1|Page Doc 67
ASWB MSW EXAM PREP 2026 | 600+ VERIFIED Q&A |
MASTERS LEVEL SOCIAL WORK MASTERY |
DETAILED RATIONALES
The research design most often used by social workers to improve their practice is:
a. experimental design
b. single-subject design
c. longitudinal design
d. quasi-experimental design
b. single subject design
A 26 yr/old female client shares with her male social worker that she is becoming attached
to him and often has sexual fantasies about him. She also shares that she would like to see
him socially. What should be the social worker's first responsibility?
a. discuss the client's feelings about her sexual fantasies
b. immediatly refer the client to a female social worker
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship
d. discuss the client's pas relationships.
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship.
The primary purpose of a service plan is to
a. establish goals
b. assess the home situation
c. monitor behavioral changes
d. evaluate client progress
a. establish goals
In treating a client in crisis, the caseworker should focus on...
a. the immediate presenting problem
b. a few specific problems in day-to-day functioning
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c. a wide range of problems in day to day functioning
d. underlying personality problems
a. the immediate presenting problem
When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is best for the social worker to
a. suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. accept the client's hostility and talk about non-threatening topics
c. set limits and structure on the interview session
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
You are a social worker in an outpatient setting. A new client arrives for her first session
with you. The client has noticeable hair loss and tells you that she is very tense and is
having problems in her relationship with her boyfriend. Your first diagnosis would likely be
A. Borderline personality disorder
B. generalized anxiety disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Trichotillomania
D. Trichotillomania
A social worker who attempts to impose their judgement on clients is most likely to elicit
the client's
a. acquiescence
b. cooperation
c. resistance
d. appreciation
c. resistance
Establishing rapport with a client is essential in the initial stages of counseling. All of the
following techniques are effective except
a. moderate levels of self-disclosure
b. admitting your mistakes
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c. sharing personal experience
d. responding to a client's nonverbal messages
c. sharing personal experience
A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their
baby. The infant has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child
be allowed to die. The social worker should first:
a. report the case ot child protection services becuause of the at-risk nature of the situation
b. offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
c. encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors.
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors
The youngest child of a single parent is hospitalized for the second time in four months
because of lead poisoning. The child is now ready for discharge, but the doctor refuses to go
ahead with the release, citing an unsafe home environment. When interviewed by the
hospital social worker, the parent says that the landlord will no have their apartment
repainted or make other necessary repairs. The parent wants to move, but is unable to
afford living arrangements that will also allow four children. After reporting the situation
to child welfare authorities, the social worker should
a. advise the parent to withhold rent until repair work is done.
b. advocate for the child to return home with the parent
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
d. report the landlord's lack of cooperation to the housing authority
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine
visit. The nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to to the social
worker. When seeing the social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and
tearful. The social worker should first assess the client's
a. life situation and recent changes
b. compliance with medical care
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c. concerns about dying
d. feelings about dialysis
a. life situation and recent changes
A widower requests help from a social service agency for himself and his two young
children. The man explains that his wife died three weeks ago and that he now needs
childcare services for his children so that he can return to work. He is obviously in a state
of grief and shock over the loss of his wife. The presenting problem in this situation is.
a. the recent death of his wife
b. the absence of supporting relatives
c. the need for childcare services
d. the need for employment
c. the need for childcare services
A social worker employed at a residential youth services agency learns that a fellow
employee has multiple convictions for sexual molestation of young children. The agency is
unaware of his history. Sexual offenses automatically disqualify applicants for employment
in the agency. The social worker's professional and ethical obligation is met by:
a. saying and doing nothing
b. urging the employee to reveal his history to management
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation
d. notifying the man's probation officer
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation.
During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to
express her feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the
developmentally disabled. Mrs. S talks at length about her physcial health problems. The
social worker should,
a. use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her
ASWB MSW EXAM PREP 2026 | 600+ VERIFIED Q&A |
MASTERS LEVEL SOCIAL WORK MASTERY |
DETAILED RATIONALES
The research design most often used by social workers to improve their practice is:
a. experimental design
b. single-subject design
c. longitudinal design
d. quasi-experimental design
b. single subject design
A 26 yr/old female client shares with her male social worker that she is becoming attached
to him and often has sexual fantasies about him. She also shares that she would like to see
him socially. What should be the social worker's first responsibility?
a. discuss the client's feelings about her sexual fantasies
b. immediatly refer the client to a female social worker
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship
d. discuss the client's pas relationships.
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship.
The primary purpose of a service plan is to
a. establish goals
b. assess the home situation
c. monitor behavioral changes
d. evaluate client progress
a. establish goals
In treating a client in crisis, the caseworker should focus on...
a. the immediate presenting problem
b. a few specific problems in day-to-day functioning
,2|Page Doc 67
c. a wide range of problems in day to day functioning
d. underlying personality problems
a. the immediate presenting problem
When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is best for the social worker to
a. suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. accept the client's hostility and talk about non-threatening topics
c. set limits and structure on the interview session
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
You are a social worker in an outpatient setting. A new client arrives for her first session
with you. The client has noticeable hair loss and tells you that she is very tense and is
having problems in her relationship with her boyfriend. Your first diagnosis would likely be
A. Borderline personality disorder
B. generalized anxiety disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Trichotillomania
D. Trichotillomania
A social worker who attempts to impose their judgement on clients is most likely to elicit
the client's
a. acquiescence
b. cooperation
c. resistance
d. appreciation
c. resistance
Establishing rapport with a client is essential in the initial stages of counseling. All of the
following techniques are effective except
a. moderate levels of self-disclosure
b. admitting your mistakes
,3|Page Doc 67
c. sharing personal experience
d. responding to a client's nonverbal messages
c. sharing personal experience
A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their
baby. The infant has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child
be allowed to die. The social worker should first:
a. report the case ot child protection services becuause of the at-risk nature of the situation
b. offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
c. encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors.
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors
The youngest child of a single parent is hospitalized for the second time in four months
because of lead poisoning. The child is now ready for discharge, but the doctor refuses to go
ahead with the release, citing an unsafe home environment. When interviewed by the
hospital social worker, the parent says that the landlord will no have their apartment
repainted or make other necessary repairs. The parent wants to move, but is unable to
afford living arrangements that will also allow four children. After reporting the situation
to child welfare authorities, the social worker should
a. advise the parent to withhold rent until repair work is done.
b. advocate for the child to return home with the parent
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
d. report the landlord's lack of cooperation to the housing authority
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine
visit. The nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to to the social
worker. When seeing the social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and
tearful. The social worker should first assess the client's
a. life situation and recent changes
b. compliance with medical care
, 4|Page Doc 67
c. concerns about dying
d. feelings about dialysis
a. life situation and recent changes
A widower requests help from a social service agency for himself and his two young
children. The man explains that his wife died three weeks ago and that he now needs
childcare services for his children so that he can return to work. He is obviously in a state
of grief and shock over the loss of his wife. The presenting problem in this situation is.
a. the recent death of his wife
b. the absence of supporting relatives
c. the need for childcare services
d. the need for employment
c. the need for childcare services
A social worker employed at a residential youth services agency learns that a fellow
employee has multiple convictions for sexual molestation of young children. The agency is
unaware of his history. Sexual offenses automatically disqualify applicants for employment
in the agency. The social worker's professional and ethical obligation is met by:
a. saying and doing nothing
b. urging the employee to reveal his history to management
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation
d. notifying the man's probation officer
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation.
During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to
express her feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the
developmentally disabled. Mrs. S talks at length about her physcial health problems. The
social worker should,
a. use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her
