LCSW Practice Exam 1 | Free ASWB Clinical Exam Practice

If you want to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, you need to pass the ASWB Clinical exam. This LCSW practice exam will familiarize yourself with types of questions asked in the ASWB clinical exam. Take this practice test to boost your confidence.

A family has adopted a 7-year-old boy with a history of severe neglect. He continues to hoard food, hiding it under his bed and in his backpack. The adoptive parents are frustrated and seek guidance from a social worker. What recommendation should the social worker make?

The parents should ignore the behavior as it will likely go away on its own.

The parents should take away privileges each time they discover food hoarding.

Install locks on cupboards and the refrigerator to monitor his food intake.

Provide the child with a food basket for healthy snacks that can be refilled regularly.

Question 1 of 25

Experiencing discrimination is associated with all of the following except:

Heightened vigilance

Poorer physical health

Increased substance use

Higher rates of mental health treatment

Question 2 of 25

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of globalization?

Increased extreme poverty

Increased economic inequality

Supply chain dependencies

Increased global mobility

Question 3 of 25

The idea that clients use substances to reduce psychiatric symptoms is based on which theory of addiction?

Stress reduction theory

Medical model

Biopsychosocial model

Self-medication theory

Question 4 of 25

A White, American social worker is working with a recently immigrated Asian client who holds different cultural values. What is the most appropriate course of action for the social worker?

Refer the client to a different social worker who has more cultural knowledge

Encourage the client to teach the social worker about their culture

Explain the social worker’s principles and approach and ask if the client is comfortable with them

Consider alternative methods and approaches to treatment if the client does not connect with the social worker’s approach

Question 5 of 25

Which of the following statements is NOT true about motivation to change?

Motivation fluctuates from one time to another.

Motivation can be increased by working to remove barriers to change.

Motivation is driven by hope or the belief that life can be different.

Motivation that is imposed by external forces is more salient than that which is intrinsic.

Question 6 of 25

What is the correct sequential order of the stages of change in the Transtheoretical Model?

Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse

Preparation, precontemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance, and relapse

Preparation, action, precontemplation, contemplation, maintenance, and relapse

Precontemplation, preparation, contemplation, action, maintenance, and relapse

Question 7 of 25

During an initial assessment, what is the best way for a social worker to ask a client about their sexual orientation?

"Do you consider yourself to be gay or straight?"

"Tell me about your sexuality."

"What is your sexual orientation?"

"Are you attracted to men or women?"

Question 8 of 25

An adolescent takes care of her intoxicated mother and lies to her siblings by saying their mother is “sick.” This behavior is an example of which concept in family systems theory?

Emotional cutoff

Homeostasis

Boundaries

Feedback

Question 9 of 25

Defense mechanisms are most closely associated with which therapeutic modality?

Narrative

Humanistic

Psychoanalytic

Attachment-based

Question 10 of 25

What is the best definition of “parentified children”?

Children who become parents as teenagers

Children who evolve into adults with similar issues as their parents

Children who act out in ways similar to their parents

Children who parent themselves and/or siblings earlier than developmentally appropriate

Question 11 of 25

Which of the following is NOT considered an essential step in the ethical problem-solving process in social work?

Asking a supervisor to monitor practice to identify new ethical issues or dilemmas

Weighing ethical issues in light of social work values and principles

Determining whether there is an ethical dilemma

Identifying the ethical standards that may be compromised

Question 12 of 25

A young boy is stopped by a police officer and claims to be a member of the armed forces, even though it is clearly untrue. This statement is most likely an example of:

Folie à deux

Comorbid thought

Delusion

Dissociation

Question 13 of 25

A father becomes concerned about increasing gun violence in his neighborhood. He organizes a meeting with other residents to discuss its impact and explore how everyone can help create change. This situation is an example of:

Advocacy

Social Planning

Community Organizing

Program Development

Question 14 of 25

A social work administrator hires her niece, who recently earned a social work degree, as a temporary group home manager for a program set to open in two weeks. The decision is made due to staffing delays that would otherwise postpone client placements. This action is:

Ethical because the position is temporary and ensures clients get the services needed

Unethical because clients will experience staff turnover when a new manager is hired

Unethical because this is a conflict of interest

Ethical because the niece is clearly qualified for the position

Question 15 of 25

Which of the following is best associated with an increased risk for chronic pain, high-risk sexual behavior, sleep disturbances, teen pregnancy, and interpersonal difficulties?

Low socioeconomic status

Cardiovascular disease

Substance use

Childhood sexual abuse

Question 16 of 25

A social worker wants to assess how satisfied current clients are with a new relapse prevention program. They distribute satisfaction surveys, analyze the results, and share the findings with the management team. What type of evaluation is the social worker conducting?

Formative

Experimental

Summative

Quasi-experimental

Question 17 of 25

A social worker is conducting a home visit for a family with three children whose mother recently died in a car accident. The family, previously living in a shelter, has just moved into a new home. Upon arrival, the social worker witnesses the father push one of the children to the ground and punch the wall near the child. What should be the social worker’s first response?

Make a CPS report

Take pictures of the event

Call the police

Do nothing because it's non of his/her business

Question 18 of 25

During an intake interview, a client reports feeling extremely depressed and having self-destructive thoughts. She discloses a history of prior suicide attempts but assures the social worker, “don’t worry, I won’t do it again.” What should the social worker do first?

Explore with the client what is causing her depression

Tell the client that her decision not to harm herself is a good one

Refer the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation

Conduct a safety assessment

Question 19 of 25

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which of the following is the most essential and must be met first?

Physiological needs

Self-actualization

Love and belonging

Safety needs

Question 20 of 25

The responsibility for caring for an aging parent most often falls on:

The state

The eldest child

The child most connected with the parent

The child most accepting of this responsibility

Question 21 of 25

A social worker is meeting with a 50-year-old African-American male who reports some suicidal ideation. He has a history of major depression and was recently discharged from inpatient hospitalization. He states he is feeling better and has more energy. He lives with his wife, works in construction, and reports working about 60 hours per week. Which suicide risk factor should the social worker pay close attention to?

Having adult children who have moved out of the home puts him at a higher risk.

His improvement during his hospitalization may actually give him the energy to complete suicide.

The client is African-American and therefore, statistically, a higher suicide risk.

The long hours that he works put him at a higher risk of suicide.

Question 22 of 25

A client diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder is MOST likely to be prescribed which of the following medications for ongoing use?

Mellaril (thioridazine)

Zoloft (sertraline)

Thorazine (chlorpromazine)

Valium (diazepam)

Question 23 of 25

A therapist is developing a website to promote her private practice. Which of the following would be considered unethical?

Highlight the therapist’s expertise

Share extensive information about the therapist’s training and background

Include information about the therapist’s fees and sliding scale

Collect clients’ testimonials highlighting the effectiveness of treatment

Question 24 of 25

A therapist is meeting with a client for an initial evaluation. The client reports moodiness, frequent headaches, significant recent weight loss, and a decreased appetite. What should the clinician do first?

Assess the client for suicidality

Refer the client to a psychiatrist

Complete a mental status exam

Refer the client to a MD

Question 25 of 25