ASWB LMSW EXAM 2025 NEWEST
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (2
VERSIONS) | A+ GRADE 2025-2026
An adolescent who has diabetes is admitted to the
hospital for the second time in three weeks after significant
changes to the client's insulin levels. The physician
believes that the adolescent is intentionally noncompliant
with diabetes care and wants to be admitted. The
physician refers the patient to a social worker. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Contract with the adolescent to prevent readmission
B. Review the medical management plan with the
adolescent
C. Notify local child protective services
D. Obtain a social and family history Correct Answer D.
Obtain a social and family history
The FIRST step for the social worker is to complete an
assessment. Obtaining a social and family history
(key D) is the only action that involves understanding
the situation. Options
(A), (B), and (C) may be necessary later, depending on
what is learned during the assessment.
,What client factor MOST likely determines the scope and
focus of an assessment?
A. Needs of the client
B. Motivation of the client
C. Family systems
D. Social network Correct Answer A. Needs of the client
The needs of the client (key A) must determine the
focus of the assessment. Family systems (C) and
social network (D) may be included in the assessment,
but they should not be the primary factor for the
assessment. Motivation (B) is more directly related to
how the social worker would proceed in an
intervention.
A social worker is contacted by a client whose initial
complaint is depression. The client reports symptoms of
insomnia, headaches, inability to eat, vomiting, and neck
aches. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Obtain a detailed social history on the client
B. Probe for a substance abuse problem
C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation Correct
Answer C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation
The described physical symptoms suggest a potential
medical issue, which indicates the FIRST action is to
obtain medical consultation (key C). Obtaining a
social history (A) and
,assessing for a substance abuse problem (B) may
also be done later. It is important to FIRST rule out
medical issues
A client who is depressed mentions plans for suicide to a
social worker. Privacy and confidentiality had been
discussed early in the treatment process. The social
worker believes that the threat is serious. What should the
social worker do NEXT?
A. Respect the client's right to confidentiality
B. Consult with an agency supervisor
C. Develop a safety contract with the client
D. Discuss the need for hospitalization with the client
Correct Answer D. Discuss the need for hospitalization
with the client
Discussing the need for hospitalization (key D) is the
NEXT step after the social worker has determined the
existence of a serious threat. Consulting with a
supervisor (B) would be
appropriate but only after first discussing the plan for
hospitalization with the client (key D). Rights to
confidentiality (A) are superseded by the seriousness
of the threat. A safety contract (C) is not known to be
an effective intervention for suicide prevention when a
client has developed a plan.
During a therapy session, a client reveals to the social
worker that she has difficulty managing her three-year-old
, child. The client reports that her child ran into traffic and
was nearly hit by a car.
What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Report the possible neglect to child protective services
B. Work with the client to develop a safety plan
C. Consult with the social work supervisor
D. Refer the client to a parenting class Correct Answer B.
Work with the client to develop a safety plan
Developing a safety plan (key B) is the FIRST action
that a social worker would take upon learning of the
client's concerns. While the social worker might
consult with a supervisor (C)
and refer the client to a parenting class (D), these
would occur only after attending to the client's
immediate issues. There is no evidence of child abuse
or neglect (A).
Parents of a 24-month-old child report their only concern is
that their child plays alongside of, but not with, other
children. What should the social worker do?
A. Assess for symptoms of developmental delays
B. Observe the child's play in a group setting
C. Reassure the parents that parallel play is typical at this
age Correct Answer C. Reassure the parents that parallel
play is typical at this age
The role of the social worker is to educate the child's
parents about typical developmental behavior (key C).
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (2
VERSIONS) | A+ GRADE 2025-2026
An adolescent who has diabetes is admitted to the
hospital for the second time in three weeks after significant
changes to the client's insulin levels. The physician
believes that the adolescent is intentionally noncompliant
with diabetes care and wants to be admitted. The
physician refers the patient to a social worker. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Contract with the adolescent to prevent readmission
B. Review the medical management plan with the
adolescent
C. Notify local child protective services
D. Obtain a social and family history Correct Answer D.
Obtain a social and family history
The FIRST step for the social worker is to complete an
assessment. Obtaining a social and family history
(key D) is the only action that involves understanding
the situation. Options
(A), (B), and (C) may be necessary later, depending on
what is learned during the assessment.
,What client factor MOST likely determines the scope and
focus of an assessment?
A. Needs of the client
B. Motivation of the client
C. Family systems
D. Social network Correct Answer A. Needs of the client
The needs of the client (key A) must determine the
focus of the assessment. Family systems (C) and
social network (D) may be included in the assessment,
but they should not be the primary factor for the
assessment. Motivation (B) is more directly related to
how the social worker would proceed in an
intervention.
A social worker is contacted by a client whose initial
complaint is depression. The client reports symptoms of
insomnia, headaches, inability to eat, vomiting, and neck
aches. What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Obtain a detailed social history on the client
B. Probe for a substance abuse problem
C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation Correct
Answer C. Ask the client to obtain medical consultation
The described physical symptoms suggest a potential
medical issue, which indicates the FIRST action is to
obtain medical consultation (key C). Obtaining a
social history (A) and
,assessing for a substance abuse problem (B) may
also be done later. It is important to FIRST rule out
medical issues
A client who is depressed mentions plans for suicide to a
social worker. Privacy and confidentiality had been
discussed early in the treatment process. The social
worker believes that the threat is serious. What should the
social worker do NEXT?
A. Respect the client's right to confidentiality
B. Consult with an agency supervisor
C. Develop a safety contract with the client
D. Discuss the need for hospitalization with the client
Correct Answer D. Discuss the need for hospitalization
with the client
Discussing the need for hospitalization (key D) is the
NEXT step after the social worker has determined the
existence of a serious threat. Consulting with a
supervisor (B) would be
appropriate but only after first discussing the plan for
hospitalization with the client (key D). Rights to
confidentiality (A) are superseded by the seriousness
of the threat. A safety contract (C) is not known to be
an effective intervention for suicide prevention when a
client has developed a plan.
During a therapy session, a client reveals to the social
worker that she has difficulty managing her three-year-old
, child. The client reports that her child ran into traffic and
was nearly hit by a car.
What should the social worker do FIRST?
A. Report the possible neglect to child protective services
B. Work with the client to develop a safety plan
C. Consult with the social work supervisor
D. Refer the client to a parenting class Correct Answer B.
Work with the client to develop a safety plan
Developing a safety plan (key B) is the FIRST action
that a social worker would take upon learning of the
client's concerns. While the social worker might
consult with a supervisor (C)
and refer the client to a parenting class (D), these
would occur only after attending to the client's
immediate issues. There is no evidence of child abuse
or neglect (A).
Parents of a 24-month-old child report their only concern is
that their child plays alongside of, but not with, other
children. What should the social worker do?
A. Assess for symptoms of developmental delays
B. Observe the child's play in a group setting
C. Reassure the parents that parallel play is typical at this
age Correct Answer C. Reassure the parents that parallel
play is typical at this age
The role of the social worker is to educate the child's
parents about typical developmental behavior (key C).
