ASWB MASTERS PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
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 co-host 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 residentsʻ concerns may be helpful
C. Helping residents start new relationships is important
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups - Answer -D. Sharing leadership is
very effective with groups
At what age does normal separation anxiety typically begin?
A. 24 months
B. 18 months
C. 12 months
D. 3 months - Answer -C. 12 months
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. Risk for incarceration
D. Negative social interactions with peers - Answer -D. Negative social interactions with
peers
A couple identify strongly with the deaf culture. A social worker is helping them to obtain
educational services for their child, who has experienced hearing loss. What
communication strategy should the social worker consider during planning?
A. Total immersion in the use of sign language
B. Cochlear implant surgery to improve hearing
C. Mainstreaming with children who do not have hearing loss
D. The use of lipreading as a primary technique - Answer -A. Total immersion in the
use of sign language
The deaf culture believes in total immersion in their primary language, which is sign
language!
,A school social worker meets with parents of a child who has recently completed
treatment for cancer. The childʻs 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 parentʻs beleifs
C. Obtain the childʻs perspective on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy - Answer -B. Explore the reasons for
the parentʻs beliefs
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 occured
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department - Answer -C. Transfer the client to a
colleague
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses marijuana consistently and has
questions about the effects on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that the
marijuana use could possibly 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 the child protection agency
D. Ask the clientʻs health care provider to drug test the client at her appointment. -
Answer -A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
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 the grassroots coalition
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies - Answer -B.
Research the historical problems that led to the policies
A woman who is five months pregnant speaks with a social worker at an adoption
agency to request information. The woman explains that she lives with her sister and
that her sisterʻs boyfriend is threatening to force her out of the home. She says that she
does not feel safe. What should the social worker do FIRST?
,A. Call the police for the woman
B. Develop a safety plan
C. Try to locate housing for the woman
D. Determine the nature of the danger - Answer -D. Determine the nature of the danger
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 clientʻs mood
C. Encourage the client to recall better times
D. Provide information about depression - Answer -A. Focus on directly engaging the
client
An adolescent is admitted to the hospital for the second time in three weeks for
noncompliance with diabetes management. The physician believes that the adolescent
is intentionally manipulating the diabetes care and wants to be admitted. The physician
consults 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 the local child welfare services
D. Obtain a social and family history - Answer -D. Obtain a social and family history
The FIRST step for the sw is to complete an 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 - Answer -A. Needs of the client
A social worker is contacted by a client whose initial complaint is depression. The client
reports symptoms of insomnia, headaches, inability to eat, vomiting, and neck aches.
What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Obtain a detailed social history on the client
B. Probe for a substance abuse program
C. Engage the client in establishing goals
D. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation - Answer -D. Ask the client to obtain
medical consultation
A 16-year-old client who is depressed mentions suicidal plans to a social worker.
Privacy and confidentiality had been discussed early in the treatment process. The
, social worker believes that the threat is serious. What should the social worker do
NEXT?
A. Respect the clients right to confidentiality
B. Consult with an agency supervisor about the dilemma
C. Discuss a safety contract with the client
D. Arrange for the client to receive a crisis assessment - Answer -D. Arrange for the
client to receive a crisis assessment
During a therapy session, a client reveals to the social worker that she has difficulty
managing her three-year-old child. The client reports that her child ran into traffic and
was nearly hit by a car. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Report the possible neglect to child protective services
B. Work with the client to develop a safety plan
C. Consult with the social work supervisor
D. Refer the client to a parenting class - Answer -B. Work with the client to develop a
safety plan
Parents of a 24-month-old child report their only concern is that their child plays
alongside of, but not with, other children. What should the social worker do?
A. Assess for symptoms of developmental delays
B. Observe the child's play in a group setting
C. Suggest that the parents report their concern at a doctor visit
D. Reassure the parents that parallel play is typical at this age - Answer -D. Reassure
the parents that parallel play is typical at this age
A social worker is providing martial therapy to a couple. What goal statement is MOST
likely to enhance a couples motivation?
A. Increase by one-fourth the frequency of positive statements
B. Reduce by one-third the angry exchanges
C. Eliminate all physical altercations
D. Reduce by one-half the amount of shouting - Answer -A. Increase by one-fourth the
frequency of positive statement
A social worker at an adoption agency receives a subpoena for the records of an adult
client recently seen by the social worker regarding the client's adoption many years ago.
In the process of responding to the subpoena, what should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Submit the clients record as requested by the subpoena
B. Discuss the subpoena with the agency's legal counsel
C. Discuss the subpoena with a professional colleague
D. Ask for approval from the client to respond to the subpoena - Answer -B. Discuss
the subpoena with the agency's legal counsel
ANSWERS
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 co-host 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 residentsʻ concerns may be helpful
C. Helping residents start new relationships is important
D. Sharing leadership is very effective with groups - Answer -D. Sharing leadership is
very effective with groups
At what age does normal separation anxiety typically begin?
