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Key Facts: SA Welder Trade Test Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

QCTO/NAMB

Moderating Body

QCTO

Red Seal

Artisan Certificate

QCTO/NAMB

Practical

Competency-Based Test

NAMB

N2 / NC(V) L3

Trade Theory Required

NAMB

Competent

Pass Standard

NAMB

The South Africa Artisan Trade Test for Welders is the external, NAMB-moderated assessment under the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) that leads to a Red Seal artisan certificate. It is a practical, competency-based trade test (judged Competent or Not Yet Competent) carried out over several days at an accredited trade test centre and underpinned by welding trade theory at N2/NC(V) level. Candidates typically need relevant trade theory plus required practical experience to qualify, and the Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) route is also available. The underpinning knowledge covers SMAW, MIG/MAG, TIG and oxy-acetylene welding, joint design and ISO 2553 weld symbols, metallurgy and the heat-affected zone, weld defects and NDT, oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, codes such as ISO 9606, and welding safety and fumes. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.

Sample SA Welder Trade Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SA Welder Trade Test exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), what is the primary function of the flux coating on a stick electrode?
A.To increase the electrode's electrical resistance so it melts faster
B.To shield the molten weld pool from atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen by forming gas and slag
C.To act purely as a handle insulation for the welder
D.To add copper to the weld deposit for corrosion resistance
Explanation: As the flux coating burns it generates a shielding gas and forms a slag layer that protects the molten and cooling weld metal from oxygen and nitrogen in the air, preventing porosity and embrittlement. The coating also adds deoxidisers, arc stabilisers and sometimes alloying elements.
2In the AWS A5.1 electrode classification E7018, what do the first two digits '70' represent?
A.The minimum tensile strength of the weld deposit in thousands of psi (70 000 psi)
B.The welding current in amperes
C.The electrode diameter in millimetres
D.The percentage of iron powder in the coating
Explanation: In AWS A5.1, the first two digits of an EXXXX electrode give the minimum tensile strength of the deposited weld metal in thousands of psi, so '70' means 70 000 psi (about 480 MPa). The third digit is welding position and the fourth digit indicates coating type and current.
3An E7018 electrode is described as 'low-hydrogen'. Why must these electrodes be kept dry, often in a heated oven?
A.Moisture makes the flux conduct electricity and trip the welding machine
B.Absorbed moisture introduces hydrogen into the weld, which can cause cold (hydrogen-induced) cracking
C.Damp electrodes weld at a lower temperature and waste current
D.Moisture changes the electrode colour code and causes mislabelling
Explanation: Low-hydrogen electrodes such as E7018 readily absorb atmospheric moisture, and that moisture breaks down in the arc to release hydrogen into the weld and heat-affected zone, promoting cold cracking in higher-carbon or thick steels. Storing them in a heated quiver or oven keeps hydrogen levels low.
4Which shielding gas is most commonly used for the GTAW (TIG) welding of aluminium?
A.Pure carbon dioxide
B.Pure argon
C.Oxygen
D.A 75% argon / 25% CO2 mixture
Explanation: Pure argon is the standard shielding gas for TIG welding of aluminium because it is inert, gives a stable arc and supports the cathodic cleaning action under AC that removes the tenacious oxide film. CO2 and oxygen are reactive and would contaminate the weld.
5In GMAW (MIG/MAG) welding of carbon steel, what is the role of the consumable wire electrode?
A.It only carries current and is never consumed
B.It serves as both the electrode carrying the arc and the filler metal added to the joint
C.It is a tungsten rod that does not melt
D.It is a flux rod that produces only slag
Explanation: In GMAW the continuously fed bare wire is a consumable electrode: it both conducts the welding current to sustain the arc and melts off to supply filler metal to the joint. Shielding is provided by an external gas, not by a flux coating.
6Which metal-transfer mode in GMAW is best suited to thin sheet and out-of-position welding because of its low heat input?
A.Spray transfer
B.Globular transfer
C.Short-circuiting (dip) transfer
D.Submerged transfer
Explanation: Short-circuiting (dip) transfer uses low current and voltage so the wire repeatedly touches the pool and short-circuits, giving low heat input and a fast-freezing pool ideal for thin material and positional welding. Spray transfer is high heat and flat/horizontal only.
7In TIG (GTAW) welding, the electrode is made of which material?
A.Mild steel coated with flux
B.Tungsten (non-consumable)
C.Copper-clad aluminium
D.Carbon graphite
Explanation: TIG uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode, which has a very high melting point (about 3 400 deg C) so it carries the arc without melting away. Filler, when needed, is added separately as a hand-fed rod.
8When TIG welding aluminium, which type of welding current is normally selected?
A.Direct current electrode negative (DCEN) only
B.Direct current electrode positive (DCEP) only
C.Alternating current (AC)
D.High-frequency DC pulsed at the mains frequency
Explanation: Aluminium is TIG welded on AC: the electrode-positive half-cycle provides cathodic cleaning that breaks up the refractory aluminium-oxide film, while the electrode-negative half-cycle gives penetration. Steady DCEN would leave the oxide and give poor fusion.
9In oxy-acetylene welding, which flame is correct for welding mild steel?
A.A strongly oxidising flame
B.A strongly carburising (excess-acetylene) flame
C.A neutral flame with an equal balance of oxygen and acetylene
D.A flame with the oxygen valve fully closed
Explanation: A neutral flame, produced when oxygen and acetylene are supplied in roughly equal volumes, neither oxidises nor carburises the steel and is the standard flame for welding mild steel. It shows a clearly defined rounded white inner cone.
10On an oxy-acetylene set used in South Africa, what are the standard cylinder body colours for oxygen and acetylene respectively?
A.Oxygen black, acetylene maroon
B.Oxygen red, acetylene green
C.Oxygen blue, acetylene yellow
D.Oxygen maroon, acetylene black
Explanation: Under the South African (and ISO-aligned) colour code the oxygen cylinder body is black and the acetylene cylinder body is maroon (a deep red-brown). Hoses follow a separate code: blue for oxygen and red for acetylene.

