You've been preparing for weeks (or months). You've taken practice exams, reviewed the NASW Code of Ethics more times than you can count, and you know your DSM basics backward and forward. Tomorrow's the big day. So here's the question: Should you crack open those study materials one more time tonight?
The short answer? Probably not.
Let's talk about why—and what you should do instead.
Here's the thing about cramming the night before a big exam: it rarely helps and often hurts. After weeks of preparation, your brain already has what it needs. What it doesn't need is more information dumped on top of everything you've already learned.
Think of it this way: you wouldn't run a marathon the day before running another marathon, right? Your brain needs rest just like your body does. The ASWB exam is a four-hour mental marathon with 170 questions. You want to show up fresh.
Last-minute cramming can actually increase your anxiety levels. You might come across a topic that suddenly seems unfamiliar. That might send you into an anxiety spiral about everything you think you don't know. (Spoiler: you know way more than you think you do.)
Studies consistently show that sleep is crucial for memory consolidation—the process where your brain takes all that information you've been studying and files it away for easy access. When you sleep, your brain literally reorganizes and strengthens the neural pathways you've been building through your exam preparation.
Getting a good night's sleep before the exam is one of the best things you can do for your performance. It improves focus, decision-making, and recall—exactly what you need when you're choosing between four similar-sounding answer choices.
So if studying is off the table, what should you do the night before your exam?
Get Your Logistics Sorted. Double-check your exam location and arrival time. Make sure you know exactly where you're going and how long it'll take to get there. Print your admission ticket if needed. Lay out your ID and any required documents. Pack a small bag with snacks and water for breaks.
Do Something Relaxing. This looks different for everyone. Maybe it's watching a favorite movie, taking a bath, reading a book (not a social work textbook!), or calling a friend. The goal is to do something that helps you unwind and feel calm.
Practice Good Self-Care. Eat a decent dinner. Stay hydrated. Do some light stretching or take a walk if that helps you relax. Think about what normally helps you de-stress and do that.
Go to Bed Early. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep. Yes, even if you're feeling anxious. Lying in bed with your eyes closed, relaxing as best you can, even if you're not sleeping deeply, is still more restful than staying up cramming.
There is exactly one thing you might review the night before: the NASW Code of Ethics. Not for intensive study, but as a confidence booster. The Code likely feels pretty familiar by now. A quick flip-through can remind you that you do, in fact, know this stuff.
But set a timer for 15-20 minutes max. This isn't a study session—it's a gentle reminder of what you already know.
Here's what you need to remember: you're ready. The exam isn't trying to trick you. It's testing for the essential knowledge and skills expected of beginning social workers—stuff you've been learning throughout your entire social work education, at any placements or jobs you've done in social work, and that you've been reviewing specifically for this exam.
You've taken practice tests. You've reviewed key concepts. You know your ethics. That preparation doesn't disappear overnight, and cramming won't meaningfully improve what you've already built.
Since we're talking about exam preparation, here's a quick reminder of what actually matters on exam day:
The night before your social work licensing exam should be about rest and preparation for the day ahead, not about studying. You've put in the work. Now it's time to trust that preparation and give your brain the rest it needs to perform at its best.
Get some sleep. You've got this.
Sweet dreams, and congratulations in advance on becoming a licensed social worker!
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