Would you like to test out your knowledge on some more LMSW (ASWB) exam questions?
Below are another 10 questions that we went over during a review class at my school:
1. The phase of the helping process which leads to subsequent implementation of intervention is:
a. exploration and summation
b. exploration, assessment and planning
c. initiation of established rapport
d. clarification and analysis
2. When reviewing a social worker’s performance, the supervisor notes that the social worker conveys little empathy toward clients who have recently left welfare and holding first jobs. In order to help the social worker develop empathy with her clients, the supervisor should:
a. explain welfare-to-work procedures from the client’s perspective
b. suggest the social worker enter therapy to become a more empathetic person
c. model empathetic communication when engaging with the social worker
d. clarify the agency’s reason for supporting these clients
3. The purpose of feedback in a social worker interview is to:
a. allow the social worker to confront distortions in the client’s thinking
b. summarize main points of the interview
c. let the client know social worker understands the issue
d. give the social worker opportunity to self-disclose for benefit of the client
4. A social worker is leading a women’s group with the purpose of improving personal and environmental circumstances. The social worker asks the members to identify the area in which they feel most competent. The social worker is following an intervention strategy BEST described as:
a. reinforcement
b. endorsement
c. enhancement
d. empowerment
5. The BEST example of the educational component of supervision is:
a. monitoring the caseload
b. providing in-service training
c. utilizing individual and group conferences
d. refining knowledge and skills
6. In facilitating a hospital support group for bereaved parents, a social worker can discuss a personal experience of a death of a child to:
a. create empathy with the participants
b. receive help from the group
c. create a sense of shared experience
d. establish role as expert on grief issues
7. The primary role of a social worker is:
a. building rapport
b. providing support systems
c. acting as a resource
d. curing emotional or mental dysfunction
8. A client with a history of drug abuse was referred to a social worker by a concerned relative. The social worker should FIRST:
a. conduct a family interview
b. begin treatment, focusing on the reason for the drug abuse
c. refer the client for substance abuse treatment
d. evaluate the client’s motivation for change
9. In adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, the most frequently encountered defense mechanism is:
a. denial
b. intellectualism
c. suppression
d. projection
10. Which of the following approaches would be MOST appropriate to use in evaluating client satisfaction with the social worker’s provision of services?
a. using a single system design, evaluating the quality of services
b. in the final interview, ask the clients about their level of satisfaction
c. through process recordings, ask the supervisor for feedback
d. at termination, ask clients to complete a services evaluation and satisfaction form
1. b 2. c 3. c 4. d 5. d 6. c 7. c 8. c 9. a 10. d
I’m hoping that you found these additional practice questions helpful.
Please share your comments below 🙂
Hi, I really appreciate these questions. I have been using another set of questions from a different test prep that were different. So I appreciate having another prospective to review from.
Thanks, L.A
Hi there
The questions were good practice, but it would be helpful to give explanations for answers.
Thanks, Tiona
Thanks for your feedback.
I’ll keep that in mind when/if I post any additional practice questions.
I just took the LMSW exam today and didnt pass by ONE answer. I found it very hard and feel so frustrated 🙁
Oh, Mary – you were so close. I can totally understand why you would feel frustrated… I don’t know if it helps or not but it is not unusual for some people to have to retake the exam 2 or even 3 times.
I think when you’re that close, anxiety may be playing a role and you may want to take some steps to relax yourself prior to the exam.
I’d recommend you look over this post https://www.socialwork.career/2014/04/got-lmsw-exam-anxiety-4-strategies-10-practice-questions.html as well as consider one of the relaxation methods suggested in this post: https://www.socialwork.career/2013/04/how-to-tame-your-job-interview-anxiety-once-and-for-all.html
But for now, give yourself a break and tell yourself job well-done – you almost passed the exam (you did). You just missed it by one question. This means that the next time you’ll pass!
hi there 🙂
thank you for these practice questions
did anyone knows other websites that provide practice questions/drills related to social work for free?
thanks 🙂
Hi Janrey,
Please see this post https://www.socialwork.career/2011/11/tools-to-help-you-pass-lmsw-exam.html for additional free tools.
Thanks for the information for Social Work. I am planning take my State Board Test. I need more advice.
Hi Sarah,
It is my pleasure. This is a good post https://www.socialwork.career/2013/02/ten-tips-for-passing-lmsw-exam.html
There are several helpful posts under https://www.socialwork.career/category/test-prep
Wishing you the best of luck!
Thanks for the review!
I am not seeing why number 8 would be C. I would think the client has to be motivated to change to get something out of treatment.
Hi Stef,
This one is a bit tricky… I find the two acronyms helpful for choosing between two good possible responses. In this case, it is a FIRST type of question so the FAREAFI acronym would apply; i.e., there are no options such as acknowledging feelings or assessing, therefore, referring the client is the first action to take.
https://www.socialwork.career/2012/08/how-to-use-two-acronyms-to-go-for-gold.html
Hoping this helps!
