MSW PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
a SW is interested in the social cohesion of a particular community.
what should the SW assess for FIRST?
a. rate of unemployment
b. level of trust in neighborhood
c. high school graduation rate
d. social mobility within neighborhoods - ANSWERS-b. level of trust
in neighborhoods
a client who experienced severe neglect by his biological parents
during infancy is brought to SW agency for eval. according to
records, the client lived with several foster families before being
adopted at the age of 5. despite receiving consistent nurturance from
his adoptive family, the client has failed to bond them. upon initial
assessment, a SW notes that the client's inhibitions and ambivalence
towards others could indicate the presence of
a. rett syndrome
b. selective mutism
c. separation anxiety disorder
d. reactive attachment disorder - ANSWERS-d. reactive attachment
disorder
,a SW provides services to a client at a mental health agency. the client
dies suddenly. the client's family asks the SW for client's records.
what should the SW do NEXT?
a. consult with a colleague at the agency
b. refuse the family's request for records
c. determine the jurisdictional mandates about release of records
d. offer to meet with the family to help them with their loss -
ANSWERS-c. determine the jurisdictional mandates about release of
records
a hospice SW makes a home visit to a client who is becoming
increasingly angry at this wife, who is his primary caregiver. the client
is observed yelling and throwing books. what should the SW do first
during home visit?
a. refer the wife to a caregiver support group
b. assess the potential for further violence
c. instruct the wife to remove lethal means
d. evaluate home safety for hospice team members - ANSWERS-b.
assess the potential for further violence
A mother brings her 4 year old boy to clinic following referral by his
pediatrician. he is aggressive with his mother and peers and has poor
language skills. what should the SW do FIRST?
a. recommend firmer discipline
b. explore how the child is disciplined
c. begin a behavioral program
, d. refer the child to speech therapy - ANSWERS-b. explore how the
child is disciplined
in a couples therapy session, the husband says that he expects his wife
to take care of the household, because thats what his mother did. the
wife exhibits frustration. the SW assists the couple understanding
their functioning as a unit. what framework is the SW most likely
using?
a. structural family
b. self-psychology
c. solution-focused
d. psychoanalytic - ANSWERS-a. structural family
a SW meets with a new client who was recently reunited with the
spouse, who is an injured solider. the client is struggling with assisting
the spouse to cope with the injury, but the spouse responds with
irritation. what should the SW do FIRST?
a. avoid the topic of injury
b. talk with the client about the situation
c. ask to meet with the spouse to assist with reintegration
d. refer the client and spouse for marital counseling - ANSWERS-b.
talk with the client about the situation
A SW who works in an assisted living facility meets with a resident
prior to a family meeting. the resident says that his daughter is upset
about this new romantic relationship. what is MOST important for the
SW to consider when planning the meeting?
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
a SW is interested in the social cohesion of a particular community.
what should the SW assess for FIRST?
a. rate of unemployment
b. level of trust in neighborhood
c. high school graduation rate
d. social mobility within neighborhoods - ANSWERS-b. level of trust
in neighborhoods
a client who experienced severe neglect by his biological parents
during infancy is brought to SW agency for eval. according to
records, the client lived with several foster families before being
adopted at the age of 5. despite receiving consistent nurturance from
his adoptive family, the client has failed to bond them. upon initial
assessment, a SW notes that the client's inhibitions and ambivalence
towards others could indicate the presence of
a. rett syndrome
b. selective mutism
c. separation anxiety disorder
d. reactive attachment disorder - ANSWERS-d. reactive attachment
disorder
,a SW provides services to a client at a mental health agency. the client
dies suddenly. the client's family asks the SW for client's records.
what should the SW do NEXT?
a. consult with a colleague at the agency
b. refuse the family's request for records
c. determine the jurisdictional mandates about release of records
d. offer to meet with the family to help them with their loss -
ANSWERS-c. determine the jurisdictional mandates about release of
records
a hospice SW makes a home visit to a client who is becoming
increasingly angry at this wife, who is his primary caregiver. the client
is observed yelling and throwing books. what should the SW do first
during home visit?
a. refer the wife to a caregiver support group
b. assess the potential for further violence
c. instruct the wife to remove lethal means
d. evaluate home safety for hospice team members - ANSWERS-b.
assess the potential for further violence
A mother brings her 4 year old boy to clinic following referral by his
pediatrician. he is aggressive with his mother and peers and has poor
language skills. what should the SW do FIRST?
a. recommend firmer discipline
b. explore how the child is disciplined
c. begin a behavioral program
, d. refer the child to speech therapy - ANSWERS-b. explore how the
child is disciplined
in a couples therapy session, the husband says that he expects his wife
to take care of the household, because thats what his mother did. the
wife exhibits frustration. the SW assists the couple understanding
their functioning as a unit. what framework is the SW most likely
using?
a. structural family
b. self-psychology
c. solution-focused
d. psychoanalytic - ANSWERS-a. structural family
a SW meets with a new client who was recently reunited with the
spouse, who is an injured solider. the client is struggling with assisting
the spouse to cope with the injury, but the spouse responds with
irritation. what should the SW do FIRST?
a. avoid the topic of injury
b. talk with the client about the situation
c. ask to meet with the spouse to assist with reintegration
d. refer the client and spouse for marital counseling - ANSWERS-b.
talk with the client about the situation
A SW who works in an assisted living facility meets with a resident
prior to a family meeting. the resident says that his daughter is upset
about this new romantic relationship. what is MOST important for the
SW to consider when planning the meeting?
