ASWB Practice Exam – Social Work Licensing Study Guide (Comprehensive Exam Preparation
Material)
C - correct answer ✔✔Social workers should refer clients to other professionals in all of the
following instances EXCEPT when:
A. Professionals' specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to meet the clients' needs.
B. Social workers believe they are not being effective in addressing clients' concerns.
C. Professionals believe that other modalities of treatment may be more effective to resolve
clients' issues.
D. Social workers are not making reasonable progress in addressing clients' problems.
D - correct answer ✔✔A social worker is working with a second grade child who is having
trouble staying in her seat in the classroom. The social worker, in conjunction with the teacher,
indicates that the immediate objective is that the child "will remain seated after being reminded
to do so by the teacher while in the classroom." The social worker's supervisor, after reviewing
the objective, would judge it to be:
A. Adequate as it addresses the target problem
B. Inadequate as it puts too much responsibility on the teacher
C. Adequate since the teacher was involved in the process
D. Inadequate as it lacks some elements of a measurable objective
A - correct answer ✔✔A social worker may limit a client's self-determination when the clients'
actions:
A. Pose a serious and imminent risk to self or others according to the social worker's judgment.
B. Cause significant family dysfunction which threatens to impact on the psychological well-
being of its members.
C. Result in legal action such as arrests, fines, and/or civil penalties.
,D. Violate agency procedures and policies as established by the chief executive officer
A - correct answer ✔✔During assessment, partialization can be used by a social worker to assist
a client with all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Recognizing the next action to take when intervening in a situation
B. Helping to clarify the specific cause(s) of a problem
C. Identifying issues that need immediate attention
D. Distinguishing areas that require further inquiry
A - correct answer ✔✔According to Erikson, which of the following is seen as the last stage in
psychosocial development?
A. Ego integrity v. Despair
B. Trust v. Mistrust
C. Intimacy v. Isolation
D. Autonomy v. Shame and doubt
C - correct answer ✔✔Psychological abuse is MOST often detected by:
A. Confessions of perpetrators
B. Information supplied by collateral contacts
C. Behavioral characteristics of victims
D. Bruises or marks left by comorbid physical mistreatment
,D - correct answer ✔✔A client shows a social worker a list of reasons why she should and
should not leave her abusive husband. She says that she is preparing the list to see if the
benefits are greater than the risks. The client is basing her decision on which of the following
theories?
A. Systems
B. Functionalist
C. Harm reduction
D. Social exchange
D - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is TRUE about human trafficking?
A. Human trafficking involves sexual exploitation.
B. Victims of human trafficking are poor females.
C. Human trafficking occurs in all countries except the United States.
D. Human trafficking is not the same as human smuggling.
B - correct answer ✔✔Role complementarity occurs when:
A. An individual takes on a new role that is appreciated by another.
B. Two individuals act in an expected manner.
C. There is confusion in the role definition of an individual.
D. An individual successfully exits an existing role.
A - correct answer ✔✔A social worker needs to contact a client who has not shown up for
services in many weeks. He calls the number provided, only to get a household answering
, machine. The social worker leaves a simple message including his name, his agency name, and
his contact information. The social worker's actions were:
A. Unethical because members of the household are now aware of the client's affiliation with
the agency.
B. Ethical since the client provided the phone number upon intake.
C. Ethical as no details about the nature of the call were included in the message.
D. Unethical because the reason for the call should have been fully disclosed.
A - correct answer ✔✔Which is NOT a primary purpose of social work licensure?
A. Create parity with other helping professions to ensure that social workers receive comparable
compensation.
B. Identify standards for the safe professional practice of social work.
C. Ensure social workers have the knowledge and skills to practice competently.
D. Provide an avenue for investigating complaints and taking action to ensure continued safe
and professional practice
C - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is NOT typically part of the sensorimotor stage of
cognitive development?
A. Actions are imitative in nature.
Material)
C - correct answer ✔✔Social workers should refer clients to other professionals in all of the
following instances EXCEPT when:
A. Professionals' specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to meet the clients' needs.
B. Social workers believe they are not being effective in addressing clients' concerns.
C. Professionals believe that other modalities of treatment may be more effective to resolve
clients' issues.
D. Social workers are not making reasonable progress in addressing clients' problems.
D - correct answer ✔✔A social worker is working with a second grade child who is having
trouble staying in her seat in the classroom. The social worker, in conjunction with the teacher,
indicates that the immediate objective is that the child "will remain seated after being reminded
to do so by the teacher while in the classroom." The social worker's supervisor, after reviewing
the objective, would judge it to be:
A. Adequate as it addresses the target problem
B. Inadequate as it puts too much responsibility on the teacher
C. Adequate since the teacher was involved in the process
D. Inadequate as it lacks some elements of a measurable objective
A - correct answer ✔✔A social worker may limit a client's self-determination when the clients'
actions:
A. Pose a serious and imminent risk to self or others according to the social worker's judgment.
B. Cause significant family dysfunction which threatens to impact on the psychological well-
being of its members.
C. Result in legal action such as arrests, fines, and/or civil penalties.
,D. Violate agency procedures and policies as established by the chief executive officer
A - correct answer ✔✔During assessment, partialization can be used by a social worker to assist
a client with all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Recognizing the next action to take when intervening in a situation
B. Helping to clarify the specific cause(s) of a problem
C. Identifying issues that need immediate attention
D. Distinguishing areas that require further inquiry
A - correct answer ✔✔According to Erikson, which of the following is seen as the last stage in
psychosocial development?
A. Ego integrity v. Despair
B. Trust v. Mistrust
C. Intimacy v. Isolation
D. Autonomy v. Shame and doubt
C - correct answer ✔✔Psychological abuse is MOST often detected by:
A. Confessions of perpetrators
B. Information supplied by collateral contacts
C. Behavioral characteristics of victims
D. Bruises or marks left by comorbid physical mistreatment
,D - correct answer ✔✔A client shows a social worker a list of reasons why she should and
should not leave her abusive husband. She says that she is preparing the list to see if the
benefits are greater than the risks. The client is basing her decision on which of the following
theories?
A. Systems
B. Functionalist
C. Harm reduction
D. Social exchange
D - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is TRUE about human trafficking?
A. Human trafficking involves sexual exploitation.
B. Victims of human trafficking are poor females.
C. Human trafficking occurs in all countries except the United States.
D. Human trafficking is not the same as human smuggling.
B - correct answer ✔✔Role complementarity occurs when:
A. An individual takes on a new role that is appreciated by another.
B. Two individuals act in an expected manner.
C. There is confusion in the role definition of an individual.
D. An individual successfully exits an existing role.
A - correct answer ✔✔A social worker needs to contact a client who has not shown up for
services in many weeks. He calls the number provided, only to get a household answering
, machine. The social worker leaves a simple message including his name, his agency name, and
his contact information. The social worker's actions were:
A. Unethical because members of the household are now aware of the client's affiliation with
the agency.
B. Ethical since the client provided the phone number upon intake.
C. Ethical as no details about the nature of the call were included in the message.
D. Unethical because the reason for the call should have been fully disclosed.
A - correct answer ✔✔Which is NOT a primary purpose of social work licensure?
A. Create parity with other helping professions to ensure that social workers receive comparable
compensation.
B. Identify standards for the safe professional practice of social work.
C. Ensure social workers have the knowledge and skills to practice competently.
D. Provide an avenue for investigating complaints and taking action to ensure continued safe
and professional practice
C - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is NOT typically part of the sensorimotor stage of
cognitive development?
A. Actions are imitative in nature.
