ASWB Examination Sample Prep Questions and
Answers; Certified for Accuracy 2025/2026 Social
Work Licensing Review
. A man who is having problems at work finds that he is yelling at his children
more and has begun to have marital issues with his wife. The husband is
MOST likely using the defense mechanism of:
A. Reaction formation
B. Projection
C. Conversion
D. Displacement - correct answer D
Displacement is directing an impulse, wish, or feeling toward another person
or situation that is less threatening. The man unconsciously realizes that he
cannot express his anger on the job or it may have negative consequences,
so he goes home and yells at his wife and children.
. Upon admission, a client reports that he has always feared disapproval and
rejection from others in his life. Several weeks later, the client appears
anxious and worried. When asked about his behavior, he states that he feels
judged by the social worker and that the social worker is being critical of him
when he sees her. The client's feelings are an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Psychosis
C. Paranoia
D. Transference - correct answer D
Transference refers to redirection of a client's feelings for a significant person
to a social worker. Transference is often manifested as an erotic attraction
toward a social worker, but can be seen in many other forms such as rage,
hatred, mistrust, parentification, extreme dependence, or even placing a social
worker in an esteemed status.
,. Which of the following is the MOST significant change in the DSM-
concerning Substance Related Disorders?
A. Substance Abuse and Substance Dependence have been combined into a
single Substance Use Disorder.
B. Recurrent legal problems were added to the criteria for Substance Use
Disorders.
C. Craving or a strong desire to use a substance was deleted from Substance
Dependence.
D. Recurrent legal problems were deleted from the criteria for Substance
Abuse. - correct answer A
DSM-IV created separate diagnoses for "abuse" and "dependence" although
substance-related problems occur on a continuum. The DSM- uses
"Substance Use Disorders" as the diagnosis for people with such problems.
"Recurrent legal problems" was deleted as a criterion for Substance Use
Disorders and "craving or a strong desire or urge to use a substance" was
added to the criteria.
. A social worker sees that a colleague is distracted when interacting with
clients and is showing up for appointments late. The social worker learns that
this behavior began several weeks earlier, after the death of her colleague's
husband. In this instance, the social worker should:
A. Give the colleague additional time to grieve and monitor the colleague's
actions to see if the behavior subsides on its own
B. Speak to a supervisor to see if the colleague's workload could be reduced
for a period of time
C. Contact the human resources department to see if there are employee
assistance services available
D. Speak to the colleague directly about the observations to see if additional
assistance is needed - correct answer D
A social worker with direct knowledge of a colleague's impairment due to
personal problems, psychological stress, and so on, that interferes with
,practice effectiveness should consult with the colleague when feasible and
assist the colleague in taking remedial action.
. Which of the following is NOT true of life crises?
A. They must be precipitated by major life events.
B. The ways in which they are addressed significantly impact subsequent
functioning.
C. They can produce healthier behavior if understood and overcome.
D. They produce anxiety, tension, and disequilibrium. - correct answer A
Life crises do not have to be a major event. They can be the "last straws" in a
series of events that exceed the client's ability to cope. Addressing crises
appropriately significantly impacts subsequent client functioning and can
assist in the development of healthy coping skills.
. Which of the following is true of BOTH networking in business and
networking in social work practice?
A. It aims to educate about the problems experienced by others and thereby
helps to effect system changes.
B. It aims to attract more individuals to organizations so that these entities can
prosper.
C. It is beneficial for clients as it keeps the costs down through sharing of
resources.
D. It creates a community and builds alliances around a common interest or
goal. - correct answer D
The first answer is true for social work, but not for business. B is true for
business networking, but the aim in social work is not to attract clients for the
betterment of the agency. C may not be true in business because lower
operating costs are not always passed on to clients; they may mean more
profits for a company. In both business and social work, networking provides
opportunities to work with others toward the achievement of common goals
and helps in establishing professional relationships or alliances.
, . Which of the following is the MOST important benefit of community
participation in social work practice?
A. It puts the decision-making power partly or wholly with community
members.
B. It shows the media that individuals want to get involved when there is a
good cause.
C. It informs community members about the work that needs to be done to
make change.
D. It divides the workload so that it can be distributed across a larger group. -
correct answer A
The values and principles of social work practice should be used as the basis
for selecting the most important benefit. A is based on the belief of self-
determination or that individuals and groups should be in charge of taking
actions that are best for them. The other response choices may be true, but
they are not based on this fundamental concept in social work practice.
. If a client has a Substance Use Disorder in addition to Schizophrenia, these
two disorders are considered to be:
A. Premorbid
B. Comorbid
C. Contraindicated
D. Dissociated - correct answer B
Comorbid refers to two problems, conditions, or disorders that exist at the
same time—such as the presence of a mental health and substance use
issue, or a mental health and medical problem.
