LMSW Licensed Master Social Worker Practice Test
Questions 2025/2026
A client was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She immediately began to
learn everything she could about the illness: reading books, journal articles, and
the latest experimental research. The client's response to her diagnosis is
representative of which defense mechanism?
Intellectualization
Regression
Sublimation
Repression - CORRECT ANSWER-Intellectualization
A social worker has been working with a 35-year-old divorced woman who has
joint custody of her son, but is the custodial parent. Her ex-husband, whom the
social worker has never met, is taking the client to court in an attempt to gain full
custody of the son. The social worker receives a subpoena from the husband's
attorney requesting records regarding the wife's therapy sessions with the social
worker. The social worker is required to do which of the following?
The social worker must release the entire record of the therapy sessions to the
attorney
The social worker is allowed to release only those records that make direct
reference to the wife's relationship with the son, not her treatment issues
The social worker is required to respond to the subpoena, but is not required to
release records since the subpoena was issued by the attorney and not a judge
The social worker does not have to respond to the subpoena - CORRECT
ANSWER-The social worker is required to respond to the subpoena, but is not
required to release records since the subpoena was issued by the attorney and
not a judge
,A 22-year-old female client is considering having an abortion. Her social worker is
pro-choice and feels passionately about the issue. Which of the following is the
FIRST thing that the social worker should do in this situation?
She should talk with the client about abortion alternatives
She should refer the client to another social worker
She should help the client obtain the services she needs to get an abortion
She should ask the client to share her rationale for choosing abortion - CORRECT
ANSWER-The correct answer is #4 - She should ask the client to share her
rationale for choosing abortion. Keep in mind that a social worker should always
seek to understand. Talking with the client about abortion alternatives (answer
#1) and referring the client to another social worker (answer #2) are both not
correct because once the client has provided more information, the social worker
can ascertain if the client lacks information about other options or needs to be
referred to another social worker. Helping the client obtain the services she needs
to get an abortion (answer #3) is not correct because if the social worker helps
the client obtain abortion services, she may miss an important opportunity to gain
further understanding of the client's circumstances and alternatives. Remember,
the question asks for the FIRST thing the social worker should do in this situation.
A teacher has noticed some dramatic behavioral changes in a 7-year-old boy over
the recent weeks and has referred him to the school social worker. The child
appears distracted in class, no longer finishes his daily assignments, has become
aggressive toward peers, has soiled his pants on two occasions, and appears
apprehensive around adults. Which of the following might likely be the cause of
this child's behaviors?
Possible neglect at home
Possible sexual abuse
Onset of Conduct Disorder
Recent death of a loved one - CORRECT ANSWER-Possible sexual abuse
,A 30-year-old gay male is seeking treatment in a mental health agency. The intake
social worker begins to gather information to determine this individual's
qualification for services. The client states that he has been feeling sad and
hopeless, and is losing interest in activities in which he used to participate. He
states that he and his partner have recently broken up and that he has been
spending less time with his parents and siblings. The intake worker should refer
this individual for treatment and identify his presenting problem as
His Homosexuality
Relationship issues
Family issues
Depression - CORRECT ANSWER-Depression
A client asks the social worker to view his therapy records. The social worker
knows that showing the records to the client will be harmful given the client's
profile. What is the social workers ethical responsibility?
The social worker should show the client his or her records as the client has the
right to view them
The social worker should limit the client's access to his records and provide
assistance in interpreting the records shown to the client
The social worker should deny the client access and explain the reasons for doing
so
The social worker should consult with a colleague - CORRECT ANSWER-The social
worker should limit the client's access to his records and provide assistance in
interpreting the records shown to the client
A politician recently admitted his arrangement with the pharmaceutical industry,
which involved writing key legislation to mandate vaccinations if the industry
would, in return, finance the majority of his re-election campaign. According to
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development, at which level of moral development
was the politician operating?
, Pre-conventional Morality
Conventional Morality
Post-Conventional Morality
Morality of Social Contract - CORRECT ANSWER-The correct answer is #1 - Pre-
conventional Morality. Pre-conventional Morality is Level 1, Stage 2 and involves
"you scratch my back and I'll scratch your back" types of behavior. Conventional
Morality (answer #2) and Post-Conventional Morality (answer #3) are both
incorrect, as they are both identified as levels involving moral reasoning that goes
beyond a self-focused perspective. Morality of Social Contract (answer #4) is not
correct because it is a stage, not a level, according to Kohlberg. Moreover, it
involves higher moral reasoning than that demonstrated by the politician.
1. According to Beck, a depressed person does not see the positive aspects of
his/her situation because of:
a. Precipitating factors
b. Lack of support
c. A dysfunctional schema
d. Lack of adaptive coping strategies - CORRECT ANSWER-c. A dysfunctional
schema
2. It is necessary to obtain informed consent prior to giving out data about a
patient. Which of the following statements is MOST correct regarding this issue?
a. You must obtain informed consent from your patient in most situations, but not
in all situations.
