Exam Day Tips for ASWB, NCE & NCMHCE
What to bring, how to manage your time, and the strategies that help candidates pass. Everything you need to know before walking into Pearson VUE.
Before Exam Day
What to Bring
- Government-issued photo ID: Your name must match your exam registration exactly. A driver's license or passport works. Bring a backup ID if possible.
- Exam confirmation: Your email confirmation or authorization to test (print a copy just in case)
- Know your testing center: Confirm the Pearson VUE location and drive the route ahead of time if possible
What NOT to Bring
- Cell phones, smartwatches, or any electronic devices
- Notes, textbooks, or study materials
- Calculators (not needed or provided)
- Food or drinks (store in your locker)
- Wallets, bags, or purses (store in your locker)
- Hats, scarves, or bulky clothing (may be inspected)
Pearson VUE Testing Center Procedures
The ASWB, NCE, and NCMHCE exams are all administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Here is what to expect:
- Check in at the front desk. Present your photo ID. Your name must match your registration exactly. Any discrepancy may prevent you from testing.
- Store your belongings. You will be assigned a locker for your personal items. Keep your locker key with you during the exam.
- Security procedures. A digital photo and palm vein scan are taken for identification. This is repeated each time you leave and re-enter the testing room.
- Receive scratch materials. Pearson VUE provides a whiteboard or scratch paper and a marker. Raise your hand if you need replacements during the exam.
- Begin your exam. A proctor walks you to your workstation and launches the exam software. You will see a brief tutorial before the timed portion begins.
Time Management by Exam Type
Each exam has different timing constraints. Knowing your pace before exam day is critical.
ASWB (LCSW/LMSW)
- 170 questions in 4 hours
- About 1.4 minutes per question
- Flag hard questions and come back
- Do not spend more than 2 minutes on any one question
- Budget time to review flagged questions at the end
NCE
- 200 questions in 3 hrs 45 min
- About 1.1 minutes per question
- Faster pace than ASWB exams
- Move quickly through questions you know
- 40 questions are unscored pretests (you cannot tell which)
NCMHCE
- 10 simulations in 3 hrs 15 min
- About 19.5 minutes per simulation
- Read each vignette carefully
- Do not rush the information-gathering phase
- Budget time evenly across all 10 simulations
Multiple-Choice Strategies (ASWB & NCE)
- Read the question stem first. Know what is being asked before reading the answer choices. This prevents you from being distracted by plausible-sounding wrong answers.
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers. If you can eliminate two choices, your odds of guessing correctly jump from 25% to 50%.
- Look for "best" and "most" qualifiers. Many ASWB and NCE questions ask for the "best" or "most appropriate" response. Multiple answers may be partially correct, but one is the best fit.
- Think from the professional perspective. On the ASWB, think like a social worker: person-in-environment, client self-determination, strengths-based. On the NCE, think from a counselor perspective: therapeutic alliance, client autonomy, wellness model.
- Never leave a question blank. There is no penalty for guessing on any of these exams. An educated guess is always better than no answer.
- Trust your first instinct. Research consistently shows that changing answers is more likely to result in changing from right to wrong than the reverse. Only change an answer if you identify a specific error in your reasoning.
Clinical Simulation Strategies (NCMHCE)
The NCMHCE uses a unique clinical simulation format that tests your ability to work through clinical cases from intake to treatment. Here is how to approach them:
- Read the entire vignette carefully. Each simulation begins with a clinical scenario. Read it thoroughly before making any decisions. Key details are often embedded in the narrative.
- Gather essential information first. During the information-gathering phase, focus on what you need for assessment and diagnosis. Do not request every possible piece of information. Be selective and purposeful.
- Use a systematic approach. Follow a logical sequence: gather information, formulate a diagnosis, develop a treatment plan, select interventions. Avoid jumping ahead to treatment before completing your assessment.
- Consider cultural and contextual factors. Each simulation expects you to consider the client's cultural background, social context, and individual circumstances when making clinical decisions.
