ASWB Social Worker Practice Test

2025 Edition

Try this free ASWB social worker practice test with actual exam topics, instant scoring fully explained answers. 

Most states require that a social worker be certified or licensed.  The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) is composed of the regulatory boards of all 50 states and administers the required exams. There are five categories of examinations, Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist and Clinical. The exams have 170 multiple choice questions, of which 20 are unscored.  Four hours is given to complete the exam.


1. During this developmental stage, a child possesses progress from concrete to abstract thinking and can comprehend past, present, future themes. Children also tend to be "egocentric" during this stage.
 
2. According to John Bowlby and his position on attachment theory, during which stage does a child begin to cry when an unfamiliar person tries to hold or closely approach them.
 
3. In which of the five stages of Maslow's hierarchy of needs does an individual experience his or her true calling, dealing with the world around them "as it is" and has a glimmer of what it is like to be complete?
 
4. Craig is a client who just entered into psychotherapy to address issues surrounding trauma. His therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, finds that he has the inability to acknowledge his true feelings when he describes the nature of this past sexual abuse. Craig states, "I just can't believe my Dad would do this to me. He wouldn't do this to me because he's my Dad". Which defense mechanism is Craig exhibiting?
 
5. A case worker is currently working with a client her age assisting her in accessing services through the local community center. The case worker finds the client rude and self-centered. When reviewing the case with her supervisor, the case worker informs her supervisor that the client "hates her". Which defensive mechanism is this case worker exhibiting?
 
6. According to systems theory, what is another term for "steady state"?
 
7. This term refers to the idea that one is a member of a particular cultural, national or racial group that shares or has similarities such as a common language, history, society, culture and/or religion.
 
8. Amy, a Program Director of a small community clinic, is in charge of determining and addressing the needs of the clinics mental health program. She wants to better understand why clients are not utilizing the therapeutic services consistently. Which assessment tool would be most appropriate to determine the needs and addressing the potential gaps of the program?
 
9. This psychological assessment is an introspective self-report questionnaire with the purpose of indicating different psychological preferences in how people perceive the world around them and make decisions.
 
10. A social worker will be facilitating a support group for teenagers. He is currently establishing the time of the group and forming a set of plans, rules, and expectations for its members to follow. The social worker realizes that the members may initially feel emotionally distant from others in the group. At which stage in the group process is the social worker?
 
11. A batterer promises his victim, "I will never do this again" after an altercation of physical and verbal abuse. The batterer offers the victim multiple apologies and declares love and caring for the victim. In what stage of the "cycle of violence" is the batterer?
 
12. A social worker is assessing a client's history for substance abuse. Which model provides the most comprehensive explanation for the complex nature of substance abuse disorders?
 
13. What is the difference between delusions and hallucinations when a social worker is making an assessment with a client presenting with psychiatric issues?
 
14. What is the difference between Endogenous depression and Exogenous depression when a social worker is making an assessment with a client presenting with mild depressive symptoms?
 
15. Which of the following is not a step in the problem-solving process?
 
16. According to B.F. Skinner, who developed Operant Conditioning, which operant technique uses praise or rewards to increase the probability that a behavior will occur?
 
17. Which act was the key legislation of its time for addressing child abuse and neglect? This legislation now provides federal funding to states in support of prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities. Lastly, it provides grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for demonstration programs and projects.
 
18. A social worker is working in this particular framework where the interventions are more involved in larger systems, stressing the importance of economic, historical, and sociopolitical, and environmental influences on client well-being and functioning. Which intervention is this social worker practicing?
 
19. In the field of healthcare, there are many ways to organize client records and progress notes. However, the SOAP format has been widely used and accepted to capture the client's progress in receiving services in a professional progress note. What does the "A" stand for in SOAP progress note format.
 
20. During an interview with a client, a social worker is pulling together the patterns of the client's presenting behaviors in order to gain a new understanding of the client's issues. Which interviewing technique is the social worker using?
 
21. A social worker is in an interview with a client for services. She is sitting up straight and leaning towards the client in a relaxed and open manner. She is commenting on the client's statements, asking open-ended questions, and making statements that show listening is occurring. Which verbal and non-verbal communication technique is this social worker utilizing with this client?
 
22. A social worker is about to interview a client, who will participate in clinical services. Which service-related form is most appropriate to use to obtain the client's consent to engage in these services?
 
23. A social worker is currently working with an adult client who receives services at the local community outreach program. One day the social worker was at his son's middle school to attend a music concert that he is performing in. The social worker notices his client is also present in the lobby of the school. However, he does not engage with the client. Later, the social worker's son introduces a girl who is also performing in the concert. The client comes over and states, "I didn't know our kids were performing in the concert together?!" The social worker remains professional but feels a bit uncomfortable. During the next scheduled appointment with the client, what should the social worker do?
 
24. The following are part of the essential steps in ethical problem-solving in social work practice except:
 
25. Which of the following is a core value of social work practice?
 
26. Which of the following is not an essential part of obtaining a client's informed consent?
 
27. A client engaged in a therapeutic session is uncomfortable with a case worker because the case worker reminds the client of his father who was very organized. What behavior is the client exhibiting?
 
28. A case worker has been doing social work for over ten years. The case worker has enjoyed his career over those years, but has started to feel a lack of satisfaction in resolving client problems and is emotionally exhausted. The case worker is likely experiencing:
 
29. Which of the following areas are included in an evaluation of a social worker's practice?
 
30. In a local community agency, a senior social worker is providing administrative and educational support to another fellow social worker. In addition, the senior social worker is establishing a "learning alliance" with the fellow social worker with the goal of teaching him new skills and refining existing ones. What professional action is the senior social worker performing with the fellow social worker?
 


 

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