At Agents of Change, we’ve had 1000’s of students take our practice exams over the past few years.
To help our students prepare for the ASWB exam, we went through the data and identified the 4 questions that students struggled with the most. In this blog post, we will break down each of these challenging questions and provide you with the strategies and insights needed to get them correct.
Whether you are just beginning your ASWB exam journey or are a seasoned test-taker, this post will provide you with valuable insights and tips to help you succeed. So, let’s dive in and conquer these 4 hardest ASWB practice questions from Agents of Change together!
The Hardest Questions on Exam 1
1) You are working with a 6-year-old boy in a school setting. During a play therapy session, the student reports that his sister has a boyfriend who he doesn’t like. When you inquire further, the boy acts oddly and states “I just don’t like him”. These comments make you feel uneasy. How do you best respond in this situation?
a. Make a CPS report, as there may be abuse or neglect occurring.
b. Document the boy’s statements and follow up with the parent regarding the statements.
c. Reframe the question for the child to get more information about the situation.
d. Ask the boy to act out or use toys to explain why he doesn’t like the sister’s boyfriend.
2) You are working at an agency and are involved in a task group regarding workplace sexual misconduct prevention. The group facilitator asks if anyone has any examples to share regarding misconduct. You have an example to share but don’t want to upset anyone as you know that it may reflect poorly on the agency. You choose not to disclose. What is this an example of?
a. Groupthink.
b. Group polarization.
c. Halo effect.
d. Bystander effect.
3) Which of the following is an example of malingering?
a. A parent withholding medication from a child so that they can play the caregiver role for the child.
b. A person with frequent hospitalizations and doctor visits although no known medical condition.
c. A person who falsifies medical documentation to go on paid medical leave.
d. A person who is fearful of having a serious mental or physical illness.
4) Which of the following is NOT true when treating patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa?
a. Treating anorexia nervosa should be done in conjunction with a medical professional.
b. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder.
c. Amenorrhea is common in women who are diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
d. Women are at a higher risk of dying of anorexia than their male counterparts.
Answers and Rationales
1) You are working with a 6-year-old boy in a school setting. During a play therapy session, the student reports that his sister has a boyfriend who he doesn’t like. When you inquire further, the boy acts oddly and states “I just don’t like him”. These comments make you feel uneasy. How do you best respond in this situation?
a. Make a CPS report, as there may be abuse or neglect occurring.
b. Document the boy’s statements and follow up with the parent regarding the statements.
c. Reframe the question for the child to get more information about the situation.
d. Ask the boy to act out or use toys to explain why he doesn’t like the sister’s boyfriend.
Correct Answer: B (64% answered this question incorrectly)
Rationale: Documenting the situation and following up with the parent or guardian is the best response. We do not have any evidence of abuse or neglect at this time. Asking the client to act out the situation would be inappropriate and in play therapy, you are to take the child’s lead and should refrain from asking too many questions.
2) You are working at an agency and are involved in a task group regarding workplace sexual misconduct prevention. The group facilitator asks if anyone has any examples to share regarding misconduct. You have an example to share but don’t want to upset anyone as you know that it may reflect poorly on the agency. You choose not to disclose. What is this an example of?
a. Groupthink.
b. Group polarization.
c. Halo effect.
d. Bystander effect.
Correct Answer: A (63% answered this question incorrectly)
Rationale: The correct answer is “groupthink,” the concept that individuals stifle their ideas in the group to achieve consensus. Group polarization is not the correct answer, because it means that groups might select options that are more extreme than individual members of that group might select. The other concepts are concepts of psychology and are not related to group processes.
3) Which of the following is an example of malingering?
a. A parent withholding medication from a child so that they can play the caregiver role for the child.
b. A person with frequent hospitalizations and doctor visits although no known medical condition.
c. A person who falsifies medical documentation to go on paid medical leave.
d. A person who is fearful of having a serious mental or physical illness.
Correct Answer: C (62% answered this question incorrectly)
Rationale: This requires knowledge of the term malingering. Malingering is intentional feigning of physical or psychological symptoms motivated by an external incentive or benefit (going on paid medical leave). Answer A is an example of factitious disorder by proxy, Answer B may be an example of somatic symptom disorder or medically unexplained symptoms. Answer D is an example of illness anxiety disorder.
4) Which of the following is NOT true when treating patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa?
a. Treating anorexia nervosa should be done in conjunction with a medical professional.
b. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder.
c. Amenorrhea is common in women who are diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
d. Women are at a higher risk of dying of anorexia than their male counterparts.
Correct Answer: D (57% answered this question incorrectly)
Rationale: Answer choices A, B and C are all true. Males represent around 25% of individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. However, due to stigma and cultural pressures they are often not diagnosed and are less likely to seek out treatment leading to higher mortality rates from the disease.
Getting Ready for Test Day
Tackling the hardest ASWB practice questions on our practice exam can be challenging and daunting, but it is a great way to prepare for the actual exam! It allows you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and to focus on improving areas where you need more work.
Remember that the ASWB exam is designed to be difficult, but it is also a test of your knowledge and skills in social work. You have worked hard to get to this point, and you should be proud of your accomplishments. Stay positive, stay focused, and keep pushing forward. With the right mindset and preparation, you can conquer the ASWB exam and achieve your career goals in social work. Best of luck on test day!
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► Learn more about the Agents of Change course here: https://agentsofchangeprep.com
About the Instructor, Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group test prep for the ASWB for over five years. From all of this experience helping others pass their exams, she created the Agents of Change course to help you prepare for and pass the ASWB exam!
Find more from Agents of Change here:
► Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aswbtestprep
► Podcast: https://anchor.fm/agents-of-change-sw
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Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
