ASWB Exam Practice Questions &
Answers 2025/2026
A new social worker begins to establish professional rapport with a group of school age youths.
After a few weeks, the social worker discovers that their former social worker still sees the
youths, gives them new school supplies, and takes them out for social events. The new social
worker should FIRST:
a. Tell the youths that they can no longer see the other social worker
b. Report the former social worker to the local regulatory board
c. Speak directly to the former social worker
d. Obtain legal consultation - ANSWERSKey: C
Rationale: Professional ethics dictate speaking to the colleague before taking any other action.
A parent in great distress consults a social worker. Because of having heard so much in the
media about sexual abuse, the parent is unsure how to respond to recently finding her five-
year-old exploring the body of another child. The parent does not know whether this is deviant
behavior. The social worker should:
a. Reassure the parent that this is normal for children at this age
b. Advise the parent to call the appropriate authorities
c. Discuss the parent's feelings about sexuality
d. Suggest that the parent call the other child's parent - ANSWERSKey: A
Rationale: Sexual curiosity is a normal developmental process for children (key A), but many
parents become anxious about this behavior. The social worker should reassure the parents that
this is normal. Getting other authorities involved (B) and contacting the other child's parent (D)
would be overreactions. It is important to discuss the parents' feelings about sexuality (C) in
order for them to accept their child's behavior, but this should be
done only after they have been reassured about the behavior.
,A social worker is the new manager of a human service organization that is simultaneously
struggling with maintaining positive employee morale, increasing client services, and improving
outcomes. The manager should FIRST:
a. Ensure that employees know the importance of client outcomes
b. Institute a flextime policy for employees
c. Introduce more efficient data collection techniques
d. Initiate a staff recognition program - ANSWERSKey: D
Rationale: Employees, including social workers, need recognition for their work (key D). If
employees do not feel appreciated by their supervisors, their work tends to be less than
optimal. By recognizing those staff members whose performance is above expectations, other
employees will be encouraged to improve their performance.
What is MOST important to remember about defense mechanisms?
a. Defense mechanisms reduce anxiety.
b. Defense mechanisms relieve conflict.
c. Defense mechanisms are an unconscious process.
d. Defense mechanisms are an interpersonal response. - ANSWERSKey: C
Rationale: This is an unscored question. By definition, a defense mechanism is not a conscious
behavior or thought. However, its use allows the client to avoid addressing an issue that the
client finds too painful to deal with directly.
A 27-year-old male with a history of hospitalizations for bipolar I disorder and alcohol use
disorder recently stopped taking his medication, became manic, and resumed drinking. At his
landlord's request, the police take him to the hospital and arrange an involuntary admission to
the acute psychiatric unit. The client has all of the following rights EXCEPT the right to:
a. Refuse treatment
b. Refuse to give permission to the hospital to contact his family
c. Keep the record of his admission confidential
d. Leave the hospital regardless of his condition - ANSWERSKey: D
,Rationale: Among the rights listed, the only right not available to this involuntary patient is the
right to leave the hospital when he chooses.
A social worker assesses an elderly client for suicide risk. The BEST approach is to use the clinical
interview and the:
a. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
b. Geriatric Depression Inventory
c. Beck Anxiety Inventory
d. CAGE - ANSWERSKey: B
Rationale: This is a recall question that requires knowledge of appropriate assessment
instruments.
A couple married for 30 years seeks help at a crisis clinic. The husband described his wife's
emotional and erratic behavior and radical change in appearance and dress, which is contrary to
their religious beliefs. The wife talks openly and happily about spending
more time outside the home with her friends and hobbies, and her desire to work for the first
time. The social worker should assess the couple for evidence of:
a. A longstanding
marital problem
b. Issues related to family transition
c. Difficulties with the aging process
d. Conflicts over religious beliefs - ANSWERSKey: B
Rationale: Family dynamics change as the family ages and children leave home. This requires all
members of the family to adjust to these inevitable changes. Transition issues for the family (key
B) is correct since (A), (C), and (D) each address only part of the underlying problem.
A client is seen by a social worker at a family service agency complaining that she has been
feeling depressed. She states that she shouldn't feel this way because there are no problems in
her life. She has a husband, a good job, and two healthy children. The social worker should
FIRST:
, a. Ask the client about a history of depression in the family
b. Refer the client to a psychiatrist for antidepressant medication
c. Identify the specific beliefs fueling the depression
d. Clarify what the client means by depression - ANSWERSKey: D
Rationale: The social worker needs the client to describe in more detail what she is experiencing
that has led her to believe that she is depressed, as well as the client's understanding of
depression (key D). The social worker also needs to know what symptoms the client is now
experiencing, if any, to determine whether the client is depressed or has another mental
disorder.
A social worker meets with an adolescent who frequently misses school and is having academic
problems. Psychological testing found the client is above average in intelligence, but with poor
impulse control and at high risk for antisocial behaviors. The
social worker completes the social history to:
a. Explain the client's developmental progress
b. Understand factors that affect the client's behavior
c. Make the most appropriate educational placement
d. Assess family expectations for the adolescent - ANSWERSKey: B
Rationale: In order to identify what needs to be addressed, the social worker needs to
understand what affects the client's behavior - for example, the client's reasons for missing
school. A social history would provide insight about these factors.
At a community mental health agency, a new social worker replaces a social worker who
resigned with short notice due to a family emergency. Within a few weeks, the social worker has
met with all the clients. While in the public waiting room, a social work
colleague hears the new social worker say to a client that it was "unprofessional and harmful"
for the prior social worker to leave the agency so suddenly. The colleague should FIRST:
a. Tell a supervisory immediately about the incident
b. Talk to the new social worker about the conversation
c. Initiate formal actions related to ethical violations
Answers 2025/2026
A new social worker begins to establish professional rapport with a group of school age youths.
