ASWB Complete Practice Exam Questions & Answers 2026 | High-
Yield Review | Graded A+
1. Which of the following medication classes is considered a first-line treatment
option for social anxiety disorder?
Tricyclic antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Anticonvulsants
Atypical antipsychotics
2. Describe the significance of formative evaluation in social work programs.
Formative evaluation is primarily concerned with legal compliance
and ethical standards.
Formative evaluation is used to measure the final impact of a program
after its completion.
Formative evaluation helps improve program processes and
outcomes by providing ongoing feedback.
Formative evaluation focuses solely on client demographics and
statistics.
3. What is one potential benefit of discussing job stress in a psychotherapy
group for individuals recovering from substance abuse?
It encourages clients to avoid discussing personal issues.
It focuses solely on substance use recovery.
It provides a platform for individual therapy.
It allows clients to see if others are having similar problems.
,4. An 11-year-old student is performing well below her academic potential as
she lacks confidence in her abilities and is fearful to take on assigned tasks.
She is MOST likely experiencing a crisis in which of the following stages of
psychosocial development?
initiative vs guilt
industry vs inferiority
autonomy vs shame and doubt
generativity vs stagnation
5. What act requires all health care systems that are receiving federal monies
through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to ask all patients upon
admission if they have an advance directive?
PSDA
No such act currently exists
HCA
HIPAA
6. What term describes the social worker's directive in strategic family therapy
that encourages a client to act contrary to their expectations?
Paradoxical intent
Relabeling paradigm
Differentiation response
Pretend technique
7. Describe the circumstances under which a social worker may breach
confidentiality according to ethical guidelines.
, A social worker may breach confidentiality if the client requests it.
A social worker may breach confidentiality if they feel the client is not
making progress.
A social worker may breach confidentiality when there is a serious
risk to self or others, suspected child abuse, or an imminent threat to
an identifiable third party.
A social worker may breach confidentiality if the client has not paid for
services.
8. Describe how the social exchange theory applies to clients in battering
relationships and their decision to stay or leave.
Social exchange theory emphasizes the role of societal norms in
dictating relationship choices.
Social exchange theory indicates that clients are unaware of the risks
involved in their relationships.
Social exchange theory posits that emotional factors are the only
determinants of relationship stability.
Social exchange theory suggests that clients weigh the benefits of
staying in a relationship against the risks, leading them to remain
until benefits outweigh the costs.
9. What should a social worker do when transitioning to a new agency to ensure
ethical practice?
Discontinue services to clients immediately.
Inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of
services and the benefits and risks of the options.
Not inform clients in order to avoid causing them undue stress and
harm.
, Advise clients that it would be best for them to transfer services to the
social worker's new agency.
10. In a case study where a client in a battering relationship is considering
leaving, how might a social worker utilize social exchange theory to support
the client's decision-making process?
The social worker could help the client identify and evaluate the
perceived benefits and risks of staying versus leaving the
relationship.
The social worker should advise the client to leave immediately
without discussing their feelings.
The social worker should encourage the client to ignore the risks and
focus only on the benefits of leaving.
The social worker could focus solely on the emotional aspects of the
relationship without considering practical factors.
11. Discuss why hiring a family member in a social work position may raise ethical
concerns.
Hiring a family member may create a conflict of interest that
undermines professional integrity.
Hiring a family member ensures that the best candidate is chosen.
Hiring a family member can improve workplace morale.
Hiring a family member is always acceptable if they are qualified.
12. The best definition of evidence based practice is:
the synthesis or summary of the findings across qualitative reports to
describe the current knowledge in the area
Yield Review | Graded A+
1. Which of the following medication classes is considered a first-line treatment
option for social anxiety disorder?
Tricyclic antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Anticonvulsants
Atypical antipsychotics
2. Describe the significance of formative evaluation in social work programs.
Formative evaluation is primarily concerned with legal compliance
and ethical standards.
Formative evaluation is used to measure the final impact of a program
after its completion.
Formative evaluation helps improve program processes and
outcomes by providing ongoing feedback.
Formative evaluation focuses solely on client demographics and
statistics.
3. What is one potential benefit of discussing job stress in a psychotherapy
group for individuals recovering from substance abuse?
It encourages clients to avoid discussing personal issues.
It focuses solely on substance use recovery.
It provides a platform for individual therapy.
It allows clients to see if others are having similar problems.
,4. An 11-year-old student is performing well below her academic potential as
she lacks confidence in her abilities and is fearful to take on assigned tasks.
She is MOST likely experiencing a crisis in which of the following stages of
psychosocial development?
initiative vs guilt
industry vs inferiority
autonomy vs shame and doubt
generativity vs stagnation
5. What act requires all health care systems that are receiving federal monies
through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to ask all patients upon
admission if they have an advance directive?
PSDA
No such act currently exists
HCA
HIPAA
6. What term describes the social worker's directive in strategic family therapy
that encourages a client to act contrary to their expectations?
Paradoxical intent
Relabeling paradigm
Differentiation response
Pretend technique
7. Describe the circumstances under which a social worker may breach
confidentiality according to ethical guidelines.
, A social worker may breach confidentiality if the client requests it.
A social worker may breach confidentiality if they feel the client is not
making progress.
A social worker may breach confidentiality when there is a serious
risk to self or others, suspected child abuse, or an imminent threat to
an identifiable third party.
A social worker may breach confidentiality if the client has not paid for
services.
8. Describe how the social exchange theory applies to clients in battering
relationships and their decision to stay or leave.
Social exchange theory emphasizes the role of societal norms in
dictating relationship choices.
Social exchange theory indicates that clients are unaware of the risks
involved in their relationships.
Social exchange theory posits that emotional factors are the only
determinants of relationship stability.
Social exchange theory suggests that clients weigh the benefits of
staying in a relationship against the risks, leading them to remain
until benefits outweigh the costs.
9. What should a social worker do when transitioning to a new agency to ensure
ethical practice?
Discontinue services to clients immediately.
Inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of
services and the benefits and risks of the options.
Not inform clients in order to avoid causing them undue stress and
harm.
, Advise clients that it would be best for them to transfer services to the
social worker's new agency.
10. In a case study where a client in a battering relationship is considering
leaving, how might a social worker utilize social exchange theory to support
the client's decision-making process?
The social worker could help the client identify and evaluate the
perceived benefits and risks of staying versus leaving the
relationship.
The social worker should advise the client to leave immediately
without discussing their feelings.
The social worker should encourage the client to ignore the risks and
focus only on the benefits of leaving.
The social worker could focus solely on the emotional aspects of the
relationship without considering practical factors.
11. Discuss why hiring a family member in a social work position may raise ethical
concerns.
Hiring a family member may create a conflict of interest that
undermines professional integrity.
Hiring a family member ensures that the best candidate is chosen.
Hiring a family member can improve workplace morale.
Hiring a family member is always acceptable if they are qualified.
12. The best definition of evidence based practice is:
the synthesis or summary of the findings across qualitative reports to
describe the current knowledge in the area
