LMSW Practice Test

What the LMSW is and how it works

According to Association of Social Work Boards, “Include a total of 122 questions (110 scored, 12 unscored)”^[1]

This page supports preparation for the ASWB Masters exam. Confirm which examination your licensing board requires before registering; the exam details here do not establish your eligibility or all requirements for an LMSW license. Consult your board and the Association of Social Work Boards for the requirements that apply to you.

The exam contains 122 questions: 110 scored and 12 unscored. The time limit is 4 hours. These facts describe the question format and available time; they do not establish appointment procedures or delivery arrangements. Check ASWB’s official exam page for those instructions before making testing plans.

The passing score generally ranges from 66–78 correct answers out of 110 scored questions. That range should not be treated as a fixed cutoff for every exam. A result from a practice set on this page is not an official exam score.

The exam fee is US$230. ASWB also offers an optional official practice test for US$85. If you need another attempt, the stated waiting period is 90 days between attempts. Consult ASWB’s exam, exam-scoring, online-practice-test, and if-you-fail-the-exam pages for the official details.

LMSW Exam at a Glance

What changed for LMSW in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee (Masters) changed to US$230 (previously $230 examination registration).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions (Masters) changed to 122 questions (110 scored, 12 unscored) (previously 122 questions: 110 scored and 12 unscored).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Time limit (Masters) changed to 4 hours (previously 240 minutes; two separately timed sections).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Passing score (Masters) changed to Generally 66–78 correct of 110 scored (previously Generally 66–78 correct out of 110 scored).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy (Masters) changed to 90-day wait between attempts (previously 90-day waiting period).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee (Masters official practice test) changed to US$85 (optional) (previously $85 optional practice test).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Other (update 2026-07-31) changed to ASWB suspended its online-proctoring pilot for the Social Work Licensing Exams as of July 31, 2026. (previously ASWB suspended its online-proctoring pilot for the Social Work Licensing Exams effective July 31, 2026.).^[6]
• Oct 25, 2026: Other (update 2026-08-03) changed to ASWB exam administrations using forms based on the 2026 blueprints began Monday, August 3, 2026, with fewer scored and pretest questions and the four-hour limit retained. (previously ASWB launched the 2026 examination blueprints on August 3, 2026, reducing the examination to 110 scored and 12 pretest questions while retaining four hours.).^[5]
• Aug 3, 2026: ASWB exam administrations using forms based on the 2026 blueprints began Monday, August 3, 2026, with fewer scored and pretest questions and the four-hour limit retained.^[5]
• Jul 31, 2026: ASWB suspended its online-proctoring pilot for the Social Work Licensing Exams as of July 31, 2026.^[6]

LMSW content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official LMSW content outline published by Association of Social Work Boards, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through LMSW questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which model would a social worker use when intervening immediately after a client experiences a traumatic event such as a natural disaster?

1. Psychodynamic model
2. Crisis Intervention model
3. Narrative Therapy model
4. Task-Centered model

Answer: B. Crisis Intervention model

Explanation:

B. Crisis Intervention model fits because the question describes intervention immediately after a traumatic event. The immediate task is to respond to the acute crisis and help restore functioning. A. Psychodynamic model emphasizes underlying emotional patterns and conflicts, which does not match the immediate focus described. C. Narrative Therapy model explores the meanings and stories people attach to their experiences; the prompt instead points to crisis response. D. Task-Centered model addresses agreed problems through specific tasks, but the acute traumatic trigger makes crisis intervention the better fit. Remember the distinction: choose the model that matches the presenting need and timing, rather than a model that might become useful later.

Example 2

Question: Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'precipitating event' in crisis theory?

1. A longstanding pattern of maladaptive coping
2. The immediate stressor that triggers a state of crisis
3. A client's baseline level of psychological functioning
4. The cumulative effect of multiple life stressors over time

Answer: B. The immediate stressor that triggers a state of crisis

Explanation:

B. The immediate stressor that triggers a state of crisis is correct because a precipitating event is the identifiable trigger for the crisis. It explains what disrupted the person's equilibrium at that point. A. A longstanding pattern of maladaptive coping describes background vulnerability rather than the triggering event. C. A client's baseline level of psychological functioning describes functioning before the crisis, not what set it in motion. D. The cumulative effect of multiple life stressors over time describes accumulated strain rather than the immediate trigger. Remember to separate the precipitating event from background conditions: the question asks what triggered the crisis, not everything that made the person vulnerable to it.

Example 3

Question: When setting treatment goals for a client with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), the social worker should PRIMARILY focus on:

1. Full symptom remission as the primary benchmark
2. Functional recovery, community integration, and quality of life
3. Medication compliance as the sole indicator of progress
4. Short-term crisis stabilization only

Answer: B. Functional recovery, community integration, and quality of life

Explanation:

B. Functional recovery, community integration, and quality of life reflects recovery-oriented goal setting. It allows goals to address daily functioning, autonomy, relationships, and what matters to the client. A. Full symptom remission as the primary benchmark makes symptom elimination the central measure and can overlook meaningful gains while symptoms persist. C. Medication compliance as the sole indicator of progress reduces recovery to a treatment behavior rather than the client's broader life. D. Short-term crisis stabilization only addresses an acute need but is too narrow for ongoing treatment goals. Remember that recovery-oriented planning looks beyond symptom control and connects care to the client's own priorities and participation in community life.

How to use these practice tests

Begin with ASWB’s official content outline. Use its area names to organize your notes, then try the LMSW practice set to identify topics that need closer review. For each missed or uncertain answer, record the clue you overlooked and explain why the alternative you chose was less suitable.

Choose focused practice from that record. Use Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis for assessment decisions, Intervention and Treatment Planning for selecting responses, and Professional Values and Ethics for ethical reasoning. Treat these as practice choices, not evidence that a set covers every part of an official area.

Return to mixed practice after reviewing weak topics. Explain your answer before reading the explanation, and check uncertain claims against authoritative study material. Review ASWB’s exam instructions before test day and plan your pacing around the 4-hour limit. If you want official practice material, consider ASWB’s optional US$85 practice test as a separate purchase.

Sources & last verified

1. Association of Social Work Boards — number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “Include a total of 122 questions (110 scored, 12 unscored)” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
2. Association of Social Work Boards — passing score (official source). “The passing score generally ranges from 66 to 78 correct answers out of 110 scored questions.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
3. Association of Social Work Boards — exam fee (official source). “Order now: US$85” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
4. Association of Social Work Boards — retake policy (official source). “candidates must wait 90 days between exam attempts.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
5. Association of Social Work Boards — other (official source). “Exam administrations using forms based on the 2026 blueprints begin Monday, August 3.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
6. Association of Social Work Boards — other (official source). “will suspend the pilot program for online proctoring of the Social Work Licensing Exams as of July 31, 2026.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
7. Association of Social Work Boards — other (official source). “assessment and planning 33%” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.