Case Policy
You apply eligibility rules, deadlines, and procedures to specific cases. Read every condition in the rule — missing one condition usually means the case does not qualify.
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Caseworker Exam Study Guide
Case policy, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and situational judgment for Caseworker civil service exams.
12 track practice questions in the bank · Free 25-question practice test included below.
Take Free Practice Test →Overview
A caseworker manages a caseload of clients and families: interviewing them, assessing what they need, connecting them with services, and keeping accurate records of every step. The job combines judgment about people with careful attention to rules, privacy, and paperwork.
The exam is a multiple-choice test built around realistic case scenarios. You will be asked to choose the best action when a client is in crisis, when information must be kept private or reported, and when a program rule decides who qualifies for help. For DCAS multiple-choice exams generally, the pass mark is 70%.
Use this guide as a study map. Work through the topics below, drill the scenarios until the policy-based response feels automatic, and use the practice questions to check your judgment against the reasoning behind each answer.
What the exam typically tests
Confidentiality
You decide what client information may be shared, with whom, and under what conditions. The correct answer almost never shares information with family, friends, or reporters without authorization.
Mandated Reporting
You are tested on the duty to report suspected abuse or neglect. Remember: a suspicion must be reported to the proper authority — you do not need proof, and waiting is usually the wrong answer.
Situational Judgment
You choose the best response to realistic situations: an upset client, a threatening visit, a coworker asking you to cut corners. The best answer follows policy, protects safety, and keeps the relationship professional.
Reading Comprehension
You read notices, memos, and case instructions and answer questions about what they actually require. Watch for words like 'only,' 'must,' and 'except.'
Observation and Clerical Accuracy
You check details, sequences, and observations for accuracy. Case files depend on dates, names, and steps recorded in the right order.
Topic checklist
Work through this list honestly — drill the items you cannot do yet.
- ☐ Apply a multi-condition eligibility rule to a specific household
- ☐ Decide what must be reported, to whom, and when a suspicion arises
- ☐ Refuse to share client information with an unauthorized person, politely and firmly
- ☐ Write a case note with facts, dates, and next steps — no opinions
- ☐ Recognize a safety risk during a visit and respond to protect yourself and the client
- ☐ Explain the limits of confidentiality honestly to a client
- ☐ Choose the most appropriate action when a client is upset, confused, or in crisis
- ☐ Read a supervisor's memo and apply it exactly as written
- ☐ Respect a client's cultural and religious practices within agency policy
- ☐ Sequence the steps of a referral or application process in the correct order
How to prepare
1Scenario Drill (daily)
Read one scenario a day and write your answer and your reason before checking the explanation. Good looks like: your reason names the policy or duty that decides the answer.
2Rule-Application Drill (3x per week)
Take a rule with two or three conditions and invent five cases that test each condition separately. Good looks like: you can say exactly which condition fails in each case.
3Case Note Drill (2x per week)
Practice writing a case note from a short visit description. Good looks like: only facts, dates, and the client's own words, plus the next step — no opinions.
4Timed Mixed Set (weekly)
Do 25 mixed questions in 30 minutes without pausing. Good looks like: you finish the set and your errors cluster on one topic you can then target.
5Reporting Duties Review (daily)
Review one reporting duty per day — what must be reported, to whom, and how quickly — and say it aloud from memory. Good looks like: you can state the duty without looking at your notes.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕ Promising a client that information will stay confidential when policy requires you to report it. Be honest about the limits of confidentiality.
- ✕ Answering with what feels kind instead of what the rules require — the exam scores the rule-based response.
- ✕ Treating a suspicion as if it were a fact, or waiting for proof when policy says to report a suspicion.
- ✕ Adding personal opinions to case notes instead of recording facts and the client's own words.
- ✕ Sharing client information with family members who have not been authorized to receive it.
Exam day strategy
- ✓ Arrive early and bring the identification the exam announcement requires.
- ✓ On any question with a rule, underline the conditions in the rule before you look at the answers.
- ✓ If two answers both look professional, pick the one that follows policy and protects the client.
- ✓ Never choose an answer that shares client information with someone who is not authorized to receive it.
- ✓ Keep a steady pace — do not spend more than a minute on any single question on your first pass.
- ✓ If time remains, review only the questions you marked as uncertain.
Sample questions
Try these 3 sample questions from the practice bank. The correct answer is marked — read the explanation even when you get one right.
Sample 1 · Situational Judgment
A reporter contacts your office asking for details from a client's case file, saying the story will help the public understand the program. What should you do?
- A.Share a summary of the file, since the reporter is only trying to help.
- B.Refuse and report the request to your supervisor.
- C.Tell the reporter where to find the family.
- D.Say you will check with the family first. ✓ Correct answer
A caseworker must never share client information with outsiders. The supervisor is the correct channel for reporting a problem, and a polite refusal protects the client's privacy.
Sample 2 · Reading Comprehension
A teacher tells a caseworker that she suspects a child in her class is being neglected at home. The teacher says she is 'not sure, but worried.' Agency policy requires staff to report suspected child neglect to the appropriate authority. What should the caseworker do?
- A.Wait until you are certain before taking any action.
- B.Report the suspicion to the appropriate authority as required, even though you are not certain. ✓ Correct answer
- C.Ignore it because it is only a rumor.
- D.Tell the parent you plan to report them.
The notice says staff must report suspected neglect to the appropriate authority, even when the facts are not certain. Waiting for proof or ignoring it would put the child at risk.
Sample 3 · Situational Judgment
A client's sister calls your office and asks for details about the client's benefits. The client has not given permission to share information with her sister. What should you do?
- A.Share the information, since she is family.
- B.Share only the parts that seem harmless.
- C.Politely explain that you cannot share client information without authorization, and suggest the sister speak directly with the client. ✓ Correct answer
- D.Tell her the information but ask her to keep it secret.
Confidentiality rules allow sharing information only with those who need it to do their work, and only with proper authorization. The client's sister is not authorized to receive the information.
Official sources
The exam announcement (Notice of Examination) is the final authority for the exam you are taking — it states the exact subjects, requirements, and procedures. Check it before your exam date, because this guide covers general preparation, not the specifics of any single announcement.
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Important disclaimer
All questions on NYCExamPrep.com are original practice questions written for study purposes. They are not official DCAS questions, and this site is not affiliated with the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) or the City of New York.