If you took the ASWB exam in the new year, you
may have encountered a couple of
new features that you might not have been expecting. In January
2022, the ASWB added both highlighting and strikethrough options to
the test interface. What does that mean? It means you can highlight
words and phrases within the exam. Or you can digitally cross out
whatever you like--most helpfully, answers that you've ruled
out.
Different test takers will approach these features different
ways. Many are likely to ignore them. Others will mark up every
question as they go (potentially wasting valuable time). But most
ASWB exam takers are likely to reserve the new highlight and
strikethrough features for questions they're not certain about and
are marking for review later on (time allowing). The features let
you to say to near-future self, "Hey, this highlighted phrase here
is essential." Or, "These crossed out answers are not it.
Choose between the ones that are left."
Related reminder: Unanswered questions count against you the
same way that incorrectly answered questions do. Always select an
answer for each of the 170 questions on the ASWB test. You have
at least a 25% chance of picking the right answer. That
probably goes up to somewhere near 50-50 after you've narrowed down
a couple of likely suspects for correct answer--even if you have no
idea which of the remaining answers is right. Don't count on there
being time remaining to revisit all the questions you weren't sure
about the first time through.
You, the 2022 exam taker, are a pioneer--the first social
workers getting to use the new features. Hope you find them
useful.
To get a sense of your timing on the exam, take practice
tests--lots of them. We've got five complete practice tests for the
ASWB exam plus two boosters (one all-ethics, one all-DSM) standing
by to help you get ready to get licensed. Do they have the
highlighting and strikethrough features? Not yet. Give us a minute.
SWTP coders are on the case. The essence of the exam is unchanged:
lots and lots of (primarily) vignette questions designed to test
your basic social work knowledge, skills, and abilities. To pass
takes practice. Get started now by creating an account.
Happy studying and good luck on the exam!
