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How long did you actually study for the LCSW exam before passing?

by Amanda H. 1,523 views3 replies
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Amanda H.OP
May 27, 2026

I've been putting off scheduling my LCSW exam for months now because I honestly don't know if I'm ready. I graduated last May, finished my supervision hours in February, and I've been doing a mix of studying and panicking ever since. My supervisor passed on the first try after six weeks of prep and now I feel like I'm behind even though she said she studied 3-4 hours a day.

The Human Development and Behavior content is what's tripping me up the most — attachment theory, Erikson's stages, all of that. I found that working through a Social Work Human Development & Behavior practice test helped me identify my weak spots, but I'm still scoring around 68% and I've read that you need closer to 75-80% on practice tests to feel confident going in.

Did anyone else feel completely unprepared right up until they passed? What study guide or approach actually moved the needle for you? I'm giving myself 8 more weeks and need a realistic plan.

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priya.test
May 28, 2026
Honestly, six weeks was enough for me but I was pretty structured about it. I did two hours every weekday, no weekends. The thing that actually helped was drilling practice questions every single day rather than re-reading content. Once I understood WHY wrong answers were wrong — not just what the right answer was — my scores jumped fast. Don't underestimate the ethics section either, that caught me off guard.
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rachel_s
May 28, 2026
That 68% feeling is SO real. I was stuck around there for like three weeks and thought I'd never move. What finally clicked was separating my study into content review days vs. timed practice test days. Also, the Human Development content has so many overlapping theories that it helps to make a comparison chart — Erikson vs. Piaget vs. Kohlberg side by side. There's also a Social Work Human Development & Behavior 2 practice set that has more advanced scenario questions if you want extra reps.
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Kevin O.
May 28, 2026
Eight weeks is plenty — I passed with six. Stop second-guessing and just book the date. Having an actual deadline on the calendar changed everything for me mentally. You'll study differently when it's real.

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