ASWB LMSW Practice Exam Questions
and answers 2025
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.
.Legitimizing .the .residents' .concerns .may .be .helpful.
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. .While .the .potential .for
.beginning .new .relationships .(C) .exists, .it .is .not .the .MOST .likely .reason .for .the
.co-facilitation.
At .what .age .is .separation .anxiety .MOST .likely .to .occur?
A. .24 .months
B. .12 .months
C. .3 .months .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B. .12 .months
This .item .requires .basic .recall .that .separation .anxiety .is .most .typical .around
.the .age .of .12 .months .(key .B).
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 .bleed .pressure
D. .Negative .social .interactions .with .peers .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D. .Negative
.social .interactions .with .peers
.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-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 .assess .for .FIRST?
A. .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. .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 .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B.
.Explore .the .reasons .for .the .parents' .beliefs
Before .taking .action, .the .social .worker .should .acknowledge .and .validate .the
.parents' .concerns .and .explore .the .events .and .emotions .that .have .led .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 .dysfunction .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 .- .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 .(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 .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 .(key .A) .to .the .client .supports .client .self-
determination .and .choice. .Options .(B), .(C), .and .(D) .are .all .restrictive .and
.breach .client .confidentiality.
A .social .worker .is .asked .to .analyze .new .social .welfare .policies .that .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 .grassreets .coalition .to .diseuss .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 .understanding .of .the .basic .steps .in .policy .analysis. .The
.social .worker .must .FIRST .understand .the .historical .background .of .the .policy
.(key .B) .before .moving .to .the
analysis .stage. .Options .(A), .(C), .and .(D) .are .steps .to .take .later .in .the .process.
A .client .meets .with .a .social .worker .at .a .crisis .center. .The .client .is .living .with .a
.sibling .and .shares .that .the .sibling's .boyfriend .is .threatening .to .force .the .client
.out .of .the .home. .The .client .does .not .feel .safe. .What .should .the .social .worker
.do .FIRST?
A. .Call .the .police .for .the .client
B. .Develop .a .safety .plan
C. .Try .to .locate .housing .for .the .client
D. .Determine .the .nature .of .the .danger .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D. .Determine .the
.nature .of .the .danger
, Before .taking .any .action, .the .social .worker .should .assess .the .situation .FIRST
.(key .D). .Options .(A), .(B), .and .(C) .are .all .action .steps .that .may .be .done .later.
.Taking .action .without
assessing .the .situation .involves .reaching .conclusions .without .knowing .the
.facts.
A .social .worker .meets .with .a .new .client .who .is .diagnosed .with .depression. .The
.social .worker .observes .that .the .client .is .ambivalent, .non-trusting, .and .passive.
.What .should .the .social .worker .do .NEXT?
A. .Focus .on .directly .engaging .the .client
B. .Suggest .a .task .to .improve .the .client's .mood
C. .Encourage .the .elient .to .recall .better .times
D. .Provide .information .about .depression .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A. .Focus .on
.directly .engaging .the .client
Engaging .the .client .(key .A) .is .the .only .option .that .helps .build .rapport .and
.supports .client .self-determination. .This .should .be .done .before .taking .additional
.steps .such .as .suggesting .a
task .to .improve .mood .(B), .encouraging .recall .of .better .times .(C), .and .educating
.about .depression .(D).
© .Help
Diagnostic
An .adolescent .who .has .diabetes .is .admitted .to .the .hospital .for .the .second .time
.in .three .weeks .after .significant .changes .to .the .client's .insulin .levels. .The
.physician .believes .that .the .adolescent .is .intentionally .noncompliant .with
.diabetes .care .and .wants .to .be .admitted. .The .physician .refers .the .patient .to .a
.social .worker. .What .should .the .social .worker .do .FIRST?
A. .Contract .with .the .adolescent .to .prevent .readmission
B. .Review .the .medical .management .plan .with .the .adolescent
C. .Notify .local .child .protective .services
D. .Obtain .a .social .and .family .history .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D. .Obtain .a .social
.and .family .history
The .FIRST .step .for .the .social .worker .is .to .complete .an .assessment. .Obtaining
.a .social .and .family .history .(key .D) .is .the .only .action .that .involves
.understanding .the .situation. .Options
(A), .(B), .and .(C) .may .be .necessary .later, .depending .on .what .is .learned .during
.the .assessment.
What .client .factor .MOST .likely .determines .the .scope .and .focus .of .an
.assessment?
A. .Needs .of .the .client
B. .Motivation .of .the .client
C. .Family .systems
D. .Social .network .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A. .Needs .of .the .client .
and answers 2025
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.
