ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A 12-year-old client who experienced severe neglect by biological parents during infancy is
brought to a social work agency for evaluation. According to records, the client lived with
several foster families before being adopted at the age of five. Despite receiving consistent
nurturance from the adoptive family, the client has failed to bond with them. Upon initial
assessment, a social worker notes that the client's inhibitions and ambivalence toward others
could indicate the presence of:
A. Rett syndrome
B. selective mutism
C. separation anxiety disorder
D. reactive attachment disorder - ✔✔✔-D. reactive attachment disorder
This item is a basic recall of the indicators of reactive attachment disorder (key D).
A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hygiene, sleeping in class,
and stealing food from the cafeteria. What should the social worker assess for FIRST?
A. A conduct disorder
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion - ✔✔✔-B. Child Neglect
The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of neglect. The social
worker should assess if the adolescent's basic needs are being met FIRST.
A 16-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker while being admitted to an inpatient
psychiatric facility. The adolescent reports alcohol use and sniffing paint on a daily basis. The
adolescent's family relationships are strained, and school performance is poor. In the process of
completing the assessment, what should the social worker recommend NEXT?
,ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A. Family sessions
B. One-to-one observation
C. Further psychological testing - ✔✔✔-C. Further psychological testing
Further psychological testing (key C) is warranted, given that the adolescent is being admitted to
an inpatient treatment facility. Testing is immediately available and is needed to further assess
the adolescent's condition. Family sessions (A) may be indicated after further testing.
Observation (B) is important, but the seriousness and types of abuse that are reported indicate
the need for further testing.
A 17-month-old child is placed in temporary foster care. Initially, the child cries vigorously,
struggles in the arms of the foster parent, and will not be comforted. After a day or two, the
child becomes increasingly quiet, withdrawn, and sad looking. This is followed by an increase in
activity, a decrease in crying, but little show of affect. The child's behavior can BEST be
understood in terms of which of the following theories?
A. Interpersonal
B. Attachment
C. Rational-emotive
D. Ego development - ✔✔✔-B. Attachment
This item requires knowledge of the components of attachment theory (key B). Interpersonal
(A), rational-emotive (C), and ego development (D) theories do not address attachment issues
such as those the child is experiencing.
A 21-year-old patient is approaching discharge from the hospital following a serious suicide
attempt. The social worker meets with him before discharge to assess his emotional state. He
will not answer any specific questions. The patient tells the social worker that he just needs to
get home. What should the social worker do NEXT?
,ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A. Provide the patient with suicide hotline and mental health resources
B. Contact the appropriate staff to explore involuntary commitment
C. Chart the conversation before approving the discharge plan
D. Explain to the patient the seriousness of the suicide attempt - ✔✔✔-B. Contact the
appropriate staff to explore involuntary commitment
Keeping in mind the protection and safety of the patient, exploring involuntary commitment
(key B) is the NEXT step. Given the described behaviors, this patient remains at high risk for
suicide. Providing community resources (A) is appropriate if the patient is not at risk and is
participating with the social worker. Documenting the conversation (C) does not focus on the
immediate safety concerns. Explaining the seriousness of the attempt to the patient (D) should
have occurred earlier in the patient's hospitalization.
A child protective services social worker meets with a parent who has allegedly been neglectful.
The parent talks about being overwhelmed by the needs of the child. The parent describes
having trouble sleeping because of the need to stay alert for messages from a favorite talk show
host. The parent also shares beliefs that the child's teacher is working against the parent. What
should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Refer the parent to a physician
B. Encourage the parent to discuss the anxiety
C. Initiate a mental status examination
D. Plan a collaborative meeting with the school - ✔✔✔-C. Initiate a mental status examination
Given the parent's descriptions of potential auditory hallucinations and possible paranoid
thinking, it is important for the social worker to assess what is occurring with the parent's
mental health by initiating a mental status exam (key C). A referral to a physician (A) or a
meeting with the school (D) may be warranted but are not the NEXT steps. Option (B) assumes
anxiety without a complete assessment.
, ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A client begins services with a social worker. The client has multiple problems, including
substance abuse and posttraumatic stress. The client recently became unemployed, and a close
friend died two weeks earlier. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Ask the client what is most troubling now
B. Refer the client for substance abuse treatment
C. Encourage the client to find employment
D. Begin client-centered bereavement counseling - ✔✔✔-A. Ask the client what is most
troubling now
Consulting with the client (key A) is the only option that supports client self-determination and
engagement. This should be done NEXT before taking additional steps. Making a
referral for substance abuse treatment (B), encouraging the client to find a job (C), and
beginning bereavement counseling (D) all draw conclusions before determining the client's
perspective.
A client informs a social worker that despite a court mandate the client does not intend to
attend future sessions. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Inform the client of the consequences of that decision
B. Advise the judge of the client's decision
C. Assist the client in identifying and clarifying goals - ✔✔✔-A. Inform the client of the
consequences of that decision
Clients have a right to make choices. Ensuring the client understands the consequences of the
choice (key A) is what should happen FIRST. Advising the judge of the client's decision
(B) and assisting in identifying and clarifying goals (C) may occur but would not be done FIRST.
