ASWB COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which of the following is NOT one of six levels of cognition?
A. Synthesis
B. Knowledge
C. Affective
D. Evaluation - ANSWER-C
The six levels of cognition are, in sequential order—knowledge, comprehension,
application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Teaching techniques should match
the cognitive objective, such as knowing specific facts, theories, or information
(knowledge) or creating something new/integrating it into a solution (synthesis).
Learning aimed at judging the quality of something is known as evaluation.
Which of the following is NOT a stated purpose of the professional code of ethics?
A. To be used by malpractice insurance companies to mitigate liability
B. To summarize the values on which the profession is based
C. To be used by the profession to determine whether social workers have acted
unethically
D. To serve as a guide to socialize new social workers in the field - ANSWER-A
The Code of Ethics also provides ethical standards to which the general public can
hold the profession accountable and social workers can consult if professional
obligations conflict. These functions of the Code are printed immediately after the
preamble. The mitigation of liability by third-party payers is not based on the values
of the profession and is not a stated purpose of the Code.
Which of the following is an example of role reversal?
A. A mother who shares her 11-year-old daughter's clothes and collects stuffed
animals
B. A mother expecting her 11-year-old daughter to stay at home unsupervised
C. A mother with relationship problems who is repeatedly emotionally comforted by
her 11-year-old daughter
D. A mother who arranges a date for her 11-year-old daughter - ANSWER-C
A role reversal is when two people switch or reverse roles. In this answer, the mother
is emotionally dependent and the child is the comforter. These behaviors are usually
reversed in a parent-child relationship. The other response choices may relate to
roles, but are not reversals.
A social worker receives a subpoena from the courts in the mail for a former client's
records. In this situation, a social worker should:
A. Immediately send in the original records to the courts
B. Prepare a summary of the records to send in immediately
C. Claim privilege to protect the confidentiality of the client
D. Ignore the subpoena because it relates to a former client and is not relevant -
ANSWER-C
,A subpoena is not a court order and no documents should be sent unless ordered by
the court. However, a social worker does have to respond and should not send in the
records when receiving a subpoena unless the client has provided a written release.
In the DSM-5, when a social worker provides a reason why a condition does not
qualify for a disorder, it should be noted as:
A. Not otherwise specified
B. Other specified
C. Unspecified
D. Not specified elsewhere - ANSWER-B
In the DSM-5, "Not Otherwise Specified" (NOS) categories for disorders that do not
fit under specific disorder categories are replaced. "Other Specified" (i.e., "Other
Specified Depressive Disorder") categories are used when a social worker provides
the reason why the condition does not qualify for a specific diagnosis (i.e., short
duration). "Unspecified" is used when no additional explanation is provided as to why
the disorder does not meet the usual criteria.
A client abruptly stops coming to therapy after the sixth session. She shows up at the
office several weeks later demanding a copy of her records. The social worker does
not believe that the information in the record could cause harm to the client, but
denies access because the client did not provide any reason for the abrupt
termination or reason for wanting the copies. The actions by the social worker are:
A. Unethical because the client should have access to his or her record under these
circumstances
B. Ethical because the reason for the release must be disclosed to the social worker
C. Ethical because the client terminated without notice
D. Unethical because the client is always able to access his or her record under any
circumstances - ANSWER-A
A social worker who is concerned that client access to his or her records could cause
serious harm to the client can limit access to the record or portion of the record when
the rationale for the request is documented in the file. This case vignette clearly
states that the social worker is not concerned that releasing the record to the client
would be harmful, so it must be released and to not do so is unethical.
A client was referred to a mental health agency for treatment. Upon admission, he
reported feeling lethargic and hopeless and had difficulty getting out of bed. Several
weeks later, he states that he is sleepless, agitated, and unable to focus. Which of
the following medications is the client MOST likely going to be prescribed?
A. Ativan (lorazepam)
B. Nardil (phenelzine)
C. Lithium (lithium carbonate)
D. Buspar (buspirone) - ANSWER-C
Ativan and Buspar are antianxiety medications and Nardil is an antidepressant.
Lithium is a mood stabilizer, and this client appears to be experiencing depression
upon admission, as well as mania later in treatment. A mood stabilizer is used for the
treatment of Bipolar Disorder.
