ASWB EXAM 2019 PRACTICE TEST (1-50)
A client shows a social worker a list of reasons why she should and should not leave her abusive
husband. She says that she is preparing the list to see if the benefits are greater than the risks. The client
is basing her decision on which of the following theories?
A.Systems
B.Functionalist
C.Harm reduction
D.Social exchange - answer-D
Social exchange theory is based on the idea of totaling potential benefits and losses to determine
behavior. A client will leave a battering relationship when the alternative is seen as better than the
current situation (rewards outweigh costs).
A client tells a social worker that he feels "alone" and does not think that anyone else is having the same
problems that he is experiencing. In order to assist the client, it is BEST that the social worker:
A.Ask the client to explain further what he means by feeling "alone"
B.Determine whether the client is at risk for suicide and in need of hospitalization
C.Refer the client to counseling for depression
D.State that many people have encountered similar difficulties and that the social worker is there to
help - answer-D
The social worker should intervene to let the client know that he is not alone as the social worker is
available to assist (D). The client may feel isolated or alone because he has never met anyone with
similar problems. It is important to acknowledge that each client's situation is unique, but a social
worker must also instill hope by making it clear that others have made changes or overcome similar
challenges. Based on the client's use of the word "alone," there is no indication that he is at risk, so a risk
assessment is not warranted (B). Exploring the client's feelings further (A) and receiving counseling (C)
may be needed, but the case vignette does not provide enough information to indicate that the client is
clinically depressed as opposed to having a typical response encountered with many clients who are
experiencing a wide variety of problems.
A client who has been receiving case management services from a social worker stops coming to the
agency abruptly. Several weeks later, the client comes to see the social worker and asks for a copy of her
record. Although the social worker does not think that there is anything in the record that would be
harmful to the client, he is concerned about the client's abrupt termination. The social worker should:
A.Tell the client that the record will be provided once appropriate termination has occurred
,B.Refuse to provide a copy of the record to the client directly, but agree that it will be sent to a new
service provider once selected
C.Inform the client that the record is confidential and cannot be provided because it is needed for
administrative purposes
D.Provide a copy of the record to the client after including a summary of the recent interaction for its
request - answer-D
Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to their own records. Social workers should
limit clients' access to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances when
there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to clients, which is not the
situation in this case vignette. In this case, the social worker should provide a copy of the record to the
client (D).
A client who is going through a bitter divorce tells a social worker that she "does not know how this will
ever turn out well." The social worker, who is divorced, remembers when she also felt that way. To
appropriately assist the client, the social worker should:
A.Discuss with the client how she envisions the client's life after the divorce without disclosing her own
past
B.Speak candidly to the client about her own marital struggles so the client does not feel alone
C.Tell the client that she also felt that way when she was getting divorced in an effort to normalize the
client's emotions
D.Make a referral to another social worker in the agency because the client's experiences are eliciting an
emotional reaction in the social worker - answer-A
Although some social workers believe that disclosure of personal information about a narrow range of
topics is appropriate, disclosure about other topics is much riskier and some topics are clearly
inappropriate. The latter includes social workers' marital or relationship difficulties. The social worker
should address the client's concern (A) without disclosing her emotional struggles during her own
divorce (B and C). The social worker should seek supervision or consultation to address her emotional
reaction, but should not refer the client to another agency (D) because the termination would be
disruptive to treatment.
A foundation that funds an Alzheimer's support program is doing an audit to ensure that funds were
spent appropriately. They ask to review client files as part of their evaluation. The social worker can
allow such reviews to occur:
A.Without client consent because the foundation funding is needed for services to continue
B.Only after client consent has been obtained
C.Without client consent if clients are informed about the reviews after they occur
, D.With written consent from the agency director - answer-B
Social workers should not disclose confidential information to third-party payers, such as the foundation
in this case vignette, unless clients have authorized such disclosure.
A school social worker has been informed that a student has been involved in an accident which has
caused permanent physical disability. In order to BEST meet this student's needs, the social worker
should be sure to assess the:
A.Impacts on the student's psychological and/or social functioning
B.Special physical accommodations required in school to facilitate maximum independence
C.Need for physical therapy, given that the accident occurred early in the life course
D.Mobility of both the arms and legs, given that physical limitations exist - answer-A
The social worker must recognize the impact of illness or disability on all aspects of well-being, not just
the physical restrictions. Systems theory is based on the concept that when one thing changes in a
system, other aspects are affected. The student has experienced a change in physical functioning. This
will likely impact on psychological and social well-being as the biopsychosocial functioning of an
individual is interrelated. Performance in these domains will affect the spiritual and cultural aspects of
one's life as well. A is the only response choice that acknowledges the biopsychosocial responses.
A school social worker learns that a 10-year-old student has just been placed in foster care because
physical abuse by her parents has been substantiated. The social worker has had many referrals for this
student in recent weeks concerning incidents of bullying other children. This student's behavior is MOST
likely a result of:
A.Displacement
B.Reaction formation
C.Projection
D.Incorporation - answer-A
Displacement is shifting thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors to a less threatening target. In this case
vignette, the student cannot strike back at her abusive parents, so she is displaying displaced aggression
toward other children. Reaction formation is acting in a manner opposite of one's unconscious belief.
Projection is attributing one's attitudes, wishes, feelings, and/or urges to another; the attitudes, wishes,
feelings, and/or urges are so threatening that they are removed from oneself and attributed to another.
Incorporation is taking values, attitudes, expectations, and preferences of another into one's own
identity.