- Prioritize safety. If a simulation presents any safety concerns (suicide risk, abuse, danger to others), address those first before moving to other clinical issues.
- Practice with simulations before exam day. The NCMHCE format is unique. Familiarity with the decision-tree structure and information-gathering process will save you time and reduce anxiety.
Mental Preparation and Anxiety Management
The Night Before
- Do not cram. Light review at most.
- Lay out your ID and confirmation email
- Eat a normal dinner and get a full night of sleep
- Set two alarms to avoid oversleeping
- Drive the route to Pearson VUE if you have not before
During the Exam
- Take deep breaths if you feel anxiety rising
- Skip hard questions and come back to them
- Remember: you do not need a perfect score to pass
- Focus on the question in front of you, not your overall performance
- Use the scratch paper to organize your thoughts
Break Strategies
- Use the scheduled break. If your exam includes a timed break that does not count against your exam time, take it. Stand up, stretch, use the restroom, and drink water from your locker.
- Keep unscheduled breaks short. Any break outside the scheduled one uses your exam time. If you need to step out, keep it under 3 minutes.
- Use the restroom before starting. Use the restroom before the exam begins to minimize interruptions during testing.
- Eat a small snack. Keep a granola bar or trail mix in your locker. A quick bite during a break can help maintain energy and focus.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Running out of time
Budget your time from the start. Set mental checkpoints (e.g., question 50 by the 1-hour mark on the ASWB).
Overthinking questions
If you have been staring at a question for more than 2 minutes, flag it and move on. Come back later with fresh eyes.
Choosing the "textbook" answer over the "best" answer
Many questions have multiple technically correct answers. Choose the one that is most appropriate for the specific situation described.
Ignoring cultural context
Both the ASWB and NCE/NCMHCE emphasize cultural competence. Consider the client's cultural background when selecting answers.
Forgetting your ID
Pack your ID and confirmation the night before. Double-check that your name matches your exam registration exactly.
Not practicing with timed exams
Take timed practice exams before exam day. Knowing your pace under time pressure reduces anxiety and prevents time-management errors.
Common Questions
What happens if I arrive late to my exam appointment?
If you arrive more than 15 minutes after your scheduled start time at Pearson VUE, you may be turned away and forfeit your exam fees. Pearson VUE recommends arriving 30 minutes early to allow time for check-in. Arriving late increases anxiety, so plan to be early.
Can I bring a calculator to the exam?
No. You cannot bring a calculator, phone, or any electronic device into the testing room. The ASWB, NCE, and NCMHCE do not require mathematical calculations, so no calculator is needed or provided.
How many breaks do I get during the exam?
You can take unscheduled breaks at any time, but the exam clock continues to run. There is typically one optional scheduled break that does not count against your time. Plan breaks strategically to avoid losing valuable testing time.
What about restroom breaks?
You can leave to use the restroom at any time, but the exam clock keeps running. You will need to go through the security check-in process each time you re-enter the testing room. Try to use the restroom before the exam starts.
Can I change my answers?
On the ASWB and NCE exams, you can go back and change answers within the exam. On the NCMHCE, some decisions may be final within each simulation. Review your answers before moving on, but avoid second-guessing yourself excessively.
What score do I need to pass?
The ASWB exams use a scaled scoring system, and the passing score (cut score) is set by the ASWB board. It is not a simple percentage. The NCE passing score varies by state and application type. The NCMHCE is pass/fail based on clinical simulation performance. You do not need a perfect score to pass any of these exams.
When will I get my exam score?
ASWB exam results are typically available immediately after you complete the exam at the testing center. NCE and NCMHCE scores may take several weeks, depending on when the exam was administered and your state board's processing timeline. Check with your state board for specific score release information.
Practice before exam day
Take timed practice exams that mirror the real ASWB, NCE, and NCMHCE format. 200 mini exams and 40 full practice exams across all exam types.