SOCIAL WORK ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Which of the following characteristics is usually not found in families in
which incestuous relationships have occurred? (a) Enmeshment of family
members (b) Distorted patterns of communication (c) Symbiotic
mother-child relationships (d) Moralistic attitudes to extramarital affairs.
Answer: c
◍ An early cognitive theorist, who worked directly with Freud, established a
theoretical orientation that differed from Freud's in three key features: 1) an
individual's personality is best perceived as a whole, rather than as having
hierarchical segments or parts; 2) social relationships drive behavior more
than sexual motivations; and 3) current beliefs and thoughts play a far
greater role in human behavior than is suggested via psychoanalytic theory,
which is based largely in the unconscious and in past experiences and
beliefs. The name of this theorist is:a. Lawrence Kohlberg.b. Anna Freud.c.
Albert Ellis.d. Alfred Adler..
Answer: D: Alfred Adler.The sum are greater than the parts! Adlerian theory
also includes a biological view, largely absent in Psychoanalytic Theory,
recognizing that hormonal changes, physical illness, chemical imbalances,
and neurological disorders can dramatically influence capacity and behavior.
It is important to note, however, that Alder still locates false beliefs,
irrational thoughts, and misconceptions in the unconscious mind.
◍ When using the concept of self in the therapeutic concept it is best defined
as:a. the way in which a social worker purposefully interacts with a clientb.
revealing of personal information from the social worker to help the clientc.
transference between the client and the social workerd. the disclosure of the
information by the client to the social worker.
Answer: A
,◍ There has been a public emergency in a small town. First responders are
called out to care for the injured. The social work administrator in a
neighboring town calls his team of social workers in from their weekend off.
What is the administrator's duty?a. To ensure his staff provides professional
services to the greatest extent possibleb. Place the social workers on call in
case their services are neededc. Prepare the agency for a rush of welfare
applicationsd. Contact local service agencies to let them know the team is
not available.
Answer: a. To ensure his staff provides professional services to the greatest
extent possibleAdministrators should secure proper training for social
workers to respond in a case of emergency. Professional services need to be
provided to the greatest extent possible. Victims may require help with
trauma, loss of housing, or loss of a loved one.
◍ Which statement BEST describes resistance in the beginning stages of
treatment, according to psychosocial theory?A The client anticipates
criticism from the social worker following self-disclosure.B The client
minimizes problems and claims that the presenting problem has been
resolved.C The client misinterprets statements made by the social worker.D
The client is dependent on the social worker for advice in dealing with
problems.
Answer: b
◍ Autism is a spectrum disorder defined by a certain set of behaviors that
children and adults exhibit in varying ways. The main symptom of autism is
the abnormal or impaired development of communication and social
interaction. Two people with the same diagnosis may display any
combination of behaviors in any degree of severity. What criteria are needed
on an assessment for an autism diagnosis?a. Failure to develop peer
relationshipsb. Delay in the spoken languagec. Lack of social or emotional
reciprocityd. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above
◍ The personality disorder that is characterized by a restricted range
, ofemotional experience and expression is:a. Antisocialb. Schizoidc.
Histrionicd. Dependent.
Answer: Rationale: Basic recall of knowledge of personality disorders.
◍ When looking directly at the measurement of cost-effectiveness in a human
service organization the primary focus should be on:a. creating an agency
budget documenting materials and resourcesb. the relationship between
what was expected to be the cost and what actually wasc. economic benefits
of the program in terms of the communityd. calculating the cost of the
program and comparing it to alternate means of providing patient services.
Answer: D
◍ A 40-year-old male client explains that he is seeking care because he suffers
from panic attacks. He notes that he gets chills, nausea, dizziness, and
experiences fear about once a day. A social worker's FIRST step with this
client would be to1. Teach relaxation therapy2. Set goals for reduction of
anxiety3. Arrange for a doctor's appointment4. Assess the client's current
situation.
Answer: 3. Arrange for a doctor's appointmentRU SAFE
◍ Which of the following tasks is appropriate for a social worker utilizing a
strategic approach to family therapy?A Designing an intervention for each
specific problemB Limiting interventions to the immediate familyC
Assuming a nondirective role with the familyD Completing an in-depth
family history.
