ASWB Masters Practice Test: Free LMSW Social Work Exam Questions, 2026 Outline
509 practice questions for the ASWB Masters social work licensing exam, the exam most states use for the LMSW (or LSW, LGSW or LMSW-A), written to the new outline ASWB has used since August 3, 2026. Most are vignettes: a client, a situation, and what the social worker should do FIRST or NEXT, the way the real exam reads. They cover all three content areas in the outline's own weights: Values and Ethics (35%), Assessment and Planning (33%) and Intervention and Practice (32%), and every one of the outline's ten competencies. Each question is tagged to its outline code, so your score report shows exactly which knowledge statements you miss. Every answer explains why the best choice is best and names its source: the NASW Code of Ethics, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, SAMHSA, the Child Welfare Information Gateway and other public references.
The real test: 122 multiple-choice questions (110 scored, 12 unscored pretest) in two 61-question sections, 2 hours each, at a Pearson VUE test center, $230. Pass or fail by a number of correct answers that ASWB adjusts for each version of the exam; there is no fixed percent. Our practice test is 110 scored questions plus 12 unscored, split 35/33/32 like the 2026 outline, passing at 70%.
Here: 509 questions. Our own practice questions, written from the NASW Code of Ethics (2021), the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 42 CFR Part 2, SAMHSA Treatment Improvement Protocols, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, CDC, NIMH and federal law, with every answer's source named. Topics are the three content areas of the 2026 ASWB Masters exam outline. Not ASWB's test questions. Free.
"On the test" is the rough share of a 110-question test for each topic, following the exam's published weights.
10 sample questions
A client signed a release last month allowing the social worker to share updates with her primary care doctor. Today she says she wants to take it back. What should the social worker do?
A.Ask the doctor to return or destroy every update that was already sent to his office
B.Honor the request in writing and stop sharing from now on
C.Keep sharing until the doctor confirms that he no longer needs any updates at all
D.Explain that a signed release cannot be undone once it is filed in the record
Show answer
B. Honor the request in writing and stop sharing from now on
MSW-1 · I. Values and Ethics
An adult client grew up with a parent in prison, a mother with depression and frequent moves, and now has diabetes and heart disease at 42. Which research finding helps explain the link?
A.Childhood stress affects mental health in adulthood, but it has no effect on physical health
B.Frequent moves in childhood protect against later illness by building early resilience to stress
C.Heart disease at a young age is almost always genetic and unrelated to the client's life history
D.Adverse childhood experiences are associated with higher rates of chronic disease in adulthood
Show answer
D. Adverse childhood experiences are associated with higher rates of chronic disease in adulthood
MSW-176 · II. Assessment and Planning
A social worker who started a support group for single fathers gradually hands over planning and leading the meetings to the members. Which approach does this reflect?
A.Termination of the helping role
B.A purely educational group model
C.Empowerment through mutual aid
D.Avoidance of professional duties
Show answer
C. Empowerment through mutual aid
MSW-343 · III. Intervention and Practice
The parents of a 9-year-old have signed consent for counseling. What else should the social worker seek from the child?
A.A signed consent form from the child, which is legally required at age nine
B.A promise from the child to tell his parents everything that is said in sessions
C.Nothing more, since a child that young has no role in decisions about his care
D.The child's assent, after explaining counseling in words he can understand
Show answer
D. The child's assent, after explaining counseling in words he can understand
MSW-2 · I. Values and Ethics
An Indigenous elder describes grief, anger and substance use across three generations of his family, which he connects to the boarding schools his grandparents were forced to attend. This is best described as:
A.Historical trauma
B.Complicated bereavement
C.Adjustment disorder
D.Acute stress disorder
Show answer
A. Historical trauma
MSW-177 · II. Assessment and Planning
A team describes a client as "noncompliant" because she skips medication appointments to keep her cleaning job. How would a strengths-based worker reframe this?
A.She lacks insight into her illness and needs more education about it first
B.She is working hard to keep her job, and her schedule needs to fit that
C.She is resistant to treatment, so her case should be closed for now
D.She does not care about her health, so the team should not push her
Show answer
B. She is working hard to keep her job, and her schedule needs to fit that
MSW-344 · III. Intervention and Practice
At intake, a client asks whether counseling could have any downsides. What is the BEST answer?
A.Say that risks are only discussed with clients after the first few sessions have taken place
B.Be honest that talking about painful things can feel worse for a while, and describe other options
C.Explain that only medication carries any risk, which is why she should try counseling first
D.Tell her counseling has no risks, since she should not be scared away from the help she clearly needs
Show answer
B. Be honest that talking about painful things can feel worse for a while, and describe other options
MSW-3 · I. Values and Ethics
SAMHSA describes individual trauma as resulting from an event, series of events or circumstances. What are the "three E's" in its concept of trauma?
A.Event, experience and effects
B.Evaluation, engagement and exit
C.Exposure, escape and endurance
D.Emotion, empathy and education
Show answer
A. Event, experience and effects
MSW-178 · II. Assessment and Planning
In the middle of a session, a client says sharply, "You just don't get it." What is the social worker's BEST response?
A."Maybe you would do better with a different social worker, then."
B."I have years of training, so I think I understand you quite well."
C."Let's move on, since getting upset won't help us with your goals."
D."Help me understand what I'm missing. I'd like to get this right."
Show answer
D. "Help me understand what I'm missing. I'd like to get this right."
MSW-345 · III. Intervention and Practice
A man arrives for an outpatient intake slurring his words and smelling strongly of alcohol, and he wants to sign the consent forms. What should the social worker do?
A.Have his friend in the waiting room sign the consent forms on his behalf instead
B.Refuse to see him again, since arriving intoxicated breaks the agency's rules
C.Have him sign right away, since he came in by choice and that shows he wants the services
D.Make sure he is safe, then put off the consent and intake until he is sober enough to understand
Show answer
D. Make sure he is safe, then put off the consent and intake until he is sober enough to understand