A. 24 months
B. 18 months
C. 12 months
D. 3 months - Answer -C. 12 months
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. Risk for incarceration
D. Negative social interactions with peers - Answer -D. Negative social interactions with
peers
A couple identify strongly with the deaf culture. A social worker is helping them to obtain
educational services for their child, who has experienced hearing loss. What
communication strategy should the social worker consider during planning?
A. Total immersion in the use of sign language
B. Cochlear implant surgery to improve hearing
C. Mainstreaming with children who do not have hearing loss
D. The use of lipreading as a primary technique - Answer -A. Total immersion in the
use of sign language
The deaf culture believes in total immersion in their primary language, which is sign
language!
,A school social worker meets with parents of a child who has recently completed
treatment for cancer. The childʻs 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 parentʻs beleifs
C. Obtain the childʻs perspective on the situation
D. Refer the parents and child for family therapy - Answer -B. Explore the reasons for
the parentʻs beliefs
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 occured
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department - Answer -C. Transfer the client to a
colleague
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses marijuana consistently and has
questions about the effects on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that the
marijuana use could possibly 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 the child protection agency
D. Ask the clientʻs health care provider to drug test the client at her appointment. -
Answer -A. Offer substance abuse treatment options to the client
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 the grassroots coalition
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies - Answer -B.
Research the historical problems that led to the policies
A woman who is five months pregnant speaks with a social worker at an adoption
agency to request information. The woman explains that she lives with her sister and
that her sisterʻs boyfriend is threatening to force her out of the home. She says that she
does not feel safe. What should the social worker do FIRST?
,A. Call the police for the woman
B. Develop a safety plan
C. Try to locate housing for the woman
D. Determine the nature of the danger - Answer -D. Determine the nature of the danger
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 clientʻs mood
C. Encourage the client to recall better times
D. Provide information about depression - Answer -A. Focus on directly engaging the
client
An adolescent is admitted to the hospital for the second time in three weeks for
noncompliance with diabetes management. The physician believes that the adolescent
is intentionally manipulating the diabetes care and wants to be admitted. The physician
consults 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 the local child welfare services
D. Obtain a social and family history - Answer -D. Obtain a social and family history
The FIRST step for the sw is to complete an 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 - Answer -A. Needs of the client
A social worker is contacted by a client whose initial complaint is depression. The client
reports symptoms of insomnia, headaches, inability to eat, vomiting, and neck aches.
What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Obtain a detailed social history on the client
B. Probe for a substance abuse program
C. Engage the client in establishing goals
D. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation - Answer -D. Ask the client to obtain
medical consultation
A 16-year-old client who is depressed mentions suicidal plans to a social worker.
Privacy and confidentiality had been discussed early in the treatment process. The
, social worker believes that the threat is serious. What should the social worker do
NEXT?
A. Respect the clients right to confidentiality
B. Consult with an agency supervisor about the dilemma
C. Discuss a safety contract with the client
D. Arrange for the client to receive a crisis assessment - Answer -D. Arrange for the
client to receive a crisis assessment
During a therapy session, a client reveals to the social worker that she has difficulty
managing her three-year-old child. The client reports that her child ran into traffic and
was nearly hit by a car. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Report the possible neglect to child protective services
B. Work with the client to develop a safety plan
C. Consult with the social work supervisor
D. Refer the client to a parenting class - Answer -B. Work with the client to develop a
safety plan
Parents of a 24-month-old child report their only concern is that their child plays
alongside of, but not with, other children. What should the social worker do?
A. Assess for symptoms of developmental delays
B. Observe the child's play in a group setting
C. Suggest that the parents report their concern at a doctor visit
D. Reassure the parents that parallel play is typical at this age - Answer -D. Reassure
the parents that parallel play is typical at this age
A social worker is providing martial therapy to a couple. What goal statement is MOST
likely to enhance a couples motivation?
A. Increase by one-fourth the frequency of positive statements
B. Reduce by one-third the angry exchanges
C. Eliminate all physical altercations
D. Reduce by one-half the amount of shouting - Answer -A. Increase by one-fourth the
frequency of positive statement
A social worker at an adoption agency receives a subpoena for the records of an adult
client recently seen by the social worker regarding the client's adoption many years ago.
In the process of responding to the subpoena, what should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Submit the clients record as requested by the subpoena
B. Discuss the subpoena with the agency's legal counsel
C. Discuss the subpoena with a professional colleague
D. Ask for approval from the client to respond to the subpoena - Answer -B. Discuss
the subpoena with the agency's legal counsel
