ASWB LMSW Exam Prep Questions and
Answers
1. A 13-year-old male is referred to the social worker by a teacher. The
student struggles with personal hygiene, getting to school on
time, rarely turns in homework, and is constantly falling asleep.
What should the social worker assess for FIRST?
A. Child abuse
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Level of motivation: B. Child neglect
RATIONALE: Signs of child neglect may include: Consistently poor hygiene, poor sleep habits, lack of
appropriate clothing for weather or season, frequently unsupervised, left alone or allowed to play in
unsafe situations, and lack of needed medical or dental care. The stated signs indicate an assessment
for neglect is needed.
2. The classic features of depression include all of the following
except?
A. Significant weight loss or weight gain
B. Fatigue or loss of energy reported on most days
C. Longer periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when
waking
,D. Loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable: C.
Longer periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when waking
RATIONALE: Longer periods of deep sleep with the inability to regain energy MAY be a symptom of
depression. However, it is not a classic feature because some people may experience sleep
disturbances that cause hypersomnia (excessive tiredness) OR insomnia (difficulty sleeping). The other
answer choices are "classic" depression symptoms included in DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.
3. A new social worker at a Head Start program has been assigned to
work with
an African American woman and her two young children. The social
worker is a white female from a rural town who has never worked
with an African American client. The social worker feels unsure of
her abilities to connect and provide services to this client. In order
to build cultural competence, the social worker should FIRST?
A. Explore her own self-identity and how her beliefs may affect the
therapeutic relationship
B. Obtain literature on best practices for working with diverse clients
Identify cultural norms that may help her connect with the client
D. Ask the social work supervisor to co-treat the family: A. Explore her own
self-identity and how her beliefs may attect the therapeutic relationship
RATIONALE: Cultural competence is the ability to comprehend, interact, and communicate with
individuals regardless of their cultural background. Cultural competency starts with an awareness of
one's own cultural views. The social worker needs to explore her self-identity to determine where
,areas of need may lie.
4. You are volunteering to work on a crisis hotline. You receive an
anonymous
call and the caller discloses his wife has made threatening
comments and he is worried she may have a plan to commit suicide.
As you are taking down the information you realize that this man's wife
is your client. Ethically speaking, what is the best course of action?
A. Hang up. Taking the call would be a conflict of interest
B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of his wife
C. Tell the caller you are his wife's therapist and ask to speak to
the wife directly
D. Continue the call and collect information about the wife so you
can bring it up in your next therapy session.: B. Suggest ways the caller can help
protect the safety of his wife
RATIONALE: Answers C and D would violate the ethical principle of confidentiality. Answer A is not
appropriate as we would never hang up on a client in crisis. B is the most appropriate answer as it
provides safety planning support for the client
5. Which of the following is the MOST important benefit of
community partic-
ipation in social work practice?
A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the
, community members
B. It shows politicians that individuals want to get involved and need
change in their communities
C. It informs community members about the work that needs to be
done to create change
D.It helps manage workload to be divided up amongst community
members-
: A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the community members
RATIONALE: When community members are involved in the decisions of their community, they will be
empowered to make lasting changes. When working in communities it is essential that social workers
work WITH community members and respect their involvement in the decision-making process.
6. A family who has just immigrated to the United States from Mexico
comes to
the hospital for medical care for their son. He repeatedly has
stomach pains and headaches and they are worried something
more serious may be going on. In the intake with the parents, the
social worker determines that they have previously tried taking the
son to a local spiritual healer but he still continues to get sick. What
would be the BEST course of action for the social worker to take?
A. Report the family to CPS for medical neglect
B. Explain to the family that it is not acceptable in the US to go to
spiritual healers
C. Acknowledge the family's concerns and explain to them what will
Answers
1. A 13-year-old male is referred to the social worker by a teacher. The
student struggles with personal hygiene, getting to school on
time, rarely turns in homework, and is constantly falling asleep.
What should the social worker assess for FIRST?
A. Child abuse
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Level of motivation: B. Child neglect
RATIONALE: Signs of child neglect may include: Consistently poor hygiene, poor sleep habits, lack of
appropriate clothing for weather or season, frequently unsupervised, left alone or allowed to play in
unsafe situations, and lack of needed medical or dental care. The stated signs indicate an assessment
for neglect is needed.
2. The classic features of depression include all of the following
except?
A. Significant weight loss or weight gain
B. Fatigue or loss of energy reported on most days
C. Longer periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when
waking
,D. Loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable: C.
Longer periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when waking
RATIONALE: Longer periods of deep sleep with the inability to regain energy MAY be a symptom of
depression. However, it is not a classic feature because some people may experience sleep
disturbances that cause hypersomnia (excessive tiredness) OR insomnia (difficulty sleeping). The other
answer choices are "classic" depression symptoms included in DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.
3. A new social worker at a Head Start program has been assigned to
work with
an African American woman and her two young children. The social
worker is a white female from a rural town who has never worked
with an African American client. The social worker feels unsure of
her abilities to connect and provide services to this client. In order
to build cultural competence, the social worker should FIRST?
A. Explore her own self-identity and how her beliefs may affect the
therapeutic relationship
B. Obtain literature on best practices for working with diverse clients
Identify cultural norms that may help her connect with the client
D. Ask the social work supervisor to co-treat the family: A. Explore her own
self-identity and how her beliefs may attect the therapeutic relationship
RATIONALE: Cultural competence is the ability to comprehend, interact, and communicate with
individuals regardless of their cultural background. Cultural competency starts with an awareness of
one's own cultural views. The social worker needs to explore her self-identity to determine where
,areas of need may lie.
4. You are volunteering to work on a crisis hotline. You receive an
anonymous
call and the caller discloses his wife has made threatening
comments and he is worried she may have a plan to commit suicide.
As you are taking down the information you realize that this man's wife
is your client. Ethically speaking, what is the best course of action?
A. Hang up. Taking the call would be a conflict of interest
B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of his wife
C. Tell the caller you are his wife's therapist and ask to speak to
the wife directly
D. Continue the call and collect information about the wife so you
can bring it up in your next therapy session.: B. Suggest ways the caller can help
protect the safety of his wife
RATIONALE: Answers C and D would violate the ethical principle of confidentiality. Answer A is not
appropriate as we would never hang up on a client in crisis. B is the most appropriate answer as it
provides safety planning support for the client
5. Which of the following is the MOST important benefit of
community partic-
ipation in social work practice?
A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the
, community members
B. It shows politicians that individuals want to get involved and need
change in their communities
C. It informs community members about the work that needs to be
done to create change
D.It helps manage workload to be divided up amongst community
members-
: A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the community members
RATIONALE: When community members are involved in the decisions of their community, they will be
empowered to make lasting changes. When working in communities it is essential that social workers
work WITH community members and respect their involvement in the decision-making process.
6. A family who has just immigrated to the United States from Mexico
comes to
the hospital for medical care for their son. He repeatedly has
stomach pains and headaches and they are worried something
more serious may be going on. In the intake with the parents, the
social worker determines that they have previously tried taking the
son to a local spiritual healer but he still continues to get sick. What
would be the BEST course of action for the social worker to take?
A. Report the family to CPS for medical neglect
B. Explain to the family that it is not acceptable in the US to go to
spiritual healers
C. Acknowledge the family's concerns and explain to them what will
