ASWB LMSW PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
A social worker employed by a retirement home is approached by a client for help in
establishing a recycling program in the facility. The social worker decides to cohost a
meeting with the client to discuss the idea with other residents. What is the MOST likely
reason for this approach?
A. Antagonizing administration could be dangerous.
B. Legitimizing the residents' concerns may be helpful.
C. Helping residents start new relationships is important.
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups. - Answer -D. Legitimizing the
residents' concerns may be helpful.
By sharing leadership with the resident (key D), the social worker is supporting the
resident's skill development as well as promoting positive group dynamics. Options (A)
and (B)
draw conclusions without substantiated information. While the potential for beginning
new relationships (C) exists, it is not the MOST likely reason for the co-facilitation.
At what age is separation anxiety MOST likely to occur?
A. 24 months
B. 12 months
C. 3 months - Answer -B. 12 months
This item requires basic recall that separation anxiety is most typical around the age of
12 months (key B).
A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker. What
long-term effect should the social worker be MOST concerned about as the child gets
older?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Social anxiety in middle age
C. High bleed pressure
D. Negative social interactions with peers - Answer -D. Negative social interactions with
peers
The MOST strongly linked long-term effect of insecure attachment is future negative
social interactions with peers (key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are not
directly linked to attachment difficulties.
,Before taking action, the social worker should acknowledge and validate the parents'
concerns and explore the events and emotions that have led to these
concerns (key B). Advocating that the child stay at home (A) is not supported by the
physician's recommendation. Although the social worker may eventually want to obtain
the child's perspective (C), this would not be the NEXT step. There are no indications of
family dysfunction that would warrant family therapy (D).
A social worker begins a job at a psychiatric hospital and is assigned a caseload. One
of the clients is a former intimate partner. The social worker and client have not had any
contact for several years. What should the social worker do?
A. Process the issue with the client
B. Deny the relationship occurred
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department - Answer -C. Transfer the client to a
colleague
To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social worker should transfer the
client to another social worker (key C). Processing the issue with the client (A) is not
going to
resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of the past relationship (B) is
unethical. Asking for a transfer to another department (D) avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has questions
about the effects on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that cocaine use could
harm the fetus. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
B. Refer the case for possible criminal prosecution
C. Inform the client that the drug use will be reported to child protective services
D. Ask the client's health care provider to drug test the client - Answer -A. Offer
substance abuse treatment options to the client
Offering treatment options (key A) to the client supports client self-determination and
choice. Options (B), (C), and (D) are all restrictive and breach client confidentiality.
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 - Answer -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 - Answer -D. Determine the nature of the danger
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 - Answer -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 school social worker meets with parents of a child who has recently completed
treatment for cancer. The child's physician is recommending that the child return to
school as soon as possible, but the parents believe that more time at home would be
beneficial. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Advocate for the parents to keep the child at home
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' beliefs
C. Obtain the child's perspective on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy - Answer -B. Explore the reasons for
the parents' beliefs
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 - Answer -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 - Answer -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 - Answer -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?
ANSWERS
A social worker employed by a retirement home is approached by a client for help in
establishing a recycling program in the facility. The social worker decides to cohost a
meeting with the client to discuss the idea with other residents. What is the MOST likely
reason for this approach?
A. Antagonizing administration could be dangerous.
B. Legitimizing the residents' concerns may be helpful.
C. Helping residents start new relationships is important.
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups. - Answer -D. Legitimizing the
residents' concerns may be helpful.
By sharing leadership with the resident (key D), the social worker is supporting the
resident's skill development as well as promoting positive group dynamics. Options (A)
and (B)
draw conclusions without substantiated information. While the potential for beginning
new relationships (C) exists, it is not the MOST likely reason for the co-facilitation.
At what age is separation anxiety MOST likely to occur?
A. 24 months
B. 12 months
C. 3 months - Answer -B. 12 months
This item requires basic recall that separation anxiety is most typical around the age of
12 months (key B).
A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker. What
long-term effect should the social worker be MOST concerned about as the child gets
older?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Social anxiety in middle age
C. High bleed pressure
D. Negative social interactions with peers - Answer -D. Negative social interactions with
peers
The MOST strongly linked long-term effect of insecure attachment is future negative
social interactions with peers (key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are not
directly linked to attachment difficulties.
,Before taking action, the social worker should acknowledge and validate the parents'
concerns and explore the events and emotions that have led to these
concerns (key B). Advocating that the child stay at home (A) is not supported by the
physician's recommendation. Although the social worker may eventually want to obtain
the child's perspective (C), this would not be the NEXT step. There are no indications of
family dysfunction that would warrant family therapy (D).
A social worker begins a job at a psychiatric hospital and is assigned a caseload. One
of the clients is a former intimate partner. The social worker and client have not had any
contact for several years. What should the social worker do?
A. Process the issue with the client
B. Deny the relationship occurred
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department - Answer -C. Transfer the client to a
colleague
To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social worker should transfer the
client to another social worker (key C). Processing the issue with the client (A) is not
going to
resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of the past relationship (B) is
unethical. Asking for a transfer to another department (D) avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has questions
about the effects on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that cocaine use could
harm the fetus. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
B. Refer the case for possible criminal prosecution
C. Inform the client that the drug use will be reported to child protective services
D. Ask the client's health care provider to drug test the client - Answer -A. Offer
substance abuse treatment options to the client
Offering treatment options (key A) to the client supports client self-determination and
choice. Options (B), (C), and (D) are all restrictive and breach client confidentiality.
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 - Answer -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 - Answer -D. Determine the nature of the danger
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 - Answer -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 school social worker meets with parents of a child who has recently completed
treatment for cancer. The child's physician is recommending that the child return to
school as soon as possible, but the parents believe that more time at home would be
beneficial. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Advocate for the parents to keep the child at home
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' beliefs
C. Obtain the child's perspective on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy - Answer -B. Explore the reasons for
the parents' beliefs
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 - Answer -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 - Answer -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 - Answer -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?
