ASWB SOCIAL WORK EXAM |ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 UPDATED
EDITION|GRADED A+
Question 1
1. 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.
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups
*By sharing leadership with the resident, the social worker is supporting the resident's
skill development as well as promoting positive group dynamics.
Question 2
2. At what age does normal separation anxiety typically begin?
A. 24 months
B. 18 months
C. 12 months
D. 3 months
CORRECT ANSWER
1
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, C. 12 months
Question 3
3 A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker. What
long-term effects shoudl the social worker be most concerned about as the child gets
older?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Social Anxiety in middle age
C. High blood pressure
D. Negative social interactions with peers
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Negative social interactions with peers
*The MOST strongly linked-term effect of insecure attachment is future negative social
interactions with peers.
Question 4
4. 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 asses for
FIRST?
A. Conduct disorder
B. Child Neglect
C. Substance Abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Child neglect
*The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of neglect
2
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,Question 5
A school social worker meets with parents of a child who is 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 in situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' belief
*Before taking action, the social worker should acknowledge and validate the parent's
concerns and explore the events and emotions that have led to these concerns
Question 6
A social worker beings 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 has 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
CORRECT 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.
3
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, Question 7
A client 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
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
*Offering treatment options to the client supports client's self-determination and choice
Question 8
A social worker is asked to analyze new social welfare policies what 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 grassroots coalition to discuss reaction to the policies
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Research the historical problems that led to the policies
*This item requires an understanding of the basic steps in policy analysis. The social
worker must FIRST understand the historical background of the policy
Question 9
4
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AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 UPDATED
EDITION|GRADED A+
Question 1
1. 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.
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups
*By sharing leadership with the resident, the social worker is supporting the resident's
skill development as well as promoting positive group dynamics.
Question 2
2. At what age does normal separation anxiety typically begin?
A. 24 months
B. 18 months
C. 12 months
D. 3 months
CORRECT ANSWER
1
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, C. 12 months
Question 3
3 A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker. What
long-term effects shoudl the social worker be most concerned about as the child gets
older?
A. Posttraumatic stress disorder
B. Social Anxiety in middle age
C. High blood pressure
D. Negative social interactions with peers
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Negative social interactions with peers
*The MOST strongly linked-term effect of insecure attachment is future negative social
interactions with peers.
Question 4
4. 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 asses for
FIRST?
A. Conduct disorder
B. Child Neglect
C. Substance Abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Child neglect
*The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of neglect
2
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
,Question 5
A school social worker meets with parents of a child who is 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 in situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Explore the reasons for the parents' belief
*Before taking action, the social worker should acknowledge and validate the parent's
concerns and explore the events and emotions that have led to these concerns
Question 6
A social worker beings 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 has 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
CORRECT 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.
3
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
, Question 7
A client 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
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
*Offering treatment options to the client supports client's self-determination and choice
Question 8
A social worker is asked to analyze new social welfare policies what 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 grassroots coalition to discuss reaction to the policies
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Research the historical problems that led to the policies
*This item requires an understanding of the basic steps in policy analysis. The social
worker must FIRST understand the historical background of the policy
Question 9
4
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