ASWB LMSW Exam Revision Questions Correctly
Solved to Score A+
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.
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).
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 effect of insecure attachment is future negative social interactions
with peers (key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are not directly linked to
attachment difficulties.
A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hygiene, 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.
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).
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 occurred
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department - Answer C. Transfer the client to a colleague
To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social worker should transfer the client to
another social worker (key C). Processing the issue with the client (A) is not going to
resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of the past relationship (B) is unethical. Asking for a
transfer to another department (D) avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has questions about the effects
on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that cocaine use could 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 child protective services
D. Ask the client's health care provider to drug test the client - Answer A. Offer substance abuse
treatment options to the client
Offering treatment options (key A) to the client supports client self-determination and choice. Options
(B), (C), and (D) are all restrictive and breach client confidentiality.
, 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 a grassreets coalition to diseuss reaction to the policies
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies - Answer B. Research the
historical problems that led to the policies
This item requires understanding of the basic steps in policy analysis. The social worker must FIRST
understand the historical background of the policy (key B) before moving to the
analysis stage. Options (A), (C), and (D) are steps to take later in the process.
A client meets with a social worker at a crisis center. The client is living with a sibling and shares that the
sibling's boyfriend is threatening to force the client out of the home. The client does not feel safe. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Call the police for the client
B. Develop a safety plan
C. Try to locate housing for the client
D. Determine the nature of the danger - Answer D. Determine the nature of the danger
Before taking any action, the social worker should assess the situation FIRST (key D). Options (A), (B),
and (C) are all action steps that may be done later. Taking action without
assessing the situation involves reaching conclusions without knowing the facts.
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 client's mood
Solved to Score A+
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.
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).
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 effect of insecure attachment is future negative social interactions
with peers (key D). Posttraumatic stress disorder (B)
is a short-term effect, while high blood pressure (C) and later social anxiety (D) are not directly linked to
attachment difficulties.
A 13-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker because of poor hygiene, 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.
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).
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 occurred
C. Transfer the client to a colleague
D. Request a transfer to a different department - Answer C. Transfer the client to a colleague
To avoid the ethical dilemma of dual relationships, the social worker should transfer the client to
another social worker (key C). Processing the issue with the client (A) is not going to
resolve the ethical dilemma. Denying the existence of the past relationship (B) is unethical. Asking for a
transfer to another department (D) avoids the issue entirely.
A client who is trying to become pregnant uses cocaine consistently and has questions about the effects
on the fetus. The social worker tells the client that cocaine use could 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 child protective services
D. Ask the client's health care provider to drug test the client - Answer A. Offer substance abuse
treatment options to the client
Offering treatment options (key A) to the client supports client self-determination and choice. Options
(B), (C), and (D) are all restrictive and breach client confidentiality.
, 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 a grassreets coalition to diseuss reaction to the policies
D. Look into legal precedents that could potentially nullify the policies - Answer B. Research the
historical problems that led to the policies
This item requires understanding of the basic steps in policy analysis. The social worker must FIRST
understand the historical background of the policy (key B) before moving to the
analysis stage. Options (A), (C), and (D) are steps to take later in the process.
A client meets with a social worker at a crisis center. The client is living with a sibling and shares that the
sibling's boyfriend is threatening to force the client out of the home. The client does not feel safe. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Call the police for the client
B. Develop a safety plan
C. Try to locate housing for the client
D. Determine the nature of the danger - Answer D. Determine the nature of the danger
Before taking any action, the social worker should assess the situation FIRST (key D). Options (A), (B),
and (C) are all action steps that may be done later. Taking action without
assessing the situation involves reaching conclusions without knowing the facts.
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 client's mood
