ASWB BSW |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their
baby. The infant has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child
be allowed to die. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Report the case to child protective services due to the at-risk nature of the situation
B. Offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
C. Encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
D. Perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors
CORRECT ANSWER
D: This is a question that is directed toward one of the basic principles of social work—
starting where the client is. The word "FIRST" is really important in the ASWB examinations.
In this case, the social worker must first of all understand how the couple perceives the
situation, before proceeding to any of the other steps. To do this, he or she must begin by
not only finding out but discussing with the couple why they feel as they do. The social
worker needs to know their degree of acculturation and education, as well as how the
situation would be handled in their country of origin. There are similar circumstances in
which option (A) might be a possibility, since protection of the child might be paramount if
the situation was not being closely monitored. In this case, the child is hospitalized and not
immediately at-risk.
Question 2
To decrease the frequency and duration of "acting out" in the classroom, what is a social
worker who follows a behavioral perspective MOST likely to suggest?
A. Contracting
B. Positive reinforcement
C. Counseling
1
,D. Punishment
CORRECT ANSWER
B: Option (B) is the best approach from a behavioral perspective because it highlights
positive behaviors in the classroom in order to make a change. Option (C) is not associated
with the behavioral perspective. (D) is incorrect because punishment is a more coercive
intervention and not likely to be used in trying to create positive behavioral change.
Question 3
An adolescent belongs to the high school academic society but rarely attends meetings or
volunteers for projects. For the student, this club represents what kind of group?
A. Natural
B. Task
C. Primary
D. Reference
CORRECT ANSWER
D: This is a recall question; the definition of a reference group, option (D), is that it is a social
status or culture group. A task group, (B), has explicit goals as its purpose; a primary group
(C) indicates intimate, frequent face-to-face contact, and a natural group is usually an
informal network that provides support of some kind.
Question 4
A social worker receives a call from a client who is receiving services at the agency. The
client says that she just received a phone call from her estranged husband. The client
states that her husband sounded drunk and told her that he was coming to punish their
child for low grades. What should the social worker recommend that the client do FIRST?
A. Remove herself and the child from the home
B. Call Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon for assistance
C. Ask the police for protection
D. Send the child to a neighbor's house
2
, CORRECT ANSWER
A. This is a complex situation, but the question actually put forth is answered easily by the
principle of safety first. It is important to determine exactly what is being asked rather than
thinking beyond the question.
Question 5
Cumulative social losses experienced by a person in the aging process MOST OFTEN lead to
which condition?
A. Alzheimer's disease
B. Senescence
C. Depression
D. Age-related cognitive decline
CORRECT ANSWER
C: This item requires recalling the physical, cognitive, and emotional changes which
frequently accompany the aging process. Options (A) and (B) refer to physical changes which
involve various losses. Option (D) refers to decreasing cognitive abilities, rather than social
losses. Option (C) would be the only correct answer.
Question 6
To establish an effective cross-cultural helping relationship, what should the social worker
do FIRST?
A. Learn about the uniqueness of the client's culture
B. Acknowledge the social worker's own stereotypes and biases
C. Develop communication skills consistent with the client's culture
D. Recognize the differences between society's expectations and the client's
CORRECT ANSWER
B: In any cross-cultural work, the social worker must begin by examining the knowledge,
assumptions, and biases he or she may be bringing to the interactions (B). Other actions
3
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their
baby. The infant has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child
be allowed to die. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Report the case to child protective services due to the at-risk nature of the situation
B. Offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
C. Encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
D. Perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors
CORRECT ANSWER
D: This is a question that is directed toward one of the basic principles of social work—
starting where the client is. The word "FIRST" is really important in the ASWB examinations.
In this case, the social worker must first of all understand how the couple perceives the
situation, before proceeding to any of the other steps. To do this, he or she must begin by
not only finding out but discussing with the couple why they feel as they do. The social
worker needs to know their degree of acculturation and education, as well as how the
situation would be handled in their country of origin. There are similar circumstances in
which option (A) might be a possibility, since protection of the child might be paramount if
the situation was not being closely monitored. In this case, the child is hospitalized and not
immediately at-risk.
Question 2
To decrease the frequency and duration of "acting out" in the classroom, what is a social
worker who follows a behavioral perspective MOST likely to suggest?
A. Contracting
B. Positive reinforcement
C. Counseling
1
,D. Punishment
CORRECT ANSWER
B: Option (B) is the best approach from a behavioral perspective because it highlights
positive behaviors in the classroom in order to make a change. Option (C) is not associated
with the behavioral perspective. (D) is incorrect because punishment is a more coercive
intervention and not likely to be used in trying to create positive behavioral change.
Question 3
An adolescent belongs to the high school academic society but rarely attends meetings or
volunteers for projects. For the student, this club represents what kind of group?
A. Natural
B. Task
C. Primary
D. Reference
CORRECT ANSWER
D: This is a recall question; the definition of a reference group, option (D), is that it is a social
status or culture group. A task group, (B), has explicit goals as its purpose; a primary group
(C) indicates intimate, frequent face-to-face contact, and a natural group is usually an
informal network that provides support of some kind.
Question 4
A social worker receives a call from a client who is receiving services at the agency. The
client says that she just received a phone call from her estranged husband. The client
states that her husband sounded drunk and told her that he was coming to punish their
child for low grades. What should the social worker recommend that the client do FIRST?
A. Remove herself and the child from the home
B. Call Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon for assistance
C. Ask the police for protection
D. Send the child to a neighbor's house
2
, CORRECT ANSWER
A. This is a complex situation, but the question actually put forth is answered easily by the
principle of safety first. It is important to determine exactly what is being asked rather than
thinking beyond the question.
Question 5
Cumulative social losses experienced by a person in the aging process MOST OFTEN lead to
which condition?
A. Alzheimer's disease
B. Senescence
C. Depression
D. Age-related cognitive decline
CORRECT ANSWER
C: This item requires recalling the physical, cognitive, and emotional changes which
frequently accompany the aging process. Options (A) and (B) refer to physical changes which
involve various losses. Option (D) refers to decreasing cognitive abilities, rather than social
losses. Option (C) would be the only correct answer.
Question 6
To establish an effective cross-cultural helping relationship, what should the social worker
do FIRST?
A. Learn about the uniqueness of the client's culture
B. Acknowledge the social worker's own stereotypes and biases
C. Develop communication skills consistent with the client's culture
D. Recognize the differences between society's expectations and the client's
CORRECT ANSWER
B: In any cross-cultural work, the social worker must begin by examining the knowledge,
assumptions, and biases he or she may be bringing to the interactions (B). Other actions
3
