Frequently Asked Questions
Is CADsmart independent?
Yes. We do not provide or sell CAD training or recruitment services and therefore our software and systems provide a completely impartial view on the performance of your team.
Are you a software company or a consultancy?
We are a software company - we produce and sell the CADsmart CAD Skills Assessment software (and its associated online systems), currently the only automated, interactive CAD skills assessment software available.
My currency is not listed; how much does CADsmart cost?
We have customers all over the world, and enquiries from any country are welcome. If your currency is not listed on our pricing page, please calculate your price using $USD.
What do I need to run CADsmart's software?
To use the CADsmart Skills Assessment software you need a Windows PC (XP, Vista) with an internet connection and a fully working copy of AutoCAD 2006 - 2010, MicroStation V8 2004, V8 XM Edition, or V8i. Many of our customers run our software on products such as Architectural Desktop (now AutoCAD Architecture), Civil 3D and Building Systems (now AutoCAD MEP) with no problems, although we still recommend straight AutoCAD and straight MicroStation. The Revit Architecture skills assessment runs on Revit Architecture 2009 and 2010, 32 bit and 64 bit.
What support is available?
Our support team have a target response time of 4 UK business hours. International support may take up to 7 UK business hours for a response, but is typically much quicker. Support issues are raised and managed by using our numbered Support Ticket System in the Customer Login area.
When will your software be compatible with Inventor / SolidWorks / platform x?
We intend to produce assessment software for more CAD & BIM Products, and we have a development roadmap. This is subject to change due to factors such as resource, market forces, demand, and technical constraints.
Does CADsmart work with AutoCAD LT?
No - due to LT licensing restrictions this functionality is not available. Some of our customers are entirely LT-based, but they have bought a single AutoCAD license to run CADsmart for assessing their teams. CADsmart will run on a trial version of AutoCAD.
Does the CADsmart software affect my CAD set up?
No - the CADsmart Skills Assessment software sits on top of your AutoCAD or MicroStation software without affecting any aspect of your current setup. The Revit assessment can be found in the external tools menu of your Revit software, and again doesn't affect your setup.
Can I still configure my CAD software to be set up according to personal preference?
Yes - you can change the settings and user interface so that you are comfortable with the appearance of your CAD software.
Does a candidate have to answer a question in the 'correct' way to score well?
No. Our software looks for an accurate end drawing, and the candidate can use whatever tool or technique he/she sees fit, as long as the end result is accurate. Of course, if the candidate chooses inefficient ways of acheiving the desired result, this will be apparent in the time it takes for them to complete an assessment.
What is the average score and time for a basic 2D assessment?
62% in just over 75 mins for Premier.
Is there more than one assessment?
There is a library of CAD exercises available, which is regularly updated and expanded. Each candidate sits an assessment with a randomly generated set of 10 exercises. For our AutoCAD & MicroStation libraries, there is less than a 1 in 59,000 chance that a person will be presented with the exact same set of exercises twice.
Do you have a shorter assessment for interviews?
Yes. We developed CADsmart Xpress specifically for firms who want to assess CAD skills at interview, typically in 20 minutes or less, for an 'average' user. Xpress covers basic AutoCAD & MicroStation skills. We will periodically update the question libraries over time.
How many times can someone take a CADsmart Skills Assessment?
Individuals or candidates only have access to the CADsmart Skills Assessment software through CADsmart account holders - their managers or potential employers. There is no limit to the number of times an individual can be assessed. The number of previous assessments a candidate has taken is recorded and is presented with a candidate's result only to potential employers.
Do you assess advanced CAD skills?
Currently our software focuses on the basics of 2D CAD (AutoCAD & MicroStation) and basic Revit Architecture skills. We will shortly be releasing assessments which cover more BIM tools, such as Revit Structure & MEP. We also plan to release modules for Bentley Architecture and Bentley Structural products in the near future. A 3D library for MicroStation is also planned.
How do you compile your questions?
We keep in close contact with a network of highly experienced CAD managers, trainers and consultants. They advise us on question content.
Is CADsmart industry specific?
Our questions currently lean towards the AEC sector, but are clearly focused on the candidate's ability to use the CAD software, and not to understand industry-specific jargon.
Can I add my own questions?
Yes! We offer a 'custom' service, whereby customers can develop questions which are unique to their practice. The results from custom libraries do not populate the overall CAD benchmark data. Some practices may wish to add industry discipline specific questions, i.e. Rail, Civil, Structural, Architectural, etc. Some wish to make the assessments more relevant to their own particular CAD setup or configuration. Others may wish to assess their in-house CAD Standards. Please contact us if you wish to discuss your own specific requirements.