. A woman complains that her -year-old son "makes things up and
exaggerates." He often adds information when recalling experiences and talks
about knights and dragons being part of his everyday world. The woman is
Answers; Certified for Accuracy 2025/2026 Social
Work Licensing Review
. A man who is having problems at work finds that he is yelling at his children
more and has begun to have marital issues with his wife. The husband is
MOST likely using the defense mechanism of:
A. Reaction formation
B. Projection
C. Conversion
D. Displacement - correct answer D
Displacement is directing an impulse, wish, or feeling toward another person
or situation that is less threatening. The man unconsciously realizes that he
cannot express his anger on the job or it may have negative consequences,
so he goes home and yells at his wife and children.
. Upon admission, a client reports that he has always feared disapproval and
rejection from others in his life. Several weeks later, the client appears
anxious and worried. When asked about his behavior, he states that he feels
judged by the social worker and that the social worker is being critical of him
when he sees her. The client's feelings are an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Psychosis
C. Paranoia
D. Transference - correct answer D
Transference refers to redirection of a client's feelings for a significant person
to a social worker. Transference is often manifested as an erotic attraction
toward a social worker, but can be seen in many other forms such as rage,
hatred, mistrust, parentification, extreme dependence, or even placing a social
worker in an esteemed status.
,. Which of the following is the MOST significant change in the DSM-
concerning Substance Related Disorders?
A. Substance Abuse and Substance Dependence have been combined into a
single Substance Use Disorder.
B. Recurrent legal problems were added to the criteria for Substance Use
Disorders.
C. Craving or a strong desire to use a substance was deleted from Substance
Dependence.
D. Recurrent legal problems were deleted from the criteria for Substance
Abuse. - correct answer A
DSM-IV created separate diagnoses for "abuse" and "dependence" although
substance-related problems occur on a continuum. The DSM- uses
"Substance Use Disorders" as the diagnosis for people with such problems.
"Recurrent legal problems" was deleted as a criterion for Substance Use
Disorders and "craving or a strong desire or urge to use a substance" was
added to the criteria.
. A social worker sees that a colleague is distracted when interacting with
clients and is showing up for appointments late. The social worker learns that
this behavior began several weeks earlier, after the death of her colleague's
husband. In this instance, the social worker should:
A. Give the colleague additional time to grieve and monitor the colleague's
actions to see if the behavior subsides on its own
B. Speak to a supervisor to see if the colleague's workload could be reduced
for a period of time
C. Contact the human resources department to see if there are employee
assistance services available
D. Speak to the colleague directly about the observations to see if additional
assistance is needed - correct answer D
A social worker with direct knowledge of a colleague's impairment due to
personal problems, psychological stress, and so on, that interferes with
,practice effectiveness should consult with the colleague when feasible and
assist the colleague in taking remedial action.
. Which of the following is NOT true of life crises?
A. They must be precipitated by major life events.
B. The ways in which they are addressed significantly impact subsequent
functioning.
C. They can produce healthier behavior if understood and overcome.
D. They produce anxiety, tension, and disequilibrium. - correct answer A
Life crises do not have to be a major event. They can be the "last straws" in a
series of events that exceed the client's ability to cope. Addressing crises
appropriately significantly impacts subsequent client functioning and can
assist in the development of healthy coping skills.
. Which of the following is true of BOTH networking in business and
networking in social work practice?
A. It aims to educate about the problems experienced by others and thereby
helps to effect system changes.
B. It aims to attract more individuals to organizations so that these entities can
prosper.
C. It is beneficial for clients as it keeps the costs down through sharing of
resources.
D. It creates a community and builds alliances around a common interest or
goal. - correct answer D
The first answer is true for social work, but not for business. B is true for
business networking, but the aim in social work is not to attract clients for the
betterment of the agency. C may not be true in business because lower
operating costs are not always passed on to clients; they may mean more
profits for a company. In both business and social work, networking provides
opportunities to work with others toward the achievement of common goals
and helps in establishing professional relationships or alliances.
, . Which of the following is the MOST important benefit of community
participation in social work practice?
A. It puts the decision-making power partly or wholly with community
members.
B. It shows the media that individuals want to get involved when there is a
good cause.
C. It informs community members about the work that needs to be done to
make change.
D. It divides the workload so that it can be distributed across a larger group. -
correct answer A
The values and principles of social work practice should be used as the basis
for selecting the most important benefit. A is based on the belief of self-
determination or that individuals and groups should be in charge of taking
actions that are best for them. The other response choices may be true, but
they are not based on this fundamental concept in social work practice.
. If a client has a Substance Use Disorder in addition to Schizophrenia, these
two disorders are considered to be:
A. Premorbid
B. Comorbid
C. Contraindicated
D. Dissociated - correct answer B
Comorbid refers to two problems, conditions, or disorders that exist at the
same time—such as the presence of a mental health and substance use
issue, or a mental health and medical problem.
. A woman complains that her -year-old son "makes things up and
exaggerates." He often adds information when recalling experiences and talks
about knights and dragons being part of his everyday world. The woman is
