• 52 questions

NOCTI Welding Test

Unofficial practice for NOCTI Welding: safety, metals, weld quality, symbols, oxyfuel and arc cutting, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW.

A welding cable has damaged insulation and bare conductor showing. What does the arc welding rule require?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 52 questions, 52 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with NOCTI. Bank checked October 13, 2026.

Next step Weak on safety rules? OSHA 10 questionsShop fractions: welding math

All 52 questions

Safety 9

  • A box of brazing filler metal is marked "CONTAINS CADMIUM". What does the required notice say may form on heating? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.252. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • A shop expects its welders to use the portable fire extinguishers. After the first session at hiring, how often must the employer repeat the education? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.157. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • A welding cable has damaged insulation and bare conductor showing. What does the arc welding rule require? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.254. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • Chips fly when slag is chipped or a bead is ground. What must eye protection provide when there is a hazard from flying objects? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.133. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • Just before a new grinding wheel is mounted, what does the user do to be sure it was not damaged in transit or storage? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.215. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • On a bench grinder, the gap between the wheel and the adjustable tongue guard at the top must never be more than what? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.215. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • What does the OSHA rule on walking-working surfaces require of shop floors, passageways and storerooms? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.22. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • Where must a welder place the welding cable and other equipment? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.252. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
  • Who pays for the helmet, gloves and other protective equipment that the OSHA rules require on a welding job? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.132. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Safety
Show all 52 questions (43 more)

Physical Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Metals 4

  • A short seam is fixed in place and cannot move. Which technique helps prevent warpage and distortion? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 7-14. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Physical Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Metals
  • How does proper preheating help prevent cracking in the heat-affected zone of a steel weld? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 3-27. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Physical Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Metals
  • In a spark test on a grinding wheel, which metal gives off a large volume of brilliant yellow-orange sparklers? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), chapter 2, spark test. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Physical Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Metals
  • Which mechanical property is a metal's ability to absorb energy and deform plastically without fracturing? Wikipedia, Toughness. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Physical Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Metals

Weld Fit-Up and Quality 6

  • How are slag inclusions prevented in a weld that takes several passes? Wikipedia, Welding defect, Other inclusions. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Weld Fit-Up and Quality
  • In dye penetrant inspection, what does the developer do? Wikipedia, Dye penetrant inspection. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Weld Fit-Up and Quality
  • Too much current melts the edges of a joint so they drain into the weld and leave a groove beside it. What is this defect called? Wikipedia, Welding defect, Undercut. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Weld Fit-Up and Quality
  • Which document tells a welder how to make production welds that meet the code requirements? Wikipedia, Welding Procedure Specification. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Weld Fit-Up and Quality
  • Which nondestructive test sends very short pulses of sound above the range of hearing into a weld to find internal flaws? Wikipedia, Ultrasonic testing. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Weld Fit-Up and Quality
  • Which weld discontinuity is a bead that starts short of the groove's root and leaves channels and crevices there? Wikipedia, Welding defect, Lack of fusion and incomplete penetration. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Weld Fit-Up and Quality

Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading 7

  • A fillet weld symbol sits below the reference line, on the side toward the reader. Where is the weld made? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 11-8. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • A small circle is drawn where the arrow meets the reference line of a welding symbol. What does it call for? Wikipedia, Symbols and conventions used in welding documentation. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • In a single-J butt joint, how are the two edges prepared? Wikipedia, Welding joint, J-joints. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • On a shop drawing, what do lines made of short dashes show? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 11-3. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • On a welding symbol for a fillet or groove weld, which side of the joint is the arrow side? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 11-7. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • What is written in the tail of a welding symbol? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 11-4. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
  • Where on a drawing does a welder find the drawing number and the information that identifies the part? US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976), paragraph 11-2. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading

Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC) 6

  • A regulator on an oxyfuel outfit has two pressure gauges. What do they show? Wikipedia, Oxy-fuel welding and cutting, Regulator. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)
  • An outfit is switched from acetylene to propane. Why must the fuel hose be one made for LPG? Wikipedia, Oxy-fuel welding and cutting, Gas hoses. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)
  • How can a cutting torch be told apart from a welding torch? Wikipedia, Oxy-fuel welding and cutting, Cutting torch. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)
  • In oxyfuel cutting, the oxygen stream burns the heated steel into a metal oxide. What is the oxide flowing out of the kerf called? Wikipedia, Oxy-fuel welding and cutting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)
  • Which oxyfuel torch is used to heat a large area of metal for bending or straightening? Wikipedia, Oxy-fuel welding and cutting, Rose bud torch. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)
  • Why is a flashback arrestor fitted in addition to an ordinary check valve? Wikipedia, Oxy-fuel welding and cutting, Non-return valve. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)

Arc Cutting Process (Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc) 5

  • In a plasma torch, where does the pilot arc form? Wikipedia, Plasma cutting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Arc Cutting Process (Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc)
  • In air carbon arc cutting, how is the molten metal removed? Wikipedia, Air carbon arc cutting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Arc Cutting Process (Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc)
  • In plasma cutting, what completes the electric circuit from the workpiece back to the machine? Wikipedia, Plasma cutting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Arc Cutting Process (Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc)
  • What limits the materials that a plasma arc torch can cut? Wikipedia, Plasma cutting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Arc Cutting Process (Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc)
  • Why are the carbon electrodes for air carbon arc cutting often coated with copper? Wikipedia, Air carbon arc cutting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Arc Cutting Process (Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc)

