Helpful study tips/test-taking strategies
Social Work Examination Service (SWES) Licensing Exam Preparation workbooks are now on sale at the WSU Barnes and Noble Bookstore. The licensing books contain: 1600 practice questions, 5 practice exams and a book of review content to help prepare social work students for the LMSW clinical exam.
Helpful guidelines include:
- Remember that preparation builds confidence and success
- Develop effective routines and study strategies
- Good Time management (No: procrastination, distractions, "laziness")
- Organize material to review, study, learn (4-6 months, 10- 15 hours weekly)
- Participate in a Study Group: varied settings/populations
- Review practice exams, particularly unfamiliar content (record content-listen when driving, exercising)
- Don't worry about the pattern of the answers. If you answer B to four questions in a row, you might be right
- Critical thinking skills: only one correct answer
- Look for qualifiers, typically identified in bold/capital letter type
- If you cannot answer a question within a minute or less, skip it and plan to come back later.
- Try to anticipate the correct response before you are distracted by seeing the 4 options.
- If you don't know the answer, always guess
- Identify outside pressures competing for time
- There is only one correct answer!! Most questions are not recall questions but application questions!!!
- Prepare, Prepare, Prepare Study, Study, Study!!!!!!!
The New Social Worker: How I passed the License Exam; 10 tips
- First thing to do, and the thing you must consistently do throughout your studying and testing process: Find a way to battle your ANXIETY!
- Find a study partner.
- Register and schedule your exam.
- Consider what helps you with recall.
- The exam is not "all clinical" stuff.
- Take a review course to help you know what you need to know.
- Know the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Find supplemental study materials.
- Think positively.
- And lastly, TRUST YOUR GUT.
On-Line Resources for the Licensing Exam:
- Social Work Test Prep: Helping MSWs get through the social work licensing exam with realistic online practice.
- Social Work Examination Services: SWES Home Study Program and Lecture Review courses
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB):