Free Social Worker / Caseworker Practice Test (2026)

Social worker & caseworker practice test

This 20-question test covers the skills assessed on government social worker and caseworker civil service exams: applying eligibility policies, mandatory reporting obligations, case note standards, benefit calculations, and professional judgment in complex client situations.

What's covered: Mandatory reporting rules · Eligibility policy reading · Case note standards · Benefit & income math · Case prioritization & triage · Professional boundary scenarios

Independent prep from Civil Service Exam. Not affiliated with any government social services agency. Your official exam announcement is the authority for actual content and passing scores.

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Sample social worker and caseworker exam questions with answers

Government social worker exams usually test whether you can read policy precisely while still thinking like a practitioner. Eligibility rules, mandatory reporting, case documentation, and benefit calculations all show up because agencies need both empathy and administrative accuracy.

Preparation is strongest when you practice translating a long client scenario into the few facts that actually control the answer. That skill helps on exams and later in casework, where small details change what action is required.

These sample questions are rendered directly in the page so search engines and users can see substantial role-specific content before the interactive practice set begins.

ReadingSample question 1

For this child-welfare scenario, assume the governing rule states: "Any person required to report who has reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect must make an oral report immediately and a written report within 48 hours." A caseworker hears from a neighbor that a child appears malnourished and has unexplained bruises. When must the oral report be made?

Correct answer: Immediately — the statute allows no delay

"Immediately" is the statutory standard for the oral report. Reasonable suspicion — which can come from a third-party account — is sufficient; the caseworker does not need to personally observe the child before reporting.

ReadingSample question 2

An eligibility policy states: "A household is eligible for emergency rental assistance if gross monthly income does not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) AND the household has received an eviction notice within the past 30 days." A family earns 75% of AMI and received an eviction notice 35 days ago. Are they eligible?

Correct answer: No — the eviction notice is outside the 30-day window

Both conditions are required (AND). The family meets the income condition but their eviction notice is 35 days old — outside the 30-day window. They do not qualify.

ReadingSample question 3

A case note standard states: "All case notes must be entered into the system within 24 hours of client contact. Notes must be objective, specific, and written in the third person. Opinions or judgments about the client's character are prohibited." Which note entry violates this standard?

Correct answer: "Client is clearly unmotivated and unwilling to change her situation."

"Clearly unmotivated and unwilling to change" is a character judgment, not an objective observation. It violates the standard against opinions or judgments about the client's character.

ReadingSample question 4

A program policy states: "Benefits shall be suspended if a recipient fails to complete an annual recertification within 30 days of the notice date. Benefits may be reinstated within 90 days of suspension upon completion of recertification." A recipient received a notice on March 1 and did not recertify. On May 20, they complete recertification. Can benefits be reinstated?

Correct answer: Yes — the 90-day reinstatement window has not yet expired

Benefits are suspended after March 31 (30 days from notice). The 90-day reinstatement window runs from the suspension date (April 1 to June 30). May 20 falls within that window, so reinstatement is available.

ReadingSample question 5

Under HIPAA, which of the following situations can permit disclosure of protected health information without client authorization?

Correct answer: To law enforcement when required by law or court order

HIPAA permits disclosure to law enforcement when required by law or court order. Employer, family member, and informal researcher disclosures all require client authorization.

Take the test in a focused, exam-style layout

Once you begin, the interface shifts into a calmer testing view with progress tracking, pacing cues, flag-for-review controls, and a question navigator built to feel closer to a real written civil service exam.

Questions

Mixed across reading, math, logic, and judgment.

Timed mode

1:00:00

A realistic pacing target for a full mixed practice set.

Review tools

Flag + revisit

Track unanswered items and return before scoring.