ASWB PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
A 12-year-old client who experienced severe neglect by biological parents
during infancy is brought to a social work agency for evaluation. According to
records, the client lived with several foster families before being adopted at
the age of five. Despite receiving consistent nurturance from the adoptive
family, the client has failed to bond with them. Upon initial assessment, a
social worker notes that the client's inhibitions and ambivalence toward
others could indicate the presence of:
A. Rett Syndrome
B. Selective Mutism
C. Separation Anxiety Disorder
D. Reactive Attachment Disorder - answer-D. Reactive Attachment Disorder
A 16-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker while being admitted to
an inpatient psychiatric facility. The adolescent reports alcohol use and
sniffing paint on a daily basis. The adolescent's family relationships are
strained, and school performance is poor. In the process of completing the
assessment, what should the social worker recommend NEXT?
A. Family sessions
B. One-to-one observation
C. Further psychological testing
D. Review of school attendance and performance reports - answer-C. Further
psychological testing
*further tested is warranted and given that the adolescent is being admitted
to an inpatient treatment facility. Testing is immediately available.
A client is discharged form inpatient treatment for substance use. A mental
health social worker meets for a follow-up session with family members and
observes that they avoid discussing the problem. What should the social
worker do FIRST?
A. Confront family members about the long-term nature of the problem.
B. Assist the family in understanding the harm of substance use.
,C. Determine the extent of denial within the family system.
D. Advise the family members that relapse is a realistic possibility. - answer-
C. Determine the extent of denial within the family system.
*The social worker should FIRST follow up on the observation that the family
is using denial as a coping strategy. This must occur before intervention can
take place.
A client meets with a social worker to discuss parenting a rebellious
adolescent. After several sessions, the client shares beliefs that support
physical punishment. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Inform the client that physical punishment psychologically harms children.
B. Validate the client for openly sharing the physical punishment practices.
C. Request that the client describe the physical punishment practices.
D. Explore the client's own history of physical punishment during childhood. -
answer-B. Validate the client for openly sharing the physical punishment
practices.
*Clarifying a client's basic understanding of physical punishment practices is
necessary FIRST step.
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 sue 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 supports the client's self-determination and
choice.
, A client who struggles with alcoholism is prescribed a medication that makes
him feel sick every time he drinks while taking it. The use of this medication
is what type of operant technique?
A. Extinction
B. Flooding
C. Aversion therapy
D. In vivo desensitization - answer-C. Aversion Therapy
Aversion therapy or treatment is aimed at reducing the attractiveness of a
stimulus or a behavior by pairing it with an aversive stimulus. An example of
this technique is treating alcoholism with Antabuse.
A family services agency has a high number of clients who do not keep
appointments. The agency's social work administrator conducts a client
satisfaction survey, which reveals that clients believe the agency is not
welcoming to their children. To alleviate the client's concern, what should the
administrator do FIRST?
A. Create specialized activities for children.
B. Evaluate the need to change agency programs.
C. Obtain consultation to develop an action plan.
D. Form a committee of clients and staff to identify solutions. - answer-D.
Form a committee of clients and staff to identify solutions.
A hospice social worker makes a home visit to a client who is becoming
increasingly angry with his spouse, who is his caregiver. The client is
observed yelling and throwing books. What should the social worker do FIRST
during the home visit?
A. Refer the spouse to a caregiver support group
B. Assess the potential for further violence
C. Instruct the spouse to remove lethal means
D. Evaluate home safety for hospice team members. - answer-B. Assess the
potential for further violence
*Assess his potential for further violence FIRST. This will help ensure safety.
A hospital social worker investigates why a patient with home health services
was admitted with a severe wound infection and malnutrition. The social
A 12-year-old client who experienced severe neglect by biological parents
during infancy is brought to a social work agency for evaluation. According to
records, the client lived with several foster families before being adopted at
the age of five. Despite receiving consistent nurturance from the adoptive
family, the client has failed to bond with them. Upon initial assessment, a
social worker notes that the client's inhibitions and ambivalence toward
others could indicate the presence of:
A. Rett Syndrome
B. Selective Mutism
C. Separation Anxiety Disorder
D. Reactive Attachment Disorder - answer-D. Reactive Attachment Disorder
A 16-year-old adolescent meets with a social worker while being admitted to
an inpatient psychiatric facility. The adolescent reports alcohol use and
sniffing paint on a daily basis. The adolescent's family relationships are
strained, and school performance is poor. In the process of completing the
assessment, what should the social worker recommend NEXT?
A. Family sessions
B. One-to-one observation
C. Further psychological testing
D. Review of school attendance and performance reports - answer-C. Further
psychological testing
*further tested is warranted and given that the adolescent is being admitted
to an inpatient treatment facility. Testing is immediately available.
A client is discharged form inpatient treatment for substance use. A mental
health social worker meets for a follow-up session with family members and
observes that they avoid discussing the problem. What should the social
worker do FIRST?
A. Confront family members about the long-term nature of the problem.
B. Assist the family in understanding the harm of substance use.
,C. Determine the extent of denial within the family system.
D. Advise the family members that relapse is a realistic possibility. - answer-
C. Determine the extent of denial within the family system.
*The social worker should FIRST follow up on the observation that the family
is using denial as a coping strategy. This must occur before intervention can
take place.
A client meets with a social worker to discuss parenting a rebellious
adolescent. After several sessions, the client shares beliefs that support
physical punishment. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Inform the client that physical punishment psychologically harms children.
B. Validate the client for openly sharing the physical punishment practices.
C. Request that the client describe the physical punishment practices.
D. Explore the client's own history of physical punishment during childhood. -
answer-B. Validate the client for openly sharing the physical punishment
practices.
*Clarifying a client's basic understanding of physical punishment practices is
necessary FIRST step.
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 sue 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 supports the client's self-determination and
choice.
, A client who struggles with alcoholism is prescribed a medication that makes
him feel sick every time he drinks while taking it. The use of this medication
is what type of operant technique?
A. Extinction
B. Flooding
C. Aversion therapy
D. In vivo desensitization - answer-C. Aversion Therapy
Aversion therapy or treatment is aimed at reducing the attractiveness of a
stimulus or a behavior by pairing it with an aversive stimulus. An example of
this technique is treating alcoholism with Antabuse.
A family services agency has a high number of clients who do not keep
appointments. The agency's social work administrator conducts a client
satisfaction survey, which reveals that clients believe the agency is not
welcoming to their children. To alleviate the client's concern, what should the
administrator do FIRST?
A. Create specialized activities for children.
B. Evaluate the need to change agency programs.
C. Obtain consultation to develop an action plan.
D. Form a committee of clients and staff to identify solutions. - answer-D.
Form a committee of clients and staff to identify solutions.
A hospice social worker makes a home visit to a client who is becoming
increasingly angry with his spouse, who is his caregiver. The client is
observed yelling and throwing books. What should the social worker do FIRST
during the home visit?
A. Refer the spouse to a caregiver support group
B. Assess the potential for further violence
C. Instruct the spouse to remove lethal means
D. Evaluate home safety for hospice team members. - answer-B. Assess the
potential for further violence
*Assess his potential for further violence FIRST. This will help ensure safety.
A hospital social worker investigates why a patient with home health services
was admitted with a severe wound infection and malnutrition. The social