When clients are at high risk for relapse after discharge, all of the following should
occur after termination EXCEPT:
A. Regular assessments to determine whether services are needed
,B. Creation of client contracts that reinforce positive behaviors
C. Utilization of natural supports and peer support services
D. Follow-up to see whether discharge plans are being implemented - ANSWER-B
Clients who are at high risk for developing problems after services have ended
should receive regular assessments to see if additional services are needed and/or
discharge plans are being implemented. Natural supports and peer supports, such
as 12-step programs, are good resources to assist with sustaining progress made.
The creation of a contract is not done after termination because it indicates the
presence of an intervention in a therapeutic relationship. It is incorrect given the
order of the problem-solving process.
A social worker in private practice designs a standard intake form that includes
questions about the client's demographic information including age, gender, marital
status, sexual orientation, education, and drug/alcohol use. This form is:
A. Ethical since it contains important information for the social worker to know in
order to work with the client effectively
B. Ethical since all of this information will be kept confidential
C. Unethical since this information may not be needed for treatment
D. Unethical unless the social worker makes it clear that the client has the choice as
to whether to complete it - ANSWER-C
Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy. Social workers should not
solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or
conducting social work evaluation or research. Information about the client's sexual
orientation and/or drug or alcohol use may not be relevant to the presenting problem
or treatment.
A social worker is charged with creating a behavioral objective to assist her client,
John, in his educational setting. Which of the following statements is the BEST
example of this type of objective?
A. John will make eye contact during conversations in practical arts class at least
75% of the time.
B. John will be motivated to complete his homework daily in order to achieve a grade
of a B or better.
C. The teacher will praise John during class at least 10 times per hour.
D. John will sit in his chair at least 80% of the time. - ANSWER-A
A behavioral objective should be client-oriented and emphasize what a client needs
to do. C is excluded as it focuses on the teacher's actions. An important element of
behavioral objectives is that they are observable. Motivation is not easily observed.
The conditions under which the behavior will be performed should also be included.
D does not indicate if the expectation regarding sitting is to take place during class or
all of the time. A has all of the elements—it specifies the target behavior, the
conditions under which the behavior will be performed, and the criteria for
determining when the acceptable performance of the behavior occurs.
A new client enters the office walking slowly, using a cane, and has difficulty picking
up objects, swallowing, and speaking as a result of a stroke. The BEST diagnosis for
this client is:
A. Agnosia
B. Ataxia
C. Prosopagnosia
, D. Acalculia - ANSWER-B
Ataxia describes a lack of muscle control during voluntary movements, such as
walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can affect
movement, speech, eye movement, and swallowing.
Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to the cerebellum—the part of the
brain that controls muscle coordination. Many conditions can cause ataxia, including
alcohol abuse, stroke, tumor, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.
An inability to recognize familiar objects is agnosia, and an inability to recognize
familiar faces is prosopagnosia. Acalculia is the inability to do simple arithmetic.
Echolalia is BEST defined as:
A. Mimicking another's speech
B. Spontaneous movement
C. Repetitive movements
D. Odd mannerisms or actions - ANSWER-A
Echolalia is repeating noises and phrases. It is sometimes associated with
Catatonia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia, and other disorders.
During an intake interview, a client reports that she is extremely depressed and has
self-destructive thoughts. She has had prior suicide attempts, but tells the social
worker not to worry as she won't "do it again." The social worker should FIRST:
A. Tell the client that her decision not to harm herself is a good one
B. Explore with the client what is causing her depression
C. Conduct a safety assessment
D. Refer the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation - ANSWER-C
Despite the client's report that she will not act on her thoughts, she is at risk because
she has had these feelings and has acted on them in the past. The case vignette
does not describe the social worker taking any action yet. A safety assessment will
determine the severity of the depression and whether the client is at risk for a suicide
attempt. It must be done FIRST before any other action is taken.
A client with a Social Anxiety Disorder will MOST likely be prescribed which of the
following medications to take on an ongoing basis?
A. Zoloft (sertraline)
B. Mellaril (thioridazine)
C. Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
D. Valium (diazepam) - ANSWER-A The primary medications used to treat social
anxiety disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which were first
developed to treat depression. They have been found to be effective in the treatment
of a wider range of disorders. Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI.
Benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam), reduce levels of anxiety. However,
they are habit-forming and sedating, so they are typically prescribed for only short-
term use.
Mellaril (thioridazine) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine) are antipsychotic medications
for the treatment of psychosis.
