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INTRODUCTION 
The New York State Department of Civil Service has developed this test guide to familiarize
you withthe written test for the Caseworker Series. This test guide provides a general
description of the subjectareas which will be tested and the different types of questions you
may see on the tests in this series.The Examination Announcement will specify the exact
subject areas to be included on the particularexamination you will be taking.The written test
for the Caseworker Series has an overall time allowance of 3 hours.The test questions will
cover the following three subject areas:

1. ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE HELPING RELATIONSHIPS IN A

SOCIALCASEWORK SETTING:
These questions test for an understanding of the factors whichcontribute to the development
and maintenance of productive client-worker relationships. Youwill be provided with
descriptions of specific client-worker interactions and be asked to selectthe best responses.
The questions may cover such topics as confidentiality, time management,professional ethics,
and referral techniques.

2. INTERVIEWING (CASEWORKER):
These questions test for an understanding of the principlesand techniques of interviewing
and their application to specific client-worker situations. You willbe provided with a series of
concrete interviewing situations for which you will be required toselect an appropriate course
of action based on an analysis of the situation, the application ofthe information provided,
and the ramifications of various interviewing principles and strategies.You will also be asked
questions about the interviewing process and various interviewingtechniques.

3. PREPARING WRITTEN MATERIAL:

These questions test for the ability to present informationclearly and accurately and for the
ability to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly.For some questions, you will be
given information in two or three sentences, followed by fourrestatements of the information.
You must then choose the best version. For other questions,you will be given paragraphs with
their sentences out of order, and then be asked to choose,from among four suggestions, the
best order for the sentences.The remainder of this test guide explains how you will be tested
in each of the subject areas listedabove. A

TEST TASK
is provided for each subject area. This is an explanation of how a question ispresented and
how to correctly answer it. Read each explanation carefully. This test guide alsoprovides at
least one
SAMPLE QUESTION
for each subject area. The sample question is similar to thetype of questions that will be
presented on the actual test. This test guide provides the
SOLUTION
andcorrect answer to each sample question. You should study each sample question and
solution in orderto understand how the correct answer was determined.

 
SUBJECT AREA 1

ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE HELPING RELATIONSHIPS IN A

SOCIALCASEWORK SETTING:
These questions test for an understanding of the factors which contribute tothe development
and maintenance of productive client-worker relationships. You will be provided
withdescriptions of specific client-worker interactions and be asked to select the best
responses. Thequestions may cover such topics as confidentiality, time management,
professional ethics, and referraltechniques.

TEST TASK:
You will be presented with questions that describe specific client-worker situations.
Eachquestion will be followed by four choices listing different ways to handle the situation.
You mustdetermine which of the four choices is the best or most appropriate.
Note: 
You may be able to think of a better approach than any of the choices provided, but you must
pick the best of those provided.

SAMPLE QUESTION:
A client has been unemployed for two years. She has tried to hold a job but has failed each
time. Shehas come to you for help in securing employment. From your initial meetings with
her, there areindications that she is not sincere about getting and keeping a job. Which one
of the following is thebest way to handle this situation?
A. Suggest to her that a probable reason for her past failure is that she really doesn't want to
work.
B. Discuss job possibilities and direct her to the appropriate employment agencies.
C. Ask her opinion on why she has been unable to keep a job.
D. Ask her to explain why she thinks she needs a job.

The best answer to this sample question is C.

SOLUTION:
To determine the best way to handle this situation, you must evaluate each choice provided.
Choice A
is negative and confrontational. The client may become defensive and hostile. She may
not recognize the fact that her behavior causes a problem. This will not help to engage her in
a constructive dialogue to help find a solution.
Choice B 
 
ignores the client’s problem. She has been unable to
keep a job, and merely discussing job possibilities and referring her to employment agencies
without addressing this problem is unlikely to help her to obtain and keep a job.
Choice C 
is the best among the choices given. The client is asked for her opinion about why she
has been unable to keep a job, rather than being told a probable reason as in choice A. This
approach is much more likely to lead to an open and productive discussion in which the
client can recognize that she has a problem, and in which you can be seen as an ally in
helping her, rather than as an accuser.Such a discussion may also reveal some issues that you
were not aware of and which may be contributing 
to the client’s
inability to keep a job.
Choice D 
asks the client why she thinks she needs a job. This question does not address the point
of the interview -- 
the client’s inabiity to
keep a job.

 
SUBJECT AREA 2 
INTERVIEWING (CASEWORKER):
These questions test for an understanding of the principles andtechniques of interviewing
and their application to specific client-worker situations. You will be providedwith a series of
concrete interviewing situations for which you will be required to select an appropriatecourse
of action based on an analysis of the situation, the application of the information provided,
andthe ramifications of various interviewing principles and strategies. You will also be asked
questionsabout the interviewing process and various interviewing techniques.
TEST TASK:
You will be presented with questions that describe specific client-worker situations.
Eachquestion will be followed by four choices listing different ways to handle the situation.
You must selectthe most appropriate course of action to take, based on an analysis of the
situation, the application ofthe information provided, and the ramifications of various
interviewing principles and strategies.
Note: 
 You may be able to think of a better approach than any of the choices provided, but you
must pick the best of those provided.
SAMPLE QUESTION:
You have been interviewing a client and now have enough information to make the
necessarydecisions. However, the client just will not stop talking and is repeating, in slightly
different words, theinformation that he has already given you. Which one of the following is
the best way to deal with thissituation?A. Tell the client that the interview time is up and that if
he has more to say, you can set up anotherappointment for the near future.B. Thank the client
for coming in. Tell him that his information has been very helpful and you willcontact him if
you need additional information.C. Tell the client you would like to hear more, but that it will
have to be postponed to some future date.D. Thank the client for coming in, but explain that
others are waiting so you must end the interview.
The best answer to this sample question is B.
SOLUTION:
To determine the best way to deal with this situation, you must evaluate each choice
provided.
Choice A
gives the initiative to schedule another appointment to the client. This may lead to
an unnecessary appointment. You already have enough information to make the necessary
decisions, and there is no need for another appointment with the client in the near future.
Choice B 
is best. By thanking the client for coming in, you are being positive. By telling him how helpful
his information has been, you continue in this positive direction. By telling him that you
will contact him if you need additional information, you make it clear that you have the
necessary data, and you maintain the initiative to schedule another appointment.
Choice C 
, like choice A, gives the initiative to schedule another appointment to the client and
may result in an unnecessary appointment. Also, telling the client you would like to hear
more, but postponing it to some future date, is contradictory and sends the client a mixed
message.
Choice D 
begins well -- thanking the client for coming in is positive. However, explaining that others are
waiting so you must end the interview leaves the client with the impression that you are
rushing him out and that you are more concerned with the people who are waiting than you
are with him.