Questions 2025/2026
A client was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She immediately began to
learn everything she could about the illness: reading books, journal articles, and
the latest experimental research. The client's response to her diagnosis is
representative of which defense mechanism?
Intellectualization
Regression
Sublimation
Repression - CORRECT ANSWER-Intellectualization
A social worker has been working with a 35-year-old divorced woman who has
joint custody of her son, but is the custodial parent. Her ex-husband, whom the
social worker has never met, is taking the client to court in an attempt to gain full
custody of the son. The social worker receives a subpoena from the husband's
attorney requesting records regarding the wife's therapy sessions with the social
worker. The social worker is required to do which of the following?
The social worker must release the entire record of the therapy sessions to the
attorney
The social worker is allowed to release only those records that make direct
reference to the wife's relationship with the son, not her treatment issues
The social worker is required to respond to the subpoena, but is not required to
release records since the subpoena was issued by the attorney and not a judge
The social worker does not have to respond to the subpoena - CORRECT
ANSWER-The social worker is required to respond to the subpoena, but is not
required to release records since the subpoena was issued by the attorney and
not a judge
,A 22-year-old female client is considering having an abortion. Her social worker is
pro-choice and feels passionately about the issue. Which of the following is the
FIRST thing that the social worker should do in this situation?
She should talk with the client about abortion alternatives
She should refer the client to another social worker
She should help the client obtain the services she needs to get an abortion
She should ask the client to share her rationale for choosing abortion - CORRECT
ANSWER-The correct answer is #4 - She should ask the client to share her
rationale for choosing abortion. Keep in mind that a social worker should always
seek to understand. Talking with the client about abortion alternatives (answer
#1) and referring the client to another social worker (answer #2) are both not
correct because once the client has provided more information, the social worker
can ascertain if the client lacks information about other options or needs to be
referred to another social worker. Helping the client obtain the services she needs
to get an abortion (answer #3) is not correct because if the social worker helps
the client obtain abortion services, she may miss an important opportunity to gain
further understanding of the client's circumstances and alternatives. Remember,
the question asks for the FIRST thing the social worker should do in this situation.
A teacher has noticed some dramatic behavioral changes in a 7-year-old boy over
the recent weeks and has referred him to the school social worker. The child
appears distracted in class, no longer finishes his daily assignments, has become
aggressive toward peers, has soiled his pants on two occasions, and appears
apprehensive around adults. Which of the following might likely be the cause of
this child's behaviors?
Possible neglect at home
Possible sexual abuse
Onset of Conduct Disorder
Recent death of a loved one - CORRECT ANSWER-Possible sexual abuse
,A 30-year-old gay male is seeking treatment in a mental health agency. The intake
social worker begins to gather information to determine this individual's
qualification for services. The client states that he has been feeling sad and
hopeless, and is losing interest in activities in which he used to participate. He
states that he and his partner have recently broken up and that he has been
spending less time with his parents and siblings. The intake worker should refer
this individual for treatment and identify his presenting problem as
His Homosexuality
Relationship issues
Family issues
Depression - CORRECT ANSWER-Depression
A client asks the social worker to view his therapy records. The social worker
knows that showing the records to the client will be harmful given the client's
profile. What is the social workers ethical responsibility?
The social worker should show the client his or her records as the client has the
right to view them
The social worker should limit the client's access to his records and provide
assistance in interpreting the records shown to the client
The social worker should deny the client access and explain the reasons for doing
so
The social worker should consult with a colleague - CORRECT ANSWER-The social
worker should limit the client's access to his records and provide assistance in
interpreting the records shown to the client
A politician recently admitted his arrangement with the pharmaceutical industry,
which involved writing key legislation to mandate vaccinations if the industry
would, in return, finance the majority of his re-election campaign. According to
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development, at which level of moral development
was the politician operating?
, Pre-conventional Morality
Conventional Morality
Post-Conventional Morality
Morality of Social Contract - CORRECT ANSWER-The correct answer is #1 - Pre-
conventional Morality. Pre-conventional Morality is Level 1, Stage 2 and involves
"you scratch my back and I'll scratch your back" types of behavior. Conventional
Morality (answer #2) and Post-Conventional Morality (answer #3) are both
incorrect, as they are both identified as levels involving moral reasoning that goes
beyond a self-focused perspective. Morality of Social Contract (answer #4) is not
correct because it is a stage, not a level, according to Kohlberg. Moreover, it
involves higher moral reasoning than that demonstrated by the politician.
1. According to Beck, a depressed person does not see the positive aspects of
his/her situation because of:
a. Precipitating factors
b. Lack of support
c. A dysfunctional schema
d. Lack of adaptive coping strategies - CORRECT ANSWER-c. A dysfunctional
schema
2. It is necessary to obtain informed consent prior to giving out data about a
patient. Which of the following statements is MOST correct regarding this issue?
a. You must obtain informed consent from your patient in most situations, but not
in all situations.
