ASWB LMSW Practice Exam 2026
Questions & Verified Answers
100% Verified Graded A+
1. 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.
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.
2. At what age is separation anxiety MOST likely to occur?
A. 24 months
B. 12 months
C. 3 months
Answer: B. 12 months
This item requires basic recall that separation anxiety is most typical around the age of 12 months (key B).
3. 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
, Answer: D. Negative social interactions with peers
The MOST strongly linked long-term ettect of insecure attachment is future negative social interactions with peers
(key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term ettect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are not directly linked to attachment
diflculties.
4. A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hy-
giene, 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
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.
5. 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
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).
6. 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
Questions & Verified Answers
100% Verified Graded A+
1. 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.
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.
2. At what age is separation anxiety MOST likely to occur?
A. 24 months
B. 12 months
C. 3 months
Answer: B. 12 months
This item requires basic recall that separation anxiety is most typical around the age of 12 months (key B).
3. 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
, Answer: D. Negative social interactions with peers
The MOST strongly linked long-term ettect of insecure attachment is future negative social interactions with peers
(key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term ettect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are not directly linked to attachment
diflculties.
4. A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hy-
giene, 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
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.
5. 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
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).
6. 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