 
SUBJECT AREA 3 
PREPARING WRITTEN MATERIAL:
These questions test for the ability to present information clearlyand accurately and for the
ability to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly.
TEST TASK:
There are two separate test tasks in this subject area.For the first,
Information Presentation
, you will be given information in two or threesentences, followed by four restatements of the
information. You must then choose the bestversion.For the second,
Paragraph Organization
, you will be given paragraphs with their sentencesout of order, and then be asked to choose,
from among four suggestions, the best order for thesentences.
INFORMATION PRESENTATION SAMPLE QUESTION:
Martin Wilson failed to take proper precautions. His failure to take proper precautions caused
apersonal injury accident.
 
Which one of the following best presents the information above?A. Martin Wilson failed to
take proper precautions that caused a personal injury accident.B. Proper precautions, which
Martin Wilson failed to take, caused a personal injury accident.C.
Martin Wilson’s failure to take proper precautions caused a personal injury accident.
 D. Martin Wilson, who failed to take proper precautions, was in a personal injury accident.
The best answer to this sample question is C.
SOLUTION:
Choice A
conveys the incorrect impression that proper precautions caused a personal injury accident.
Choice B 
conveys the incorrect impression that proper precautions caused a personal injury accident.
Choice C 
best presents the original information: Martin Wilson failed to take proper precautions
and this failure caused a personaly injury accident.
Choice D 
states that Martin Wilson was in a personal injury accident. The original information states that
Martin Wilson caused a personal injury accident, but it does not state that Martin Wilson was
in a personal injury accident.

 
SUBJECT AREA 3 cont.
PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION SAMPLE QUESTION:
The following question is based upon a group of sentences. The sentences are shown out
ofsequence, but when correctly arranged, they form a connected, well-organized paragraph.
Read thesentences, and then answer the question about the best arrangement of these
sentences.1. Eventually, they piece all of this information together and make a choice.2.
Before actually deciding upon a human services job, people usually think about
severalpossibilities.3. They imagine themselves in different situations, and in so doing, they
probably think about theirinterests, goals, and abilities.4. Choosing among occupations in the
field of human services is an important decision to make.Which one of the following is the
best arrangement of these sentences?A. 2-4-1-3B. 2-3-4-1C. 4-2-1-3D. 4-2-3-1
The best answer to this sample question is D.
SOLUTION:
Choices A and C 
present the information in the paragraph out of logical sequence. In both 
A
and 
C 
,sentence 1 comes before sentence 3. The key element in the organization of this paragraph
is that sentence 3 contains the information to which sentence 1 refers; therefore, in logical
sequence,sentence 3 should come before sentence 1.
Choice B 
also presents the information in the paragraph out of logical sequence. Choice 
B 
places sentence 4 in between sentence 1 and sentence 3, thereby interrupting the logical
sequence of the information in the paragraph.
Choice D 
presents the information in the paragraph in the best logical sequence. Sentence 4 
introduces the main idea of the paragraph: “choosing an occupation in the field of human
services.” 
 Sentences 2-3-1 then follow up on this idea by describing, in order, the steps involved in
making such a choice. Choice 
D 
is the best answer to this sample question.
 

 
TEST SECURITY 
The test you will be taking is the property of the New York State Department of Civil
Service.Candidates may not remove test material from the test site and may not reproduce,
reconstruct, ordiscuss the test content with others. Unauthorized possession or disclosure of
the test material isprohibited by law and punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine.
Additionally, candidates may bedisqualified from appointment to the positions for which the
examination is being held and from being acandidate for any civil service examination for five
years. After you take the test, other individuals maywant to talk with you about the test. You
should not discuss the questions and answers, even ingeneral terms. You should be careful
that you do not inadvertently violate test security and put yourselfat risk.
CONCLUSION 
Your attitude and approach to the test will influence how well you perform. A positive attitude
will helpyou do your best.
Before the test ...
Study and review this guide to become familiar with what the test will cover.Study and review
the subject areas that will be covered on the test.
On the day of the test ...
Arrive at the test site on time.Bring your Admission Notice, two No. 2 pencils, a photo ID
containing yoursignature, a quiet lunch or snack, and any other
allowed
materials.Do
NOT
bring this test guide to the test site.
At the test site …
 
Do
NOT
bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or othercommunication devices to
the test site.
 
The use of such devices anywhere on the grounds of the test site (this includes thetest room,
hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, and parking lots) could result inyour disqualification.
 During the test ...
Read and follow all directions on your Admission Notice, test booklets, answersheets, and
Candidate Directions.Follow the Monitor's instructions.Keep track of the time.
After the test ...
Do
NOT
remove any test materials from the test room.Do
NOT
paraphrase, reconstruct, or reproduce the test material in any way.Do
NOT
discuss the test material with others.