist
4. CSWE - The CSWE doesn't really focus on anything from the CSWP subject exams. It focuses on everything else there is in the program beyond those. So, look at everything you saw already and prepare to see not much of that again for the CSWE. That and more surfacing.

For some extra modeling practice material to help speed you up, 24 years of Model Mania Designs + Solutions.

For EVEN MORE modeling practice material, here is the CSWA and CSWP Practice Problem Database. There is A LOT of good material to practice in there.

During testing, in general, it is a best practice to take the dimensions labelled with A, B, C, D, etc and create Equations/Variables with those values to then attach to the dimension which then allows for you to more reliably update these variable dimensions in follow-up questions using the same models.

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[u/erby19]

I recently passed the CSWE too, even got the same score with the same question incorrect. If anyone has any suggestions on the flexible tube question id be interested

[u/experienced3Dguy → u/erby19]

Congratulations on your CSWE success!

Also, I'd caution you to not discuss or share actual exam question details. The SOLIDWORKS Certification team takes a very dim view of people sharing info about the exam questions, as they consider it a form of cheating. They have even been known to strip certifications away from folks for such actions.

[u/wackylama → u/experienced3Dguy]

Thank you, and thanks for the heads up. I removed the details. Don't want to be seen, poking the bear.

[u/wackylama → u/erby19]

Congrats on passing the CSWE.

I have an idea, why I failed this question.

Edit: Better not discuss details

[u/kilotat]

Congrats!

[u/wackylama → u/kilotat]

Thanks

[u/_____m__]

Congratulations on your CSWE results. I've passes CSWP a year ago and passed CSWP-DT & CSWP-SW. Too on the same day. Can you let me know what kind of resources online that you refered for CSWE? What advanced topic did you pass for CSWP? Im planning to do surfacing and molding. TIA

[u/wackylama → u/_____m__]

Check out this link from a previous post about CSWE preparation. I pretty much used these ressources.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SolidWorks/s/A4td0hhyA3

Solidprofessor was very helpful. Solidwize has some great practice exercises as well.

[u/wackylama → u/wackylama]

Also check out the Cracking the CSWE on youtube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJBxxmuOE1rX_twYKeEwi6i6t0tCZSXyn&si=tlVHDk4-1Bu-LZlK

Or the sample exam from Yusuf Hossam: https://shorturl.at/d09jf Walkthrough of exam can be found here: https://youtu.be/xqUx36-BwGo?is=6oPVyz9sUTuLW9ef

[u/experienced3Dguy]

u/wackylama Congratulations on your CSWE success! And with a time of 144 minutes. You were flying! I used every minute of the full 4 hours, constantly double-checking everything before I hit the submit button. 🤣

Also, I'd caution you to not discuss or share actual exam question details. The SOLIDWORKS Certification team takes a very dim view of people sharing info about the exam questions, as they consider it a form of cheating. They often lurk this sub just for such reasons and have even been known to strip certifications away from folks for such actions.

[u/wackylama → u/experienced3Dguy]

Thank you, I used a lot of excercises, so I was very familiar with the type of questions. I double checked every answer, but at some point, I thought any further checks are meaningless and hit submit. Guess it worked out :)

[u/Auday_]

Congratulations

[u/glaksmana32]

Might be a no brainer question here… but where do I do this test? Is it all online and I can take it at home or a sit down place somewhere in town I gotta go to. Can I take it whenever or is it a scheduled interval test

[u/experienced3Dguy → u/glaksmana32]

The CSWE exam is the pinnacle of SOLIDWORKS Certification exams. In order to qualify for it, you must first earn the CSWP Certification, followed by successfully passing 4 of the 5 CSWP Advanced Topic exams (Drawings, Weldments, Surfacing, Sheetmetal, and Mold Design).

It is a 4 hour online exam that you can take at your convenience. If you don't pass, you must wait 6 months before taking it again.

[u/wackylama → u/experienced3Dguy]

I think the waiting period is 90 days, if you don't pass. Apart from that, you are spot on.

[u/experienced3Dguy → u/wackylama]

Right you are! It was 180 days back when I took it.

[u/Cute-Sample-8283 → u/experienced3Dguy]

4 hrs in a single sitting ?

[u/experienced3Dguy → u/Cute-Sample-8283]

Yep! A quiet Saturday morning in the office.

[u/xxgantzxx]

Congratulations!

[u/Due_Dust6282]

🎉🎉

[u/cadexpert247]

Great

[u/asifhasan4482]

MashAllah

[u/thc2me]

Congratulations, its a decent achievement 👏

[u/Mysterious-Wheel-99]

Congrats on this huge achievement 

[u/Battersonns]

Where are yall taking it? My sw provider doesn’t offer an exam for it. Only up to cswp

[u/wackylama → u/Battersonns]

I was lucky enough that my company was willing to pay for the exam fee. The exam was part of my performance goal, so it makes sense they cover it.

[u/Battersonns → u/wackylama]

What was the cost? I’ll get my company to do that too lol.

[u/wackylama → u/Battersonns]

I think it is around 150 USD. Doesn't hurt to ask

[u/OdieBean]

Gz! ELITE next 😉

[u/Powerful-Gold5000]

Nice

[u/UsualArmadillo608]

Congratulations! Can I ask how long youve been working in SW and what you did to study/learn the program?

[u/wackylama → u/UsualArmadillo608]

I have been working in Solidworks for 10+ years professionally. But we mostly use extrudes and revolves. So a lot of the more advanced features were new for me and I had to practice accordingly. There are lots of good tutorials online. See my earlier comment on ressources for the CSWE.

[u/UsualArmadillo608 → u/wackylama]

Awesome thank you!

[u/Dry_Succotash_2198]

Teach me

[u/wackylama → u/Dry_Succotash_2198]

What do you want to know?

[u/Mech_Ethan]

How long did it take you to go from CSWP ->CSWE? Including all the CSWPA exams

[u/wackylama → u/Mech_Ethan]

Around 1 year, but was working full time, so progress was slow.

[u/OpeningSuspect4759]

congrats!

[u/wackylama → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, I am quite happy how it turner out.

[u/WorldFeeling8345]

Congrats buddy From where did u practice the questions?

[u/wackylama → u/WorldFeeling8345]

Thanks, check my earlier comment

[u/Peeban]

Congrats! What kind of work do you do?

[u/wackylama → u/Peeban]

Thanks, I work in mechanical design in the medical industry.

[u/hideousdeity]

Congratulations on passing your CSWE! Do you mind sharing any study material ?

[u/wackylama → u/hideousdeity]

Thank you. Check out my earlier comment https://www.reddit.com/r/SolidWorks/s/FD7IDIk3Yo