We don't always get word
when SWTP subscribers take the test and get licensed. When we do,
we're always eager to hear about the process--what helped, what
didn't. Here, Jack Given, new LCSW, tells his social work exam
success story:
I graduated with an MSW from the University of Chicago in 1968
and worked in Social Work for 20 years. Due to a variety of
factors, I left the Social Work field in 1988 and went into real
estate.
Twenty years later, in 2008, my wife and I began to work as
volunteers at a Joni-n-Friends summer camp for Families with People
with Special Needs. I realized a reactivation of interest in
Social Work. With an introduction to the Enneagram, a Myers-Briggs
predecessor by 1500 years, I also got interested in going back into
clinical practice with a new perspective. BUT, I had to get
licensed.
So, last summer I dusted off cobwebs and began the pre-licensing
process.
Social Work Test Prep was extremely valuable. Your questions
were very similar to the actual test questions. I especially
liked the fact that they questions gave rationales and helped think
in the modality of the test. I also appreciated the fact that
there were ready tabs to access the background and support
material. When I was in graduate school, the DSM still had a
category "ego dystonic homosexuality"--i.e. it was a treatable
classification if the person thought they needed to be
treated. So, the readily accessible background info links to
update my knowledge base were very helpful.
The first time I took an untimed test, I scored a 68%. I
knew I wasn't a hopeless case; I was close to what I needed, but
close doesn't count. However, your study rationale and the
quick links gave me a fantastic boost. The next time I took
the test (timed and untimed), I scored in the 90s. I KNEW I
COULD DO IT !
I also realized that I could take the 170 questions in 2 - 2 1/2
hours. That told me that I could approach the actual test
with confidence that I could do it in the allotted 4 hours.
I've taken other qualifying exams and this procedure seems to work
for me:
The testing site issues a dry erase tablet and marker. You can't
write anything on the board until the exam begins, but once it
does, you can. I had mnemonic devices to help me. I used the
sentence Farmer Adams Raises Expensive Apples From Indiana, the
first letters remind us of the sequence of what to do in an
order: F=Feelings (recognize); A=Assess; R= Refer; E=Educate;
A=Advocate: F=Facilitate; I= Intervene.
First, I go through the exam and answer all the questions I can
with little or no analysis, conflict or reasoning out the probably
answer. I answer half the questions and check the time. If
I've answered 85 questions in 1 hour (more or less), I know I'm on
track. I take a 10 minute break. Then I answer the rest
of the questions. During this time, if I've answered a
question that I was "hesitant" about, or skipped a question, I just
marked it.
After going through the 170 questions, I took another break and
then came back to the marked questions. In my case, during
the exam, there were approximately 50 questions that I had
marked and 10 of those were unanswered. I was fairly confident that
I had a good grasp and easily answered a 120. If on the
questions that I had a grasp of, I got 90% right, that was
108. A passing score of 75% of 150 would be 112. If on
the 50 I had questions about, I got 25% right, that was 12 and then
I'd have a possible score of 120 and that works.
As it happened, after I completed the exam, took the survey and
pushed the final button, I got the message I wanted:
"PASSED." I was told I needed 104 on this exam and I had
scored 118.
Although I used a couple of different exam prep sites, your site
was the most efficient and correct (I had one exam site that I had
to challenge a number of the question answers and was then told I
was right and they changed the answers. That site did marvels
for my confidence and ego from a different perspective).
I would say, without hesitation, that your site was THE most
helpful.
Thanks again for your site!
Sincerely,
Jack Given, ACSW AND
LCSW
Congratulations, Jack! Thanks for the post. Great to know
the SWTP helped you get licensed!
What was your approach? Share your exam story by sending it to info@socialworktestprep.com.
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