MSW Practice Exam
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. - answerD. Sharing leadership is
very effective with groups. without substantiated information. While the potential for
beginning new relationships (C) exists, it is not the MOST likely reason for the co-
facilitation.
Rationale: By sharing leadership with the resident (key D), the social worker is
supporting the resident's skill development as well as promoting positive group
dynamics. Options (A) and (B) draw conclusions without substantiated information
At what age does normal separation anxiety typically begin?
A. 24 months
B. 18 months
C. 12 months
D. 3 months - answerC. 12 months
Rationale: This item requires recall that separation anxiety normally occurs at the age
months (key C).
A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker. What
long-term effect should 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 - answerD. Negative social interactions with
peers Rationale: This is an unscored item. The MOST strongly linked long-term effect of
insecure attachment is future negative social interactions with peers (key D).
Posttraumatic stress disorder (B) is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C)
and later social anxiety (D) are not directly linked to attachment difficulties.
A 13-vear-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 assess for
FIRST?
, A. A conduct disorder
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion - answerB. Child neglect
Rationale: The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of
neglect. The social worker should assess if the adolescent's basic needs are being met
FIRST.
A school social worker meets with parents of a child who has 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 on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy - answerB. Explore the reasons for the
parents' beliefs
Rationale: This is an unscored item. Before taking action, the social worker should
acknowledge and validate the parents' concerns and explore the events and emotions
that have ied to these concerns (key B). Advocating that the child stay at home (A) is
not supported by the physician's recommendation. Although the social worker may
eventually want to obtain the child's perspective (C), this would not be the NEXT step.
There are no indications of family dystunction that would warrant family therapy (D).
A social worker begins 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 had 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 - answerC. Transfer the client to a
colleague Rationale: To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social
worker should transfer the client to another social worker (key C). Processing the issue
with the client (A) is not going to resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of
the past relationship (B) is unethical. Asking for a transfer to another department (D)
avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has questions
about the etffects 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
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. - answerD. Sharing leadership is
very effective with groups. without substantiated information. While the potential for
beginning new relationships (C) exists, it is not the MOST likely reason for the co-
facilitation.
Rationale: By sharing leadership with the resident (key D), the social worker is
supporting the resident's skill development as well as promoting positive group
dynamics. Options (A) and (B) draw conclusions without substantiated information
At what age does normal separation anxiety typically begin?
A. 24 months
B. 18 months
C. 12 months
D. 3 months - answerC. 12 months
Rationale: This item requires recall that separation anxiety normally occurs at the age
months (key C).
A nine-month-old child is neglected and lacks a secure attachment to a caretaker. What
long-term effect should 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 - answerD. Negative social interactions with
peers Rationale: This is an unscored item. The MOST strongly linked long-term effect of
insecure attachment is future negative social interactions with peers (key D).
Posttraumatic stress disorder (B) is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C)
and later social anxiety (D) are not directly linked to attachment difficulties.
A 13-vear-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 assess for
FIRST?
, A. A conduct disorder
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Adolescent rebellion - answerB. Child neglect
Rationale: The social worker should understand that the behaviors are indicators of
neglect. The social worker should assess if the adolescent's basic needs are being met
FIRST.
A school social worker meets with parents of a child who has 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 on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy - answerB. Explore the reasons for the
parents' beliefs
Rationale: This is an unscored item. Before taking action, the social worker should
acknowledge and validate the parents' concerns and explore the events and emotions
that have ied to these concerns (key B). Advocating that the child stay at home (A) is
not supported by the physician's recommendation. Although the social worker may
eventually want to obtain the child's perspective (C), this would not be the NEXT step.
There are no indications of family dystunction that would warrant family therapy (D).
A social worker begins 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 had 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 - answerC. Transfer the client to a
colleague Rationale: To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social
worker should transfer the client to another social worker (key C). Processing the issue
with the client (A) is not going to resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of
the past relationship (B) is unethical. Asking for a transfer to another department (D)
avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has questions
about the etffects 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