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which of the following is NOT one of six levels of cognition?
A. Synthesis
B. Knowledge
C. Affective
D. Evaluation - ANSWER-C
The six levels of cognition are, in sequential order—knowledge, comprehension,
application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Teaching techniques should match
the cognitive objective, such as knowing specific facts, theories, or information
(knowledge) or creating something new/integrating it into a solution (synthesis).
Learning aimed at judging the quality of something is known as evaluation.
Which of the following is NOT a stated purpose of the professional code of ethics?
A. To be used by malpractice insurance companies to mitigate liability
B. To summarize the values on which the profession is based
C. To be used by the profession to determine whether social workers have acted
unethically
D. To serve as a guide to socialize new social workers in the field - ANSWER-A
The Code of Ethics also provides ethical standards to which the general public can
hold the profession accountable and social workers can consult if professional
obligations conflict. These functions of the Code are printed immediately after the
preamble. The mitigation of liability by third-party payers is not based on the values
of the profession and is not a stated purpose of the Code.
Which of the following is an example of role reversal?
A. A mother who shares her 11-year-old daughter's clothes and collects stuffed
animals
B. A mother expecting her 11-year-old daughter to stay at home unsupervised
C. A mother with relationship problems who is repeatedly emotionally comforted by
her 11-year-old daughter
D. A mother who arranges a date for her 11-year-old daughter - ANSWER-C
A role reversal is when two people switch or reverse roles. In this answer, the mother
is emotionally dependent and the child is the comforter. These behaviors are usually
reversed in a parent-child relationship. The other response choices may relate to
roles, but are not reversals.
A social worker receives a subpoena from the courts in the mail for a former client's
records. In this situation, a social worker should:
A. Immediately send in the original records to the courts
B. Prepare a summary of the records to send in immediately
C. Claim privilege to protect the confidentiality of the client
D. Ignore the subpoena because it relates to a former client and is not relevant -
ANSWER-C
,A subpoena is not a court order and no documents should be sent unless ordered by
the court. However, a social worker does have to respond and should not send in the
records when receiving a subpoena unless the client has provided a written release.
In the DSM-5, when a social worker provides a reason why a condition does not
qualify for a disorder, it should be noted as:
A. Not otherwise specified
B. Other specified
C. Unspecified
D. Not specified elsewhere - ANSWER-B
In the DSM-5, "Not Otherwise Specified" (NOS) categories for disorders that do not
fit under specific disorder categories are replaced. "Other Specified" (i.e., "Other
Specified Depressive Disorder") categories are used when a social worker provides
the reason why the condition does not qualify for a specific diagnosis (i.e., short
duration). "Unspecified" is used when no additional explanation is provided as to why
the disorder does not meet the usual criteria.
A client abruptly stops coming to therapy after the sixth session. She shows up at the
office several weeks later demanding a copy of her records. The social worker does
not believe that the information in the record could cause harm to the client, but
denies access because the client did not provide any reason for the abrupt
termination or reason for wanting the copies. The actions by the social worker are:
A. Unethical because the client should have access to his or her record under these
circumstances
B. Ethical because the reason for the release must be disclosed to the social worker
C. Ethical because the client terminated without notice
D. Unethical because the client is always able to access his or her record under any
circumstances - ANSWER-A
A social worker who is concerned that client access to his or her records could cause
serious harm to the client can limit access to the record or portion of the record when
the rationale for the request is documented in the file. This case vignette clearly
states that the social worker is not concerned that releasing the record to the client
would be harmful, so it must be released and to not do so is unethical.
A client was referred to a mental health agency for treatment. Upon admission, he
reported feeling lethargic and hopeless and had difficulty getting out of bed. Several
weeks later, he states that he is sleepless, agitated, and unable to focus. Which of
the following medications is the client MOST likely going to be prescribed?
A. Ativan (lorazepam)
B. Nardil (phenelzine)
C. Lithium (lithium carbonate)
D. Buspar (buspirone) - ANSWER-C
Ativan and Buspar are antianxiety medications and Nardil is an antidepressant.
Lithium is a mood stabilizer, and this client appears to be experiencing depression
upon admission, as well as mania later in treatment. A mood stabilizer is used for the
treatment of Bipolar Disorder.