Solved
A 12-year-old client who experienced severe neglect by biological parents during infancy is
brought to a social work agency for evaluation. According to records, the client lived with
several foster families before being adopted at the age of five. Despite receiving consistent
nurturance from the adoptive family, the client has failed to bond with them. Upon initial
assessment, a social worker notes that the client's inhibitions and ambivalence toward others
could indicate the presence of:
A. Rett syndrome
B. selective mutism
C. separation anxiety disorder
D. reactive attachment disorder - ✔✔✔-D. reactive attachment disorder
This item is a basic recall of the indicators of reactive attachment disorder (key D).
A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hygiene, sleeping in class,
and stealing food from the cafeteria. What should the social worker assess for FIRST?
A. A conduct disorder
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion - ✔✔✔-B. Child Neglect
The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of neglect. The social
worker should assess if the adolescent's basic needs are being met FIRST.
A 16-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker while being admitted to an inpatient
psychiatric facility. The adolescent reports alcohol use and sniffing paint on a daily basis. The
adolescent's family relationships are strained, and school performance is poor. In the process of
completing the assessment, what should the social worker recommend NEXT?
,ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A. Family sessions
B. One-to-one observation
C. Further psychological testing - ✔✔✔-C. Further psychological testing
Further psychological testing (key C) is warranted, given that the adolescent is being admitted to
an inpatient treatment facility. Testing is immediately available and is needed to further assess
the adolescent's condition. Family sessions (A) may be indicated after further testing.
Observation (B) is important, but the seriousness and types of abuse that are reported indicate
the need for further testing.
A 17-month-old child is placed in temporary foster care. Initially, the child cries vigorously,
struggles in the arms of the foster parent, and will not be comforted. After a day or two, the
child becomes increasingly quiet, withdrawn, and sad looking. This is followed by an increase in
activity, a decrease in crying, but little show of affect. The child's behavior can BEST be
understood in terms of which of the following theories?
A. Interpersonal
B. Attachment
C. Rational-emotive
D. Ego development - ✔✔✔-B. Attachment
This item requires knowledge of the components of attachment theory (key B). Interpersonal
(A), rational-emotive (C), and ego development (D) theories do not address attachment issues
such as those the child is experiencing.
A 21-year-old patient is approaching discharge from the hospital following a serious suicide
attempt. The social worker meets with him before discharge to assess his emotional state. He
will not answer any specific questions. The patient tells the social worker that he just needs to
get home. What should the social worker do NEXT?
,ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A. Provide the patient with suicide hotline and mental health resources
B. Contact the appropriate staff to explore involuntary commitment
C. Chart the conversation before approving the discharge plan
D. Explain to the patient the seriousness of the suicide attempt - ✔✔✔-B. Contact the
appropriate staff to explore involuntary commitment
Keeping in mind the protection and safety of the patient, exploring involuntary commitment
(key B) is the NEXT step. Given the described behaviors, this patient remains at high risk for
suicide. Providing community resources (A) is appropriate if the patient is not at risk and is
participating with the social worker. Documenting the conversation (C) does not focus on the
immediate safety concerns. Explaining the seriousness of the attempt to the patient (D) should
have occurred earlier in the patient's hospitalization.
A child protective services social worker meets with a parent who has allegedly been neglectful.
The parent talks about being overwhelmed by the needs of the child. The parent describes
having trouble sleeping because of the need to stay alert for messages from a favorite talk show
host. The parent also shares beliefs that the child's teacher is working against the parent. What
should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Refer the parent to a physician
B. Encourage the parent to discuss the anxiety
C. Initiate a mental status examination
D. Plan a collaborative meeting with the school - ✔✔✔-C. Initiate a mental status examination
Given the parent's descriptions of potential auditory hallucinations and possible paranoid
thinking, it is important for the social worker to assess what is occurring with the parent's
mental health by initiating a mental status exam (key C). A referral to a physician (A) or a
meeting with the school (D) may be warranted but are not the NEXT steps. Option (B) assumes
anxiety without a complete assessment.
, ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2024 Review with Questions and Answers – 100%
Solved
A client begins services with a social worker. The client has multiple problems, including
substance abuse and posttraumatic stress. The client recently became unemployed, and a close
friend died two weeks earlier. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Ask the client what is most troubling now
B. Refer the client for substance abuse treatment
C. Encourage the client to find employment
D. Begin client-centered bereavement counseling - ✔✔✔-A. Ask the client what is most
troubling now
Consulting with the client (key A) is the only option that supports client self-determination and
engagement. This should be done NEXT before taking additional steps. Making a
referral for substance abuse treatment (B), encouraging the client to find a job (C), and
beginning bereavement counseling (D) all draw conclusions before determining the client's
perspective.
A client informs a social worker that despite a court mandate the client does not intend to
attend future sessions. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Inform the client of the consequences of that decision
B. Advise the judge of the client's decision
C. Assist the client in identifying and clarifying goals - ✔✔✔-A. Inform the client of the
consequences of that decision
Clients have a right to make choices. Ensuring the client understands the consequences of the
choice (key A) is what should happen FIRST. Advising the judge of the client's decision
(B) and assisting in identifying and clarifying goals (C) may occur but would not be done FIRST.
