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ASWB

Association of Social Work Boards

Qualifiers

Capitalized and bolded words in the stem provide important information to test-takers. Pay close attention
to qualifiers like BEST, FIRST, NEXT, and MOST.

Question 1

Qualifier Question

A social worker meets with a client in a domestic violence shelter. The client tells the social worker that a decision has been made to return home to an abusive partner. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A. Help the client develop a safety plan
B. Refer the client for counseling services
C. Encourage the client to remain in the shelter

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KEY: A

While the actions described in (B) could be appropriate for the social worker to take later, ensuring the client’s safety is the FIRST action to be done (KEY A). Encouraging the client to remain in the shelter (C) does not honor the client’s right to self-determination.

Two kinds of questions

Stems have either a direct question or incomplete statement, or they contain a vignette—a short scenario
or situation that leads to the question itself.

The incomplete statement or direct question

Direct questions or incomplete statements usually require the test-taker to remember specific information.

Question 2

Incomplete statement Question

Incomplete statement Question

Alcohol is a:

A. Hallucinogen
B. Stimulant
C. Depressant
D. Hypnotic

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KEY: C

Alcohol is a:

A. Hallucinogen
B. Stimulant
C. Depressant
D. Hypnotic