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 4

  • What kind of output does a power supply for shielded metal arc welding have? Wikipedia, Shielded metal arc welding, Equipment. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Which of these can cause weld spatter in shielded metal arc welding? Wikipedia, Shielded metal arc welding, Quality. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Which welding current keeps reversing polarity, balancing how fast the electrode melts against penetration? Wikipedia, Shielded metal arc welding, Power supply. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • With direct current, magnetic forces push the arc away from the weld pool. What is this condition called? Wikipedia, Shielded metal arc welding, Quality. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) 7

  • As a general rule, which polarity is used with self-shielded flux-cored wire? Wikipedia, Flux-cored arc welding, Process variables. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • For gas-shielded flux-cored arc welding, which shielding gas blend is the most common? Wikipedia, Flux-cored arc welding. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • What is a likely result of too much stick-out in gas metal arc welding? Wikipedia, Gas metal arc welding, Technique. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • What kind of electrode does flux-cored arc welding use? Wikipedia, Flux-cored arc welding. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • Which GMAW transfer mode uses a lower current and less heat, so it can weld thinner material with less distortion? Wikipedia, Gas metal arc welding, Short-circuiting. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • Which power source is most commonly used for gas metal arc welding? Wikipedia, Gas metal arc welding. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • Why is globular transfer generally limited to the flat and horizontal positions? Wikipedia, Gas metal arc welding, Globular. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 4

  • How does a high-frequency generator help start a gas tungsten arc? Wikipedia, Gas tungsten arc welding, Operation. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
  • What is an autogenous weld in gas tungsten arc welding? Wikipedia, Gas tungsten arc welding. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
  • Which polarity is often used for gas tungsten arc welding of steel, nickel and titanium? Wikipedia, Gas tungsten arc welding, Power supply. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
  • Which welding current is commonly used for manual gas tungsten arc welding of aluminum and magnesium? Wikipedia, Gas tungsten arc welding, Power supply. Written to NOCTI Welding (4372), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the competency list of the Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Welding (code 4372, version 01, copyright 2024) that NOCTI publishes at https://www.nocti.org/wp-content/uploads/Blueprints/JRWelding4372.pdf , read 2026-10-13: a written assessment of 179 questions in 3 hours over nine areas (Safety 18%; Physical Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Metals 8%; Weld Fit-Up and Quality 11%; Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading 13%; Oxyfuel Cutting 11%; Arc Cutting Process, Carbon Arc and Plasma Arc, 10%; Shielded Metal Arc Welding 7%; Gas Metal Arc Welding and Flux Cored Arc Welding 14%; Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 8%), plus a performance assessment of six jobs. This bank holds 52 in those proportions. Every rule and definition was read on 2026-10-13 on the public page named under its question: OSHA general industry standards in 29 CFR 1910 on osha.gov, US Army TM 9-237, Welding Theory and Application (1976, the scan at archive.org) and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site. TM 9-237 is a work of the United States Army, and no question or example is copied from it.

How it works

This free NOCTI welding practice test has 52 questions of our own, sorted by the nine areas of the Job Ready Welding blueprint, code 4372. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by NOCTI.

Read the full guide

Nine areas, in the blueprint's shares

Safety is 18% of the written assessment. GMAW and FCAW is 14%, Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading 13%, Weld Fit-Up and Quality and Oxyfuel Cutting 11% each, Arc Cutting 10%, Metals and GTAW 8% each and SMAW 7%.

The real pace

The real written assessment allows about a minute a question. At that pace these 52 questions take 52 minutes.

What is not practiced here

The six performance jobs are left to the booth: oxyfuel cutting, a 3G SMAW V-groove, a 2F GMAW weld, an aluminum GTAW tee joint, a stainless steel GTAW lap joint and an uphill FCAW-G weld.

  • A weld symbol below the reference line, the side toward the reader, means the arrow side of the joint.
  • Polarity: GMAW solid wire usually runs electrode positive, self-shielded flux-cored wire electrode negative, and GTAW on steel electrode negative.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the NOCTI welding test?

The blueprint for Welding, code 4372, lists 179 written questions with an administration time of 3 hours, given in one, two or three sessions. The six performance jobs take another 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Is the NOCTI welding test difficult?

It covers a lot of ground: nine written areas that take in welding symbols, oxyfuel and arc cutting and four welding processes, then six cutting and welding jobs scored on their own. The blueprint prints no pass mark.

Is there a NOCTI welding test guide?

NOCTI's own guide is the blueprint, a free PDF on nocti.org/credentials/blueprints. It gives the competencies, the weight of each area, ten sample questions and a sample job. Those samples are not used here.

Is this also practice for the NOCTI Teacher welding test?

Largely. The Teacher assessment for Welding, code 5479, prints the same nine areas with weights within a point of these, 172 questions in 3 hours and the same six jobs.

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