ASWB Practice Exam Questions and
Answers
1. 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.: C
2. 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
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,C. Adequate since the teacher was involved in the process
D. Inadequate as it lacks some elements of a measurable objective:
D
3. 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
4. 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
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,5. 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: A
6. 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: C
7. 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
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, D. Social exchange: D
8. 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.: D
9. 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.: B
10. 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 answer-ing 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.
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Answers
1. 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.: C
2. 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
1/
97
,C. Adequate since the teacher was involved in the process
D. Inadequate as it lacks some elements of a measurable objective:
D
3. 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
4. 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
2/
97
,5. 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: A
6. 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: C
7. 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
3/
97
, D. Social exchange: D
8. 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.: D
9. 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.: B
10. 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 answer-ing 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.
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97