When clients are at high risk for relapse after discharge, all of the following should
occur after termination EXCEPT:
A. Regular assessments to determine whether services are needed
,B. Creation of client contracts that reinforce positive behaviors
C. Utilization of natural supports and peer support services
D. Follow-up to see whether discharge plans are being implemented - ANSWER-B
Clients who are at high risk for developing problems after services have ended
should receive regular assessments to see if additional services are needed and/or
discharge plans are being implemented. Natural supports and peer supports, such
as 12-step programs, are good resources to assist with sustaining progress made.
The creation of a contract is not done after termination because it indicates the
presence of an intervention in a therapeutic relationship. It is incorrect given the
order of the problem-solving process.
A social worker in private practice designs a standard intake form that includes
questions about the client's demographic information including age, gender, marital
status, sexual orientation, education, and drug/alcohol use. This form is:
A. Ethical since it contains important information for the social worker to know in
order to work with the client effectively
B. Ethical since all of this information will be kept confidential
C. Unethical since this information may not be needed for treatment
D. Unethical unless the social worker makes it clear that the client has the choice as
to whether to complete it - ANSWER-C
Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy. Social workers should not
solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or
conducting social work evaluation or research. Information about the client's sexual
orientation and/or drug or alcohol use may not be relevant to the presenting problem
or treatment.
A social worker is charged with creating a behavioral objective to assist her client,
John, in his educational setting. Which of the following statements is the BEST
example of this type of objective?
A. John will make eye contact during conversations in practical arts class at least
75% of the time.
B. John will be motivated to complete his homework daily in order to achieve a grade
of a B or better.
C. The teacher will praise John during class at least 10 times per hour.
D. John will sit in his chair at least 80% of the time. - ANSWER-A
A behavioral objective should be client-oriented and emphasize what a client needs
to do. C is excluded as it focuses on the teacher's actions. An important element of
behavioral objectives is that they are observable. Motivation is not easily observed.
The conditions under which the behavior will be performed should also be included.
D does not indicate if the expectation regarding sitting is to take place during class or
all of the time. A has all of the elements—it specifies the target behavior, the
conditions under which the behavior will be performed, and the criteria for
determining when the acceptable performance of the behavior occurs.
A new client enters the office walking slowly, using a cane, and has difficulty picking
up objects, swallowing, and speaking as a result of a stroke. The BEST diagnosis for
this client is:
A. Agnosia
B. Ataxia
C. Prosopagnosia
, D. Acalculia - ANSWER-B
Ataxia describes a lack of muscle control during voluntary movements, such as
walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can affect
movement, speech, eye movement, and swallowing.
Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to the cerebellum—the part of the
brain that controls muscle coordination. Many conditions can cause ataxia, including
alcohol abuse, stroke, tumor, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.
An inability to recognize familiar objects is agnosia, and an inability to recognize
familiar faces is prosopagnosia. Acalculia is the inability to do simple arithmetic.
Echolalia is BEST defined as:
A. Mimicking another's speech
B. Spontaneous movement
C. Repetitive movements
D. Odd mannerisms or actions - ANSWER-A
Echolalia is repeating noises and phrases. It is sometimes associated with
Catatonia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia, and other disorders.
During an intake interview, a client reports that she is extremely depressed and has
self-destructive thoughts. She has had prior suicide attempts, but tells the social
worker not to worry as she won't "do it again." The social worker should FIRST:
A. Tell the client that her decision not to harm herself is a good one
B. Explore with the client what is causing her depression
C. Conduct a safety assessment
D. Refer the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation - ANSWER-C
Despite the client's report that she will not act on her thoughts, she is at risk because
she has had these feelings and has acted on them in the past. The case vignette
does not describe the social worker taking any action yet. A safety assessment will
determine the severity of the depression and whether the client is at risk for a suicide
attempt. It must be done FIRST before any other action is taken.
A client with a Social Anxiety Disorder will MOST likely be prescribed which of the
following medications to take on an ongoing basis?
A. Zoloft (sertraline)
B. Mellaril (thioridazine)
C. Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
D. Valium (diazepam) - ANSWER-A The primary medications used to treat social
anxiety disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which were first
developed to treat depression. They have been found to be effective in the treatment
of a wider range of disorders. Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI.
Benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam), reduce levels of anxiety. However,
they are habit-forming and sedating, so they are typically prescribed for only short-
term use.
Mellaril (thioridazine) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine) are antipsychotic medications
for the treatment of psychosis.