About the SA Welder Trade Test Exam

The South African welder artisan trade test is the QCTO/NAMB external assessment that leads to a Red Seal artisan certificate. It is a practical, competency-based trade test underpinned by welding trade theory (N2/NC(V) level), assessing SMAW, MIG/MAG, TIG and oxy-fuel welding, joint preparation, weld symbols, defects, inspection, cutting and safety.

Exam sponsor: Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) / National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Competency-based artisan trade test: a multi-day practical assessment of welding tasks under exam conditions, underpinned by trade theory; result is Competent or Not Yet Competent. This practice bank is 100 trade-theory questions.

Time Limit

Multi-day practical assessment under exam conditions

Passing Score

Competent (meets the NAMB trade-test criteria)

Exam / Certification Fees

Trade-test fee set by the accredited trade test centre (varies, typically several thousand rand)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

30%

Welding Processes (SMAW/MIG/TIG/Oxy-fuel)

Electrode classifications, shielding gases, polarity, metal transfer, and arc/current control across stick, MIG/MAG, TIG and oxy-acetylene welding

15%

Joint Design & Weld Symbols

Joint preparation, root faces and included angles, welding positions, fillet leg/throat, and reading ISO 2553/AWS weld symbols

12%

Metallurgy

Carbon/alloy and stainless steels, cast iron, the HAZ, carbon equivalent, preheat and interpass, distortion and stress relief

20%

Weld Defects & Inspection

Undercut, porosity, slag inclusion, lack of fusion, cracking, NDT (visual, MPI, PT, RT, UT) and destructive bend/tensile testing

10%

Codes & Standards

ISO 9606 welder qualification, ISO 15614 procedures, WPS/PQR, SANS references and the QCTO/NAMB trade-test framework

7%

Cutting

Oxy-fuel flame cutting, plasma arc cutting and air-carbon arc gouging, cut quality, dross and cutting parameters

6%

Safety & Fumes

Gas cylinder handling and colour codes, flashback arrestors, welding fume hazards, hexavalent chromium and ozone, PPE and fire/electric safety

Preparing for the SA Welder Trade Test Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Competent (meets the NAMB trade-test criteria)
  • Assessment: Competency-based artisan trade test: a multi-day practical assessment of welding tasks under exam conditions, underpinned by trade theory; result is Competent or Not Yet Competent. This practice bank is 100 trade-theory questions.
  • Time limit: Multi-day practical assessment under exam conditions
  • Exam / certification fees: Trade-test fee set by the accredited trade test centre (varies, typically several thousand rand) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SA Welder Trade Test: Suggested Study Strategy

1Focus first on welding processes — electrode classifications, shielding gases and polarity make up the largest share of the theory
2Know your electrode codes: in E7018 the 70 is tensile strength (70 000 psi), the 1 is all-position, and 18 is low-hydrogen
3Memorise the defect families — undercut, porosity, slag inclusion, lack of fusion and cracking — with at least one cause and remedy for each
4Learn ISO 2553 weld symbols: solid line = arrow side, dashed line = other side, triangle = fillet, and a = throat while z = leg length
5Understand preheat and carbon equivalent: higher carbon equivalent means more hardening and a higher risk of hydrogen (cold) cracking
6Drill safety: oxygen cylinders are black and acetylene maroon, never lubricate oxygen fittings with oil, and ventilate against fume
7Complete all 100 practice questions and review every miss with the AI tutor before your trade test

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the South African welder trade test structured and how many questions does it have?

The welder trade test is a practical, competency-based assessment moderated by the NAMB under the QCTO, carried out over several days at an accredited trade test centre. It does not have a fixed published number of multiple-choice questions; instead the result is Competent or Not Yet Competent. This free bank gives you 100 trade-theory questions to build the underpinning knowledge.

What do I need to qualify to write the welder trade test?

Candidates generally need the relevant trade theory, commonly an N2 certificate with welding-related subjects or an NC(V) Level 3, together with the required relevant practical work experience in South Africa. The Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) route is also available for experienced workers.

Who administers and certifies the welder trade test?

The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is responsible for the qualification and certification, and the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) moderates the trade test. Passing leads to a Red Seal artisan welder certificate.

What topics does the welder trade theory cover?

It covers welding processes (SMAW, MIG/MAG, TIG and oxy-acetylene), joint design and weld symbols, metallurgy and the heat-affected zone, weld defects and inspection (NDT and destructive testing), cutting, codes and standards, and welding safety and fumes.

What passing standard applies to the trade test?

The trade test is competency-based, so candidates are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent against the NAMB trade-test criteria rather than a percentage mark. Candidates assessed Not Yet Competent can re-register and re-sit per QCTO/NAMB rules.

Is this free welder trade test practice as good as paid prep?

Our 100 practice questions cover the same trade-theory domains assessed in the welder qualification, with a teaching explanation for every answer plus free daily AI tutor interactions. All content is free forever and updated for 2026.