After a few weeks, the social worker discovers that their former social worker still sees the
youths, gives them new school supplies, and takes them out for social events. The new social
worker should FIRST:
a. Tell the youths that they can no longer see the other social worker
b. Report the former social worker to the local regulatory board
c. Speak directly to the former social worker
d. Obtain legal consultation - ANSWERSKey: C
Rationale: Professional ethics dictate speaking to the colleague before taking any other action.
A parent in great distress consults a social worker. Because of having heard so much in the
media about sexual abuse, the parent is unsure how to respond to recently finding her five-
year-old exploring the body of another child. The parent does not know whether this is deviant
behavior. The social worker should:
a. Reassure the parent that this is normal for children at this age
b. Advise the parent to call the appropriate authorities
c. Discuss the parent's feelings about sexuality
d. Suggest that the parent call the other child's parent - ANSWERSKey: A
Rationale: Sexual curiosity is a normal developmental process for children (key A), but many
parents become anxious about this behavior. The social worker should reassure the parents that
this is normal. Getting other authorities involved (B) and contacting the other child's parent (D)
would be overreactions. It is important to discuss the parents' feelings about sexuality (C) in
order for them to accept their child's behavior, but this should be
done only after they have been reassured about the behavior.
,A social worker is the new manager of a human service organization that is simultaneously
struggling with maintaining positive employee morale, increasing client services, and improving
outcomes. The manager should FIRST:
a. Ensure that employees know the importance of client outcomes
b. Institute a flextime policy for employees
c. Introduce more efficient data collection techniques
d. Initiate a staff recognition program - ANSWERSKey: D
Rationale: Employees, including social workers, need recognition for their work (key D). If
employees do not feel appreciated by their supervisors, their work tends to be less than
optimal. By recognizing those staff members whose performance is above expectations, other
employees will be encouraged to improve their performance.
What is MOST important to remember about defense mechanisms?
a. Defense mechanisms reduce anxiety.
b. Defense mechanisms relieve conflict.
c. Defense mechanisms are an unconscious process.
d. Defense mechanisms are an interpersonal response. - ANSWERSKey: C
Rationale: This is an unscored question. By definition, a defense mechanism is not a conscious
behavior or thought. However, its use allows the client to avoid addressing an issue that the
client finds too painful to deal with directly.
A 27-year-old male with a history of hospitalizations for bipolar I disorder and alcohol use
disorder recently stopped taking his medication, became manic, and resumed drinking. At his
landlord's request, the police take him to the hospital and arrange an involuntary admission to
the acute psychiatric unit. The client has all of the following rights EXCEPT the right to:
a. Refuse treatment
b. Refuse to give permission to the hospital to contact his family
c. Keep the record of his admission confidential
d. Leave the hospital regardless of his condition - ANSWERSKey: D
,Rationale: Among the rights listed, the only right not available to this involuntary patient is the
right to leave the hospital when he chooses.
A social worker assesses an elderly client for suicide risk. The BEST approach is to use the clinical
interview and the:
a. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
b. Geriatric Depression Inventory
c. Beck Anxiety Inventory
d. CAGE - ANSWERSKey: B
Rationale: This is a recall question that requires knowledge of appropriate assessment
instruments.
A couple married for 30 years seeks help at a crisis clinic. The husband described his wife's
emotional and erratic behavior and radical change in appearance and dress, which is contrary to
their religious beliefs. The wife talks openly and happily about spending
more time outside the home with her friends and hobbies, and her desire to work for the first
time. The social worker should assess the couple for evidence of:
a. A longstanding
marital problem
b. Issues related to family transition
c. Difficulties with the aging process
d. Conflicts over religious beliefs - ANSWERSKey: B
Rationale: Family dynamics change as the family ages and children leave home. This requires all
members of the family to adjust to these inevitable changes. Transition issues for the family (key
B) is correct since (A), (C), and (D) each address only part of the underlying problem.
A client is seen by a social worker at a family service agency complaining that she has been
feeling depressed. She states that she shouldn't feel this way because there are no problems in
her life. She has a husband, a good job, and two healthy children. The social worker should
FIRST:
, a. Ask the client about a history of depression in the family
b. Refer the client to a psychiatrist for antidepressant medication
c. Identify the specific beliefs fueling the depression
d. Clarify what the client means by depression - ANSWERSKey: D
Rationale: The social worker needs the client to describe in more detail what she is experiencing
that has led her to believe that she is depressed, as well as the client's understanding of
depression (key D). The social worker also needs to know what symptoms the client is now
experiencing, if any, to determine whether the client is depressed or has another mental
disorder.
A social worker meets with an adolescent who frequently misses school and is having academic
problems. Psychological testing found the client is above average in intelligence, but with poor
impulse control and at high risk for antisocial behaviors. The
social worker completes the social history to:
a. Explain the client's developmental progress
b. Understand factors that affect the client's behavior
c. Make the most appropriate educational placement
d. Assess family expectations for the adolescent - ANSWERSKey: B
Rationale: In order to identify what needs to be addressed, the social worker needs to
understand what affects the client's behavior - for example, the client's reasons for missing
school. A social history would provide insight about these factors.
At a community mental health agency, a new social worker replaces a social worker who
resigned with short notice due to a family emergency. Within a few weeks, the social worker has
met with all the clients. While in the public waiting room, a social work
colleague hears the new social worker say to a client that it was "unprofessional and harmful"
for the prior social worker to leave the agency so suddenly. The colleague should FIRST:
a. Tell a supervisory immediately about the incident
b. Talk to the new social worker about the conversation
c. Initiate formal actions related to ethical violations
