How to Pass a Welding Test First Try

You might be surprised to hear this, but even after 20+ years of welding, a ton of tickets, certifications, and teaching experience under my belt—I’ve failed welding tests before. Yep. Bombed them. And you know what? It taught me more than any win ever did.

Today I want to break down exactly what I've learned from failing TIG welding tests and how you can walk into your next one with way more confidence—and way less stress.

The Pressure That Kills Performance

When I first started learning TIG welding, I had to test under a supervisor who made testing day a nightmare. Fail a test? You didn’t just go home empty-handed. You went home feeling like a failure. The pressure was brutal.

The fear of failing created a mental block. And if you’re anything like me, stress destroys your performance. All that practice? Gone the second the nerves hit. And trust me—you’re not alone.

Here’s the Game Changer

The biggest thing I’ve learned? If you fail… you can take the test again. Seriously. That’s it. That one truth changed how I saw everything.

Tests are just part of the process. Failing isn’t the end of your welding career. It’s a step in the right direction if you learn from it. Practice, recalibrate, and come back stronger.

Confidence is King

The more tests I took, especially through my apprenticeship, the more I realized something huge: the tests where I didn’t care as much, I passed. Not because I wasn’t prepared. But because I knew I had already put in the work.

I knew the material. I had practiced. I had experience. And when I stopped treating the test like some huge one-time thing and just did what I already knew how to do, I crushed it.

Keep It Loose, Keep It Real

On the jobsite, I was relaxed. Having fun. Confident. But come test day? I'd stiffen up, get serious, and start second guessing every move. So, I started changing the vibe.

Music on, loud. Shoulders down. No panic.

I once took one of the most important TIG welding tests of my career with Post Malone blasting in my earbuds. The tester thought I wasn’t taking it seriously. I was—more than ever. But I also knew what I needed to do to stay calm and stay sharp.

Practice Like It’s Real. Test Like It’s Practice.

All the pressure in the world won’t help you if you haven’t put in the reps. But if you have been practicing consistently and properly? You’re ready. Let the muscle memory take over.

This is the difference between walking in with fear and walking in with flow.

• Prepare your joints well

• Run mock tests under pressure

• Practice overhead, vertical, and tight positions like they matter

• Learn to control your headspace just as much as your torch angle

Because on test day, it’s not just your hands that get tested—it’s your mindset.

Takeaway: Don’t Make Test Day Different

If you take anything from this blog, let it be this:

Test day should feel like just another day welding.

If you want to dive deeper into TIG welding from the ground up—including stainless steel technique and foundational concepts—go check out this full lesson I posted on YouTube. It’s completely free.

Watch the episode here: Watch Now

And if you want to learn the actual systems that took me from failing tests to teaching them? Check out my full online TIG programs on the website. They’re built for welders who want real results, not fluff.

Go get it. Fill and chill.

—Dusty