How Are the ASWB Social Work Exams Scored?

How Are the ASWB Social Work Exams Scored?

The ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) Masters and Clinical exams are two of the most widely recognized and respected exams in the social work profession. These exams are designed to test the knowledge and skills of social workers seeking to become licensed to practice in the United States.

Scoring on the Masters and Clinical Exams

Scoring for the ASWB Masters and Clinical exams is based on a complex algorithm that takes into account several factors. The exams are computer-adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on the test-taker's performance. The algorithm takes into account the number of questions answered correctly, the level of difficulty of those questions, and the number of questions answered in each content area.

The scoring system for the ASWB Masters and Clinical exams is designed to be fair and consistent, regardless of the test-taker's location, background, or other personal factors. This is achieved through a process called equating, which ensures that the difficulty of the exam is the same for all test-takers, regardless of which version of the exam they are taking.

Equating

The equating process begins by administering a pilot exam to a group of test-takers who have already passed the exam. This group is called the "anchor group." The pilot exam is designed to be slightly more difficult than the actual exam. The scores from the anchor group are used to establish the difficulty level of each question on the pilot exam.

Next, the pilot exam is administered to a larger group of test-takers who are taking the actual exam. The scores from the pilot exam are used to establish the difficulty level of each question on the actual exam. This ensures that the difficulty of the actual exam is the same for all test-takers, regardless of which version of the exam they are taking.

Scoring Algorithm

Once the exam is administered, the scoring algorithm takes over. The algorithm is designed to give more weight to questions that are more difficult and less weight to questions that are easier. This means that a test-taker who answers more difficult questions correctly will receive a higher score than a test-taker who answers easier questions correctly.

The algorithm also takes into account the number of questions answered in each content area. Each content area is weighted differently based on its importance to the social work profession. For example, the clinical exam places more emphasis on diagnosis and treatment planning than the Masters exam.

According to the ASWB, generally, pass points range from 90 to 107 correct answers of the 150 scored questions. 20 questions are not scored on the exams as these are pre-test questions.

In conclusion, the ASWB Masters and Clinical exams are scored using a complex algorithm that takes into account several factors, including the number of questions answered correctly, the level of difficulty of those questions, and the number of questions answered in each content area. The equating process ensures that the difficulty of the exam is the same for all test-takers, regardless of which version of the exam they are taking. This scoring system is designed to be fair and consistent, and to ensure that only those social workers who have demonstrated the necessary knowledge and skills are licensed to practice in the United States.