ASWB LMSW EXAM 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
A social worker is asked to analyze new social welfare policies that will affect the
community. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Examine the likely impact of the policies on the community
B. Research the historical problems that led to the policies
C. Organize a grassreets coalition to diseuss reaction to the policies
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies
B. Research the historical problems that led to the policies
This item requires understanding of the basic steps in policy analysis. The social
worker must FIRST understand the historical background of the policy (key B)
before moving to the
analysis stage. Options (A), (C), and (D) are steps to take later in the process.
A client meets with a social worker at a crisis center. The client is living with a
sibling and shares that the sibling's boyfriend is threatening to force the client out
of the home. The client does not feel safe. What should the social worker do
FIRST?
A. Call the police for the client
B. Develop a safety plan
,C. Try to locate housing for the client
D. Determine the nature of the danger
D. Determine the nature of the danger
Before taking any action, the social worker should assess the situation FIRST (key
D). Options (A), (B), and (C) are all action steps that may be done later. Taking
action without
assessing the situation involves reaching conclusions without knowing the facts.
A social worker meets with a new client who is diagnosed with depression. The
social worker observes that the client is ambivalent, non-trusting, and passive.
What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Focus on directly engaging the client
B. Suggest a task to improve the client's mood
C. Encourage the elient to recall better times
D. Provide information about depression
A. Focus on directly engaging the client
Engaging the client (key A) is the only option that helps build rapport and supports
client self-determination. This should be done before taking additional steps such
as suggesting a
task to improve mood (B), encouraging recall of better times (C), and educating
about depression (D).
© Help
Diagnostic
,An adolescent who has diabetes is admitted to the hospital for the second time in
three weeks after significant changes to the client's insulin levels. The physician
believes that the adolescent is intentionally noncompliant with diabetes care and
wants to be admitted. The physician refers the patient to a social worker. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Contract with the adolescent to prevent readmission
B. Review the medical management plan with the adolescent
C. Notify local child protective services
D. Obtain a social and family history
D. Obtain a social and family history
The FIRST step for the social worker is to complete an assessment. Obtaining a
social and family history (key D) is the only action that involves understanding the
situation. Options
(A), (B), and (C) may be necessary later, depending on what is learned during the
assessment.
What client factor MOST likely determines the scope and focus of an assessment?
A. Needs of the client
B. Motivation of the client
C. Family systems
D. Social network
A. Needs of the client
, The needs of the client (key A) must determine the focus of the assessment. Family
systems (C) and social network (D) may be included in the assessment,
but they should not be the primary factor for the assessment. Motivation (B) is
more directly related to how the social worker would proceed in an intervention.
A social worker is contacted by a client whose initial complaint is depression. The
client reports symptoms of insomnia, headaches, inability to eat, vomiting, and
neck aches. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Obtain a detailed social history on the client
B. Probe for a substance abuse problem
C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation
C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation
The described physical symptoms suggest a potential medical issue, which
indicates the FIRST action is to obtain medical consultation (key C). Obtaining a
social history (A) and
assessing for a substance abuse problem (B) may also be done later. It is important
to FIRST rule out medical issues
A client who is depressed mentions plans for suicide to a social worker. Privacy
and confidentiality had been discussed early in the treatment process. The social
worker believes that the threat is serious. What should the social worker do
NEXT?
A. Respect the client's right to confidentiality
B. Consult with an agency supervisor
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
A social worker is asked to analyze new social welfare policies that will affect the
community. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Examine the likely impact of the policies on the community
B. Research the historical problems that led to the policies
C. Organize a grassreets coalition to diseuss reaction to the policies
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies
B. Research the historical problems that led to the policies
This item requires understanding of the basic steps in policy analysis. The social
worker must FIRST understand the historical background of the policy (key B)
before moving to the
analysis stage. Options (A), (C), and (D) are steps to take later in the process.
A client meets with a social worker at a crisis center. The client is living with a
sibling and shares that the sibling's boyfriend is threatening to force the client out
of the home. The client does not feel safe. What should the social worker do
FIRST?
A. Call the police for the client
B. Develop a safety plan
,C. Try to locate housing for the client
D. Determine the nature of the danger
D. Determine the nature of the danger
Before taking any action, the social worker should assess the situation FIRST (key
D). Options (A), (B), and (C) are all action steps that may be done later. Taking
action without
assessing the situation involves reaching conclusions without knowing the facts.
A social worker meets with a new client who is diagnosed with depression. The
social worker observes that the client is ambivalent, non-trusting, and passive.
What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Focus on directly engaging the client
B. Suggest a task to improve the client's mood
C. Encourage the elient to recall better times
D. Provide information about depression
A. Focus on directly engaging the client
Engaging the client (key A) is the only option that helps build rapport and supports
client self-determination. This should be done before taking additional steps such
as suggesting a
task to improve mood (B), encouraging recall of better times (C), and educating
about depression (D).
© Help
Diagnostic
,An adolescent who has diabetes is admitted to the hospital for the second time in
three weeks after significant changes to the client's insulin levels. The physician
believes that the adolescent is intentionally noncompliant with diabetes care and
wants to be admitted. The physician refers the patient to a social worker. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Contract with the adolescent to prevent readmission
B. Review the medical management plan with the adolescent
C. Notify local child protective services
D. Obtain a social and family history
D. Obtain a social and family history
The FIRST step for the social worker is to complete an assessment. Obtaining a
social and family history (key D) is the only action that involves understanding the
situation. Options
(A), (B), and (C) may be necessary later, depending on what is learned during the
assessment.
What client factor MOST likely determines the scope and focus of an assessment?
A. Needs of the client
B. Motivation of the client
C. Family systems
D. Social network
A. Needs of the client
, The needs of the client (key A) must determine the focus of the assessment. Family
systems (C) and social network (D) may be included in the assessment,
but they should not be the primary factor for the assessment. Motivation (B) is
more directly related to how the social worker would proceed in an intervention.
A social worker is contacted by a client whose initial complaint is depression. The
client reports symptoms of insomnia, headaches, inability to eat, vomiting, and
neck aches. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Obtain a detailed social history on the client
B. Probe for a substance abuse problem
C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation
C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation
The described physical symptoms suggest a potential medical issue, which
indicates the FIRST action is to obtain medical consultation (key C). Obtaining a
social history (A) and
assessing for a substance abuse problem (B) may also be done later. It is important
to FIRST rule out medical issues
A client who is depressed mentions plans for suicide to a social worker. Privacy
and confidentiality had been discussed early in the treatment process. The social
worker believes that the threat is serious. What should the social worker do
NEXT?
A. Respect the client's right to confidentiality
B. Consult with an agency supervisor
