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125+ Free CSWA Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CSWA Exam

3 hr

Exam Duration

SOLIDWORKS Certification

240

Total Points

SOLIDWORKS Certification

70%

Passing Score

SOLIDWORKS Certification

~14

Questions

SOLIDWORKS Certification

$99

Commercial Exam Fee

SOLIDWORKS Certification

TesterPRO

Delivery Client

SOLIDWORKS Certification Program

The CSWA is SOLIDWORKS' entry-level Mechanical Design certification. It is a 3-hour, on-demand exam of about 14 questions worth 240 points, delivered in the Tangix TesterPRO client, requiring 70% to pass. It blends modeling tasks with multiple-choice and fill-in items across part modeling, assembly modeling, and drafting.

Sample CSWA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CSWA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 125+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In SOLIDWORKS, what is the first thing you must define before creating a sketch?
A.A material
B.A sketch plane or planar face
C.A mate
D.A drawing view
Explanation: A sketch must be drawn on a 2D plane, so you select a reference plane (Front, Top, Right) or a planar face/surface first. SOLIDWORKS then orients the sketch grid to that plane and lets you draw entities.
2Which sketch relation forces two line segments to remain at 90 degrees to each other?
A.Parallel
B.Coincident
C.Equal
D.Perpendicular
Explanation: The Perpendicular relation constrains two lines so the angle between them is held at 90 degrees as the geometry changes. It is one of the most common relations used to keep rectangular features square.
3A sketch in SOLIDWORKS turns black (from blue) when it is:
A.Fully defined
B.Dangling
C.Over defined
D.Under defined
Explanation: A fully defined sketch has every entity located by dimensions and relations and displays black. This is the recommended state for robust, predictable models on the CSWA exam.
4Which feature adds material by pushing a closed sketch profile linearly away from the sketch plane?
A.Revolved Boss/Base
B.Extruded Boss/Base
C.Swept Boss/Base
D.Lofted Boss/Base
Explanation: Extruded Boss/Base takes a closed 2D profile and adds material along a straight path normal to the sketch plane by a set depth. It is the most common base feature in CSWA part modeling.
5To create a cylindrical shaft by spinning a rectangular profile around a centerline, which feature is most appropriate?
A.Revolved Boss/Base
B.Shell
C.Rib
D.Extruded Cut
Explanation: Revolved Boss/Base sweeps a profile around an axis or centerline to create rotationally symmetric geometry such as shafts, cones, and spheres. A rectangle revolved 360 degrees about an edge yields a cylinder.
6In the Extrude PropertyManager, which end condition extrudes the profile until it reaches a selected face or surface?
A.Through All
B.Up To Surface
C.Mid Plane
D.Blind
Explanation: Up To Surface terminates the extrusion exactly at a chosen face or surface, so the feature updates automatically if that reference moves. This captures design intent better than a fixed Blind depth.
7Which end condition extrudes a feature symmetrically in both directions from the sketch plane?
A.Blind
B.Up To Vertex
C.Offset From Surface
D.Mid Plane
Explanation: Mid Plane splits the entered depth equally on both sides of the sketch plane, keeping the sketch plane as the symmetry plane. It is useful when a part must stay centered about a reference.
8The Shell feature in SOLIDWORKS is used to:
A.Hollow out a solid to a uniform wall thickness
B.Round sharp edges
C.Pattern a feature in a circle
D.Add a draft angle to faces
Explanation: Shell removes material from the interior of a solid, leaving walls of a specified thickness; faces you select are removed to create openings. It is essential for plastic and cast housing models.
9A constant size Fillet of radius 5 mm applied to an edge will:
A.Offset the face by 5 mm
B.Add a chamfered flat
C.Round the edge with a 5 mm radius arc
D.Remove the edge entirely
Explanation: A constant size Fillet rounds a selected edge or face with a smooth arc of the given radius, here 5 mm. Fillets reduce stress concentrations and are commonly tested in CSWA part questions.
10Which feature creates an angled flat between two faces rather than a rounded transition?
A.Fillet
B.Chamfer
C.Draft
D.Dome
Explanation: Chamfer bevels an edge with a flat angled surface, defined by distance-distance, distance-angle, or vertex options. It contrasts with Fillet, which produces a rounded arc transition.

About the CSWA Exam

The Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate - Mechanical Design (CSWA) is the entry-level SOLIDWORKS credential. It is a hands-on, on-demand exam delivered through the Tangix TesterPRO client, where candidates model parts and assemblies and answer theory questions covering sketching, part features, mates, mass properties, and drawing fundamentals.

Assessment

About 14 questions worth 240 points total, combining modeling tasks (part, assembly) with multiple-choice and fill-in theory items across part modeling, assembly modeling, and drafting

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

70% of 240 points (168 points)

Exam Fee

SOLIDWORKS lists the commercial CSWA exam at $99 USD; pricing can vary by reseller and region. (Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS)

CSWA Exam Content Outline

Heaviest

Part Modeling

Sketch entities and relations, fully defining sketches, extrude, revolve, sweep, loft, fillet, chamfer, shell, draft, patterns, mirror, materials, units, and reading part mass properties.

Major

Assembly Modeling

Inserting and fixing components, standard mates (coincident, concentric, parallel, distance, angle), advanced and mechanical mates, interference detection, degrees of freedom, and assembly mass and center of mass.

Major

Drafting

Standard, section, detail, auxiliary, and projected drawing views, dimensioning, annotations, balloons, bill of materials, third-angle projection, scale, and GD&T fundamentals.

Supporting

Basic and Advanced Modeling Theory

Parametric feature-based modeling concepts, FeatureManager tree behavior, rollback, design intent, document units, and exam format facts.

How to Pass the CSWA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% of 240 points (168 points)
  • Assessment: About 14 questions worth 240 points total, combining modeling tasks (part, assembly) with multiple-choice and fill-in theory items across part modeling, assembly modeling, and drafting
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: SOLIDWORKS lists the commercial CSWA exam at $99 USD; pricing can vary by reseller and region.

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 125 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CSWA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Always assign the specified material before reading Mass Properties, since mass depends on density and is the most common source of wrong answers.
2Confirm Document Properties units (for example MMGS) match the units the question asks for to avoid scaling errors.
3Practice fully defining every sketch so geometry does not shift when you change dimensions.
4For assemblies, fix the first component, then add mates carefully and use Interference Detection to verify the model.
5Drill standard and section drawing views with dimensioning so the drafting questions are quick points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the CSWA exam?

The CSWA exam has about 14 questions worth a total of 240 points. Most are modeling tasks that ask you to build a part or assembly, with multiple-choice or numeric answers, plus a few theory questions.

What score do I need to pass the CSWA?

You must earn at least 70 percent of the 240 available points, which is 168 points. Modeling questions carry the most weight, so accurate part and assembly mass values matter.

How long is the CSWA exam?

Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam. SOLIDWORKS suggests answering theory questions in about 10 minutes each and modeling questions in about 45 minutes each.

How is the CSWA exam delivered?

The commercial CSWA is an on-demand exam taken through the Tangix TesterPRO client on a workstation running SOLIDWORKS. The academic version is proctored by an instructor during a scheduled session.

What topics does the CSWA cover?

It covers part modeling, assembly modeling, and drafting. That includes sketching, extrude, revolve, fillet, shell, patterns, mates, interference, mass properties, drawing views, dimensioning, and GD&T basics.

How much does the CSWA exam cost?

SOLIDWORKS lists the commercial CSWA exam at $99 USD. Pricing can vary by reseller and region, and academic candidates may access it through their institution.