Thanks for the prep questions ! I found them helpful and different than the ones In my prep book. I take my exam Nov. 9 !! I’m super nervous!! Any tips or advice?? The prep book I’m using keeps stressing to look for key words but I don’t know if that’s helping me!! Any tips helps !! Thank you!!
Hi Genolyn,
I’m so glad that you found the sample questions helpful 🙂 There are several posts on this blog that you may find helpful. I would start out with this one https://www.socialwork.career/2011/05/secrets-for-passing-lmsw-exam.html and then you can look through the other posts by clicking on https://www.socialwork.career/category/test-prep
Wishing you the best of luck on your upcoming exam!
Hi,
I am planning to take LMSW test within the next 4 months.. Thank you for these practice test questions.. Could you also suggest a book that I can study from? I completed my MSW from India and I want to take the test so that I can look for jobs. Thanks in advance!
Hi Deepthi,
The (ASWB) Association of Social Work Boards has a study guide that you may purchase https://www.aswb.org/exam-candidates/exam-materials/exam-guide/
That said, please note that the LMSW exam is state specific. You may read up about the specific requirements here https://www.aswb.org/exam-candidates/
Wishing you the best of luck!
8. A client with a history of drug abuse was referred to a social worker by a concerned relative. The social worker should FIRST:
c. refer the client for substance abuse treatment NOT d. evaluate the client’s motivation for change?
It doesn’t sound right!
Most of the answers seem arbitrary.
Hi Phuongq,
To answer the licensure questions, it is most helpful to use the acronym tool in this post https://www.socialwork.career/2015/03/the-two-secret-lmsw-exam-acronyms-you-must-know.html
As a result of this question being a FIRST/NEXT type of question, , you would use the FAREAFI acronym to assist (in this order). Making a referral follows the two first steps ( F: Feelings of the client be acknowledged first above all. Begin building rapport.
A: Assess < the expectation is that you would not be evaluating a client's motivation to change at this point) Note that the way we are to respond to these questions may differ from the way you work at your agency... Hoping that this helps!
In light of this being a “FIRST/NEXT” type of question (and not “BEST/MOST”), the FAREAFI acronym is to be used. Please see this post https://www.socialwork.career/2015/03/the-two-secret-lmsw-exam-acronyms-you-must-know.html.
As a side note, the assumption (rightly or wrongly) is that in most agencies, social workers are not equipped to treat individuals with substance abuse addictions and thus these individuals would be referred out for treatment.
If the questions feel counter-intuitive for you, you may benefit from taking one of the paid study courses.
Good luck!
The information was very helpful. I have been on the internet looking at different websites for practice questions.
Thanks Much
I’m so glad it was helpful. Thanks for letting me know!
Wishing you the best of luck!
Hello Dorlee!
I passed my LMSW exam first shot Nov. 11! Thanks for the practice questions. They were very helpful!! Good luck fellow social workers!!
Hey Dorlee,
I am writing to you for some tips. I definitely found your practice questions and truly this entire site helpful. Unfortunately I took my exam on Friday and failed by 3 points. I am really discouraged right now and trying to keep things together. Do you have any suggestions? I am finishing my MSW next month so this was not a good time line. I felt prepared and took as many test as I could including ASWB. My performance on the practice exams were all passing. I just don’t know where I failed. Everyone in my cohort that has taken the exam has passed so far, so I am a little embarrassed.
Hi Tere,
I feel for you. You were so close to passing… Please try not to get discouraged. Some people pass on their first try and others need to take the exam a few times before they pass.
I would watch some of the videos given by the NASW in this post to be reassured that you are not alone and hear some of their recommended strategies. You can then go through some of the other posts I’ve written and decide whether you want/need to take a study test prep class, look for a study group or just study again but engage in some relaxing activities prior to the test so that anxiety doesn’t get in the way. If you go through my posts, you’ll see there are interviews with several test prep providers as well as a post on how to find free online study groups.
You will pass!
Best,
Dorlee
Scheduled to take social work master level exam on 12/1/16 and need some help.
Hi Arthur,
That doesn’t leave you much time for prep… Aside from all the posts on this site, you may want to consider signing up for this study prep course.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Dorlee
Hi, thank you for your posts. In question number 8 it makes more sense for me to use the acronym aaspirins, where the third step is start where the client is at. This I would think is similar to find out if client is motivated. What made you use the acronym FAREAFI instead? I am taking the exam this friday.
Hi Rochel,
In light of this being a “FIRST/NEXT” type of question (and not “BEST/MOST”), the FAREAFI acronym is to be used. Please see this post https://www.socialwork.career/2015/03/the-two-secret-lmsw-exam-acronyms-you-must-know.html.
Best of luck!