A social worker and her supervisor are meeting when a teenager comes into the office and wants "to
talk." The teenager reports that she is "being tortured" at home and is the victim of emotional and
physical abuse. The supervisor tells the social worker that this child made similar allegations several
A client shows a social worker a list of reasons why she should and should not leave her abusive
husband. She says that she is preparing the list to see if the benefits are greater than the risks. The client
is basing her decision on which of the following theories?
A.Systems
B.Functionalist
C.Harm reduction
D.Social exchange - answer-D
Social exchange theory is based on the idea of totaling potential benefits and losses to determine
behavior. A client will leave a battering relationship when the alternative is seen as better than the
current situation (rewards outweigh costs).
A client tells a social worker that he feels "alone" and does not think that anyone else is having the same
problems that he is experiencing. In order to assist the client, it is BEST that the social worker:
A.Ask the client to explain further what he means by feeling "alone"
B.Determine whether the client is at risk for suicide and in need of hospitalization
C.Refer the client to counseling for depression
D.State that many people have encountered similar difficulties and that the social worker is there to
help - answer-D
The social worker should intervene to let the client know that he is not alone as the social worker is
available to assist (D). The client may feel isolated or alone because he has never met anyone with
similar problems. It is important to acknowledge that each client's situation is unique, but a social
worker must also instill hope by making it clear that others have made changes or overcome similar
challenges. Based on the client's use of the word "alone," there is no indication that he is at risk, so a risk
assessment is not warranted (B). Exploring the client's feelings further (A) and receiving counseling (C)
may be needed, but the case vignette does not provide enough information to indicate that the client is
clinically depressed as opposed to having a typical response encountered with many clients who are
experiencing a wide variety of problems.
A client who has been receiving case management services from a social worker stops coming to the
agency abruptly. Several weeks later, the client comes to see the social worker and asks for a copy of her
record. Although the social worker does not think that there is anything in the record that would be
harmful to the client, he is concerned about the client's abrupt termination. The social worker should:
A.Tell the client that the record will be provided once appropriate termination has occurred
,B.Refuse to provide a copy of the record to the client directly, but agree that it will be sent to a new
service provider once selected
C.Inform the client that the record is confidential and cannot be provided because it is needed for
administrative purposes
D.Provide a copy of the record to the client after including a summary of the recent interaction for its
request - answer-D
Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to their own records. Social workers should
limit clients' access to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances when
there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to clients, which is not the
situation in this case vignette. In this case, the social worker should provide a copy of the record to the
client (D).
A client who is going through a bitter divorce tells a social worker that she "does not know how this will
ever turn out well." The social worker, who is divorced, remembers when she also felt that way. To
appropriately assist the client, the social worker should:
A.Discuss with the client how she envisions the client's life after the divorce without disclosing her own
past
B.Speak candidly to the client about her own marital struggles so the client does not feel alone
C.Tell the client that she also felt that way when she was getting divorced in an effort to normalize the
client's emotions
D.Make a referral to another social worker in the agency because the client's experiences are eliciting an
emotional reaction in the social worker - answer-A
Although some social workers believe that disclosure of personal information about a narrow range of
topics is appropriate, disclosure about other topics is much riskier and some topics are clearly
inappropriate. The latter includes social workers' marital or relationship difficulties. The social worker
should address the client's concern (A) without disclosing her emotional struggles during her own
divorce (B and C). The social worker should seek supervision or consultation to address her emotional
reaction, but should not refer the client to another agency (D) because the termination would be
disruptive to treatment.
A foundation that funds an Alzheimer's support program is doing an audit to ensure that funds were
spent appropriately. They ask to review client files as part of their evaluation. The social worker can
allow such reviews to occur:
A.Without client consent because the foundation funding is needed for services to continue
B.Only after client consent has been obtained
C.Without client consent if clients are informed about the reviews after they occur
, D.With written consent from the agency director - answer-B
Social workers should not disclose confidential information to third-party payers, such as the foundation
in this case vignette, unless clients have authorized such disclosure.
A school social worker has been informed that a student has been involved in an accident which has
caused permanent physical disability. In order to BEST meet this student's needs, the social worker
should be sure to assess the:
A.Impacts on the student's psychological and/or social functioning
B.Special physical accommodations required in school to facilitate maximum independence
C.Need for physical therapy, given that the accident occurred early in the life course
D.Mobility of both the arms and legs, given that physical limitations exist - answer-A
The social worker must recognize the impact of illness or disability on all aspects of well-being, not just
the physical restrictions. Systems theory is based on the concept that when one thing changes in a
system, other aspects are affected. The student has experienced a change in physical functioning. This
will likely impact on psychological and social well-being as the biopsychosocial functioning of an
individual is interrelated. Performance in these domains will affect the spiritual and cultural aspects of
one's life as well. A is the only response choice that acknowledges the biopsychosocial responses.
A school social worker learns that a 10-year-old student has just been placed in foster care because
physical abuse by her parents has been substantiated. The social worker has had many referrals for this
student in recent weeks concerning incidents of bullying other children. This student's behavior is MOST
likely a result of:
A.Displacement
B.Reaction formation
C.Projection
D.Incorporation - answer-A
Displacement is shifting thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors to a less threatening target. In this case
vignette, the student cannot strike back at her abusive parents, so she is displaying displaced aggression
toward other children. Reaction formation is acting in a manner opposite of one's unconscious belief.
Projection is attributing one's attitudes, wishes, feelings, and/or urges to another; the attitudes, wishes,
feelings, and/or urges are so threatening that they are removed from oneself and attributed to another.
Incorporation is taking values, attitudes, expectations, and preferences of another into one's own
identity.
A social worker and her supervisor are meeting when a teenager comes into the office and wants "to
talk." The teenager reports that she is "being tortured" at home and is the victim of emotional and
physical abuse. The supervisor tells the social worker that this child made similar allegations several