Answer: A
◍ A family services agency has a high number of clients who do not
keepappointments. The agency's social work administrator conducts a
clientsatisfaction survey, which reveals that clients believe the agency is
notwelcoming to their children. To address the clients' concerns,
theadministrator should FIRST:a. Create specialized activities for childrenb.
Evaluate the need to change agency programsc. Obtain consultation to
develop an action pland. Form a committee of clients and staff to identify
solutions.
, Answer: Rationale: Forming a committee (D) engages the clients and staff in
formulatingsolutions. FIRST engaging those who are directly involved is an
importantconsideration. After forming the committee, options A, B, or C
may follow, butwould not be done first.
◍ A couple expressing extreme anger at each other come to a social worker for
marital counseling. The social worker should FIRST:a. explore the goals the
anger is maskingb. clarify whether each partner is willing to hear the otherc.
acknowledge the anger each partner has towards the otherd. use the
interview to probe for positive feelings each has for the other.
Answer: c. acknowledge the anger each partner has towards the other
◍ You have taken a job as a prison social worker and one of your first clients
of the day is a man serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
He has served 8 years up to the point where you meet him. When you ask
him why he requested an appointment with mental health he begins a long
tirade about how everyone is against him. He tells you the dorm sergeant
hates him and his fellow dorm members are always causing him problems.
You have read his "prison jacket" and realize he has been sentenced for 1st
Degree Murder. When you ask about the crime he was sentenced on he tells
you it was not his fault. Upon further questioning, he decides to tell you his
story. He went out one night to rob a local drug dealer because he needed
cash. He took his brother's pistol. As he was robbing the dealer, the dealer
pulled out a gun and shot him, wounded, but not incapacitated he fired back
and killed the drug dealer. He was convinced that since the drug dealer shot
him first, he was only acting in self-defense. He then stated that his lawyer
"screwed him" because his lawyer refused to use self-defense as a legal
defense for his actions. You realize the primary issue facing this
inmate/client is his internalization of a specific criminal thinking pattern.
You recognize this criminal thinking pattern to be...A) The "good person"
stanceB) the "victim" stanceC) the "lack of time" stanceD) the "unique
person" stance.
Answer: B) the "victim" stanceUsing the victim stance allows you to blame
other people for what has happened to you. Your primary behavioral
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Which of the following characteristics is usually not found in families in
which incestuous relationships have occurred? (a) Enmeshment of family
members (b) Distorted patterns of communication (c) Symbiotic
mother-child relationships (d) Moralistic attitudes to extramarital affairs.
Answer: c
◍ An early cognitive theorist, who worked directly with Freud, established a
theoretical orientation that differed from Freud's in three key features: 1) an
individual's personality is best perceived as a whole, rather than as having
hierarchical segments or parts; 2) social relationships drive behavior more
than sexual motivations; and 3) current beliefs and thoughts play a far
greater role in human behavior than is suggested via psychoanalytic theory,
which is based largely in the unconscious and in past experiences and
beliefs. The name of this theorist is:a. Lawrence Kohlberg.b. Anna Freud.c.
Albert Ellis.d. Alfred Adler..
Answer: D: Alfred Adler.The sum are greater than the parts! Adlerian theory
also includes a biological view, largely absent in Psychoanalytic Theory,
recognizing that hormonal changes, physical illness, chemical imbalances,
and neurological disorders can dramatically influence capacity and behavior.
It is important to note, however, that Alder still locates false beliefs,
irrational thoughts, and misconceptions in the unconscious mind.
◍ When using the concept of self in the therapeutic concept it is best defined
as:a. the way in which a social worker purposefully interacts with a clientb.
revealing of personal information from the social worker to help the clientc.
transference between the client and the social workerd. the disclosure of the
information by the client to the social worker.
Answer: A
,◍ There has been a public emergency in a small town. First responders are
called out to care for the injured. The social work administrator in a
neighboring town calls his team of social workers in from their weekend off.
What is the administrator's duty?a. To ensure his staff provides professional
services to the greatest extent possibleb. Place the social workers on call in
case their services are neededc. Prepare the agency for a rush of welfare
applicationsd. Contact local service agencies to let them know the team is
not available.
Answer: a. To ensure his staff provides professional services to the greatest
extent possibleAdministrators should secure proper training for social
workers to respond in a case of emergency. Professional services need to be
provided to the greatest extent possible. Victims may require help with
trauma, loss of housing, or loss of a loved one.
