I want to take the CSWP exam. I was told by the nearest VAR that I have
to take several training classes before I can take the test. When I
asked if this was suggested or required, he told me it was required. Is
this correct? Thanks, Pedro]
Like in any test you took in school, a big part of the CSWP is psyching
out the perspective of the test-giver.
Search this newsgroup for info on the test - it has been hashed out
here multiple times over the last half-decade.
The most ruthless part of the test is the multiple choice segment,
though it is only 20% of the test (as I recall). A tip is to keep in
mind that those questions are very much influenced by the test giver .
For instance, though the questions are supposed to be random, you will
likely be asked what is a 'time-sensitive feature' (I saw this one on
practice tasts and on my actual test). Since we work on a history based
modeller, time-sensitive features in the 'real world' apply to all
model features, but technically 'time-sensitive features' are only
assembly features (assembly cuts). ]
There are a number of questions I was asked that conflict with the
'real-world' experience of SWx because they ask specific terms that we
users don't actually use.
One thing that cracked me up was questions about what SWx couldn't do:
if asked whether SWx can't do something, remember that it was written
by a SWx employee - of course they aren't going to ask about a
limitation (answer Yes, SWx can do that, at least when I took it - I
only missed two out of a hundred)
When it comes to the modeling portion ( the other 80%) the test is easy
if you have been using SWx for a while.
Back to your question:
Is a training course required? No, at least not in my experience. I
only missed two in the multiple choice and 5pts in the modelling
session (which still pisses me off because I checked everything - look
at the NG for how to check your test, which is HIGHLY recommended)
But, when I took it, humans graded the tests. Now it is automated.
If you fail, raise a ruckus, because I cannot fathom how a program can
possibly grade the test correctly. Jeremy is good (and a bitchin nice
guy), but I have no idea how his program can check every drawing
tolerance, modeling technique, etc
Ed
