Free ASWB Masters Practice Test
Practice ASWB Masters exam questions in the real scenario style, read why each answer is right, then take a full timed mock exam in the 2026 format: 122 questions in two sections, 4 hours, scored against the 110 that count.
122 questions in two sections, 4 hours, scored on the 110 that count, with a score by content area and competency and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drill- 245 original ASWB Masters questions with explanations
- 11 free drills: every competency plus a mixed set
- 73.9% of first-time candidates passed in 2025
A social worker at an aging services agency is documenting a home visit with a 79-year-old client who lives alone. Which entry BEST meets professional standards for case recording?
ASWB Masters exam format
A master’s degree in social work. The Masters exam is the one most MSW graduates take for their first license (LMSW, LSW and similar titles vary by state).
- Questions
- 122 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 61; 110 are scored and 12 are unscored pretest questions mixed in
- Answer options
- Three or four options with one best answer; the 2026 exams use more three-option questions than before
- Time limit
- 4 hours on a Pearson test center computer; move freely, skip, flag and change answers within a section
- Content areas
- Values and Ethics 35%, Assessment and Planning 33%, Intervention and Practice 32%
- Passing score
- Set per exam form; generally 66 to 78 correct of 110. Results appear on screen at the end and in ASWBCentral within about 24 hours
- Fee
- US$230 per attempt, paid to ASWB after your licensing board approves the category
- Retakes
- Wait at least 90 days; a waiver is possible within 10 points of passing where your jurisdiction allows. Register and pay again
What’s on the ASWB Masters exam
Three content areas and ten competencies from the 2026 content outline. Our full mock draws its 110 scored questions in the official proportions and adds 12 unscored pretest questions, as on the real exam. Each competency has a free ten-question drill with an explanation after every answer; each drill’s first attempt is free.
| Competency | What it covers | Share of the exam | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Values and Ethics | 35% · 39 scored questions | ||
| IA. Ethical principles and responsibilities | Informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, ethical dilemmas, professional values, self-care and professional development | Part of I | 10-question drill |
| IB. Ethical service delivery | Boundaries and dual relationships, self-determination, mandatory reporting and duty to warn, documentation, billing, termination and electronic practice | Part of I | 10-question drill |
| IC. Diversity and social justice | Anti-oppressive practice, culture and identity, accessibility, privilege and bias, exploitation, immigration and refugee status | Part of I | 10-question drill |
| II. Assessment and Planning | 33% · 36 scored questions | ||
| IIA. Assessment concepts | Trauma, family dynamics, abuse and neglect, mental illness indicators, substance use, development across the lifespan, defense mechanisms | Part of II | 10-question drill |
| IIB. Assessment methods and techniques | Interviewing, risk of harm to self and others, strengths and needs, sensitive information, readiness for change, the mental status examination | Part of II | 10-question drill |
| IIC. Assessment practices | Community resources, goal and treatment planning, choosing a modality, cultural considerations in planning, common medications, readiness for termination | Part of II | 10-question drill |
| III. Intervention and Practice | 32% · 35 scored questions | ||
| IIIA. Practice concepts | Strengths-based practice, the helping relationship, teams, end of life, parenting, policy and legislation, permanency planning, community organizing | Part of III | 10-question drill |
| IIIB. Intervention methods and techniques | Trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing, group and family work, case management, harm reduction | Part of III | 10-question drill |
| IIIC. Practice evaluation and research | Evaluating progress and outcomes, program evaluation, research design, reliability and validity | Part of III | 10-question drill |
| IIID. Supervision and administration | The supervisee role, supervision models, transference in supervision, risk-reducing policies, organizational structure and fiscal management | Part of III | 10-question drill |
What the Masters exam tests
- Generalist and advanced practice at the MSW level: ethics and boundaries, biopsychosocial assessment, risk of harm, treatment and service planning, evidence-based interventions, group and family work, case management, program evaluation and the supervisee role.
- Most questions are scenarios that ask what the social worker should do FIRST, NEXT or BEST. The 2026 blueprint added reasoning questions, so practice the ordering: safety first, assess before acting, acknowledge feelings before giving information.
- The Masters exam does not test DSM differential diagnosis or psychopharmacology at the depth of the Clinical exam.
How to take the ASWB Masters exam
- Apply for licensure with your state or provincial social work board. The board tells ASWB which exam category you are approved for (Masters).
- Register with ASWB at ASWBCentral and pay the US$230 fee. Your Authorization to Test arrives by email within two business days and is valid for up to one year.
- Schedule your appointment at a Pearson test center. You can reschedule or cancel at least 24 hours before the appointment.
- Sit the 4-hour exam: two sections of 61 questions. You see your result on screen at the end, and your board receives the official score.
Common questions
How many questions are on the ASWB Masters exam?
122 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 61. Twelve are unscored pretest questions mixed in with the rest, so 110 questions count toward your score. You have 4 hours.
What score do you need to pass the ASWB Masters exam?
There is no single number. ASWB sets the passing score for each exam form so that every form demands the same ability; it generally falls between 66 and 78 correct of the 110 scored questions. Your score report shows the number you needed and the number you got right.
Did the ASWB Masters exam change in 2026?
Yes. Since August 3, 2026 every ASWB exam follows the 2026 blueprint: three content areas instead of four, 110 scored questions instead of 150, 12 pretest questions instead of 20, more three-option questions and more reasoning questions. The 4-hour time limit did not change. Our questions follow the 2026 outline.
How long do I wait to retake the ASWB Masters exam?
At least 90 days. If you scored within 10 points of passing and your jurisdiction allows it, you can request a waiver of the waiting period. You register with ASWB and pay the fee again, and some boards limit the number of attempts.
Are these official ASWB questions?
No. ASWB does not release its questions. These are original practice questions written to the published 2026 content outline, in the exam’s scenario style, with an explanation for every answer.
What is the ASWB Masters exam pass rate?
In 2025, 73.9% of first-time test-takers passed the Masters exam (20,636 first-time exams). The Masters and Clinical exams are by far the most-taken ASWB exams.
What is the difference between the ASWB Masters and Clinical exams?
Both have 122 questions in 4 hours and the same three content areas. The Clinical exam needs two years of supervised clinical experience after the MSW and tests diagnosis with the DSM, psychopharmacology, treatment modalities and couples work in more depth. The Masters exam is taken right after the MSW and weights the content areas 35/33/32.
Ready for exam day?
122 questions in two sections, 4 hours, scored on the 110 that count, with a score by content area and competency and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillMore ASWB exam practice
One ASWB pass covers every full mock exam below.
Exam format, fees, scoring and pass rates checked November 2026: ASWB Examination Guidebook (08/2026) · ASWB: The social work licensing exams · ASWB: Exam scoring · ASWB: 2025 exam pass rates · ASWB: Content outlines · ASWB: New social work licensing exam begins August 3 (2026) · ASWB: Upcoming changes to the social work licensing exams.
Original independent practice questions written to the published ASWB content outline. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).