◍ Which statement BEST describes resistance in the beginning stages of
treatment, according to psychosocial theory?A The client anticipates
criticism from the social worker following self-disclosure.B The client
minimizes problems and claims that the presenting problem has been
resolved.C The client misinterprets statements made by the social worker.D
The client is dependent on the social worker for advice in dealing with
problems.
Answer: b
◍ Autism is a spectrum disorder defined by a certain set of behaviors that
children and adults exhibit in varying ways. The main symptom of autism is
the abnormal or impaired development of communication and social
interaction. Two people with the same diagnosis may display any
combination of behaviors in any degree of severity. What criteria are needed
on an assessment for an autism diagnosis?a. Failure to develop peer
relationshipsb. Delay in the spoken languagec. Lack of social or emotional
reciprocityd. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above
◍ The personality disorder that is characterized by a restricted range
, ofemotional experience and expression is:a. Antisocialb. Schizoidc.
Histrionicd. Dependent.
Answer: Rationale: Basic recall of knowledge of personality disorders.
◍ When looking directly at the measurement of cost-effectiveness in a human
service organization the primary focus should be on:a. creating an agency
budget documenting materials and resourcesb. the relationship between
what was expected to be the cost and what actually wasc. economic benefits
of the program in terms of the communityd. calculating the cost of the
program and comparing it to alternate means of providing patient services.
Answer: D
◍ A 40-year-old male client explains that he is seeking care because he suffers
from panic attacks. He notes that he gets chills, nausea, dizziness, and
experiences fear about once a day. A social worker's FIRST step with this
client would be to1. Teach relaxation therapy2. Set goals for reduction of
anxiety3. Arrange for a doctor's appointment4. Assess the client's current
situation.
Answer: 3. Arrange for a doctor's appointmentRU SAFE
◍ Which of the following tasks is appropriate for a social worker utilizing a
strategic approach to family therapy?A Designing an intervention for each
specific problemB Limiting interventions to the immediate familyC
Assuming a nondirective role with the familyD Completing an in-depth
family history.
Answer: A
◍ A family services agency has a high number of clients who do not
keepappointments. The agency's social work administrator conducts a
clientsatisfaction survey, which reveals that clients believe the agency is
notwelcoming to their children. To address the clients' concerns,
theadministrator should FIRST:a. Create specialized activities for childrenb.
Evaluate the need to change agency programsc. Obtain consultation to
develop an action pland. Form a committee of clients and staff to identify
solutions.
, Answer: Rationale: Forming a committee (D) engages the clients and staff in
formulatingsolutions. FIRST engaging those who are directly involved is an
importantconsideration. After forming the committee, options A, B, or C
may follow, butwould not be done first.
◍ A couple expressing extreme anger at each other come to a social worker for
marital counseling. The social worker should FIRST:a. explore the goals the
anger is maskingb. clarify whether each partner is willing to hear the otherc.
acknowledge the anger each partner has towards the otherd. use the
interview to probe for positive feelings each has for the other.
Answer: c. acknowledge the anger each partner has towards the other
◍ You have taken a job as a prison social worker and one of your first clients
of the day is a man serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
He has served 8 years up to the point where you meet him. When you ask
him why he requested an appointment with mental health he begins a long
tirade about how everyone is against him. He tells you the dorm sergeant
hates him and his fellow dorm members are always causing him problems.
You have read his "prison jacket" and realize he has been sentenced for 1st
Degree Murder. When you ask about the crime he was sentenced on he tells
you it was not his fault. Upon further questioning, he decides to tell you his
story. He went out one night to rob a local drug dealer because he needed
cash. He took his brother's pistol. As he was robbing the dealer, the dealer
pulled out a gun and shot him, wounded, but not incapacitated he fired back
and killed the drug dealer. He was convinced that since the drug dealer shot
him first, he was only acting in self-defense. He then stated that his lawyer
"screwed him" because his lawyer refused to use self-defense as a legal
defense for his actions. You realize the primary issue facing this
inmate/client is his internalization of a specific criminal thinking pattern.
You recognize this criminal thinking pattern to be...A) The "good person"
stanceB) the "victim" stanceC) the "lack of time" stanceD) the "unique
person" stance.
Answer: B) the "victim" stanceUsing the victim stance allows you to blame
other people for what has happened to you. Your primary behavioral
