Chapter 1
IN THIS LESSON
In this chapter, we’re going to break down exactly what’s on the LMSW exam, what to expect on test day, how the exam is structured, and what the questions are really testing.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll know where your time and focus should go, and you’ll already be one step ahead of most people walking into the exam
The LMSW exam is a 170-question multiple-choice test, but only 150 of those are scored. The other 20 are experimental, they’re testing future questions, so don’t panic if something feels completely unfamiliar!
You’ll have four hours to complete the test, and you’ll take it at a secure Pearson VUE testing center or online, depending on your state.
Questions are presented one at a time, and you can’t go back once you move forward. That’s why pacing, mindset, and confidence matter just as much as knowing the content.
The exam covers four major content areas, each designed to reflect what you’ll actually do in professional social work practice:
Human Development, Diversity, and Behavior in the Environment.
Assessment and Intervention Planning.
Interventions with Clients and Client Systems.
Professional Relationships, Values, and Ethics.
Every question on the LMSW exam is written to test application, not just recall.
You’re not being asked, “What is Piaget’s theory?” You’re being asked, “Which stage best describes how this client is thinking or behaving?”
That’s a big mindset shift: this isn’t a memory test, it’s a reasoning test.
-
The ASWB does not give a specific score of what is needed to pass the LMSW. The organization does mention that a score of 90-107 is the general passing range for most exams.
20 of the 170 questions are pretest material and are not scored. The exam will not signify which questions are pretest material, so it is important to answer all questions to the best of your ability.
What To Expect
As social workers, we must also remember that this information is not only important for licensure, but also for the field.
As of April 10, 2025, the Association of Social Work Boards has implemented a 10-minute break after the submission of the first 85 questions. Once you reach this part of the exam, you will be asked to review and submit the 85 questions, during which the 4-hour timer will pause for 10 minutes.
Besides this scheduled 10-minute break, you are allotted unscheduled breaks, but it is important to keep in mind that the timer for your exam will not pause during these breaks.
So now you know what’s ahead, how the exam is built, how it thinks, and what it expects from you.
In the next lessons, we’ll dive deeper into the four content areas, and I’ll show you how to connect theory to practice using real exam-style examples.
This is where everything starts to click.
So when you’re ready, go ahead and unlock the next module and let’s start mastering the content that will get you that passing score.
✨
Welcome! Click below to unlock your first interactive moment.
You found it! 🎉 Here’s your secret preview of what’s ahead.
Keep exploring, keep learning, the best is just beginning.