.Legitimizing .the .residents' .concerns .may .be .helpful.
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. .While .the .potential .for
.beginning .new .relationships .(C) .exists, .it .is .not .the .MOST .likely .reason .for .the
.co-facilitation.
At .what .age .is .separation .anxiety .MOST .likely .to .occur?
A. .24 .months
B. .12 .months
C. .3 .months .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B. .12 .months
This .item .requires .basic .recall .that .separation .anxiety .is .most .typical .around
.the .age .of .12 .months .(key .B).
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 .bleed .pressure
D. .Negative .social .interactions .with .peers .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D. .Negative
.social .interactions .with .peers
.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-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 .assess .for .FIRST?
A. .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. .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 .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B.
.Explore .the .reasons .for .the .parents' .beliefs
Before .taking .action, .the .social .worker .should .acknowledge .and .validate .the
.parents' .concerns .and .explore .the .events .and .emotions .that .have .led .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 .dysfunction .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 .- .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 .(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 .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 .(key .A) .to .the .client .supports .client .self-
determination .and .choice. .Options .(B), .(C), .and .(D) .are .all .restrictive .and
.breach .client .confidentiality.
A .social .worker .is .asked .to .analyze .new .social .welfare .policies .that .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 .grassreets .coalition .to .diseuss .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 .understanding .of .the .basic .steps .in .policy .analysis. .The
.social .worker .must .FIRST .understand .the .historical .background .of .the .policy
.(key .B) .before .moving .to .the
analysis .stage. .Options .(A), .(C), .and .(D) .are .steps .to .take .later .in .the .process.
A .client .meets .with .a .social .worker .at .a .crisis .center. .The .client .is .living .with .a
.sibling .and .shares .that .the .sibling's .boyfriend .is .threatening .to .force .the .client
.out .of .the .home. .The .client .does .not .feel .safe. .What .should .the .social .worker
.do .FIRST?
A. .Call .the .police .for .the .client
B. .Develop .a .safety .plan
C. .Try .to .locate .housing .for .the .client
D. .Determine .the .nature .of .the .danger .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D. .Determine .the
.nature .of .the .danger
, Before .taking .any .action, .the .social .worker .should .assess .the .situation .FIRST
.(key .D). .Options .(A), .(B), .and .(C) .are .all .action .steps .that .may .be .done .later.
.Taking .action .without
assessing .the .situation .involves .reaching .conclusions .without .knowing .the
.facts.
A .social .worker .meets .with .a .new .client .who .is .diagnosed .with .depression. .The
.social .worker .observes .that .the .client .is .ambivalent, .non-trusting, .and .passive.
.What .should .the .social .worker .do .NEXT?
A. .Focus .on .directly .engaging .the .client
B. .Suggest .a .task .to .improve .the .client's .mood
C. .Encourage .the .elient .to .recall .better .times
D. .Provide .information .about .depression .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A. .Focus .on
.directly .engaging .the .client
Engaging .the .client .(key .A) .is .the .only .option .that .helps .build .rapport .and
.supports .client .self-determination. .This .should .be .done .before .taking .additional
.steps .such .as .suggesting .a
task .to .improve .mood .(B), .encouraging .recall .of .better .times .(C), .and .educating
.about .depression .(D).
© .Help
Diagnostic
An .adolescent .who .has .diabetes .is .admitted .to .the .hospital .for .the .second .time
.in .three .weeks .after .significant .changes .to .the .client's .insulin .levels. .The
.physician .believes .that .the .adolescent .is .intentionally .noncompliant .with
.diabetes .care .and .wants .to .be .admitted. .The .physician .refers .the .patient .to .a
.social .worker. .What .should .the .social .worker .do .FIRST?
A. .Contract .with .the .adolescent .to .prevent .readmission
B. .Review .the .medical .management .plan .with .the .adolescent
C. .Notify .local .child .protective .services
D. .Obtain .a .social .and .family .history .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D. .Obtain .a .social
.and .family .history
The .FIRST .step .for .the .social .worker .is .to .complete .an .assessment. .Obtaining
.a .social .and .family .history .(key .D) .is .the .only .action .that .involves
.understanding .the .situation. .Options
(A), .(B), .and .(C) .may .be .necessary .later, .depending .on .what .is .learned .during
.the .assessment.
What .client .factor .MOST .likely .determines .the .scope .and .focus .of .an
.assessment?
A. .Needs .of .the .client
B. .Motivation .of .the .client
C. .Family .systems
D. .Social .network .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-A. .Needs .of .the .client .
