Highlights

What “it is and isn’t”:

• Remind yourself that the exam is a national standardized exam and not state-specific.
• Do not rely on your professional social work practice experience to answer the exam items.
• Use a generalist social work practice lens when reading and selecting answers.

Keep It Simple:

• Do not engage in too much critical thinking because some vignettes have limited details.

balancing time

Take your time reading the question, but watch the clock on the exam to ensure you have time to answer all 85 questions within the two hours allotted.

Key Format Reminder:

• The exam is divided into two sections of 85 questions each.
• Each section is timed separately: Two hours per section.
• Once you submit Section 1, you cannot return to Section 1 questions.
• After Section 1, there is a fixed optional 10-minute break (the timer stops).

Total Time for Each Section of the Exam (2 Sections- 85 questions each section):

• Try to complete all 85 questions within 100 minutes.
• Do not spend a lot of time on questions that are unclear or confusing. Flag the questions and return later.
• Use the final 15-20 minutes for review:
  • Revisit flagged.

Image Accessible Chart:

Selecting your answer

1. Read the question (item) carefully. Pay close attention to qualifiers used in questions: First, next, most, or best. Qualifiers are in all caps and bolded.
2. For vignettes, use the highlighter tool to highlight keywords from the question.
3. Try to determine the content area when the question is unclear. For instance, if you read the question as an assessment question but the question is an ethics question, you might select the incorrect answer.
4. Read each answer choice.
5. Use the answer elimination tool (strike out tool) or an erasable note board to rule out the answer choices.
6. Be aware that there could be items on your exam where there is content in the stem that is inaccurate.
7. As you read each question, focus on what the ASWB views as the correct answer. Ask yourself, “What is the ASWB looking for?”

Mnemonics

Some of you might have encountered resources online about the use of mnemonics. If you use any of the following, be careful not to become so focused on using them that they hinder your ability to answer the question in a timely manner.

Mnemonics might help with the questions you are stuck on versus being used for every application/reasoning question.

Tip: Write down the mnemonics on the erasable note board instead of trying to remember the acronyms while taking the exam.

“FAREAFI” (original author unknown)

• F- Feelings (i.e., validate the client’s feelings)
• A- Assess
• R- Refer
• E- Educate
• A- Advocate
• F- Facilitate
• I- Intervene

“AASPIRINS” (original author unknown)

• A- Acknowledge client
• A- Assess
• S- Start where the client is
• P- Protect the client system (e.g., individual, group, family, community)
• I- Intoxicated- Refer
• R- Rule out a medical issue
• I- Informed consent
• N- Non-judgmental
• S- Support the self-determination of the client

 “VERELAT” (original author unknown)

• V- Validate
• E- Explore
• R- Refer
• E- Educate
• L- Lay foundation for empowerment
• A- Advocate
• T- Treat

Approaches to Consider When a Question Presents as Confusing

1. Find the KSA from the answer choices: If the KSA is unclear, scan the answers to figure out what is being tested in the item.

2. Re-check your interpretation: A tricky item may be testing a different KSA than your first observation.

3. Stay objective: Answer based only on the information in the item, not your professional experiences.

4. Outdated models: If the question uses an older approach, answer according to the model presented in the item, even if practice has evolved.

5. Generalist social work practice mode: Use the generalist practice steps as your guide for direct practice questions.

6. Prioritize key elements: Focus only on what directly relates to the KSA being tested in the item.

7. Default to further assessment: If the scenario in an item lacks enough information, the safest first step is usually further assessment.

8. Use elimination: Strike through obviously wrong answers.

Mnemonic Idea: Stop, Check, Simplify, Follow, Select.

• Stop: Pause and do not rush.

• Check: Confirm the KSA and focus of the item.

• Simplify: Focus only on what matters in the item stem.

• Follow: Use the generalist model.

• Select: Eliminate answers, then choose the best choice.

Helping process overview

References

Cournoyer, B. (2017). The social work skills workbook (6th ed.). Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Hepworth, D.H., Rooney, R.H., Rooney, G.D., & Storm-Gottfried (2017). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Cengage Learning.