PSW Exam Practice Questions: Free Sample Test (2026)
The best way to prepare for the NACC PSW exam is to practise with real-style questions — and then understand why each answer is correct. Reading your notes over and over only gets you so far. Active recall, where you test yourself and review the rationale for each answer, is what actually moves knowledge from short-term memory into long-term retention.
Below are 15 free PSW practice questions covering five of the most heavily tested areas on the NACC exam: Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), Scope of Practice, Vital Signs, Anatomy Basics, and Medication Safety. Each question includes a full rationale so you can learn from every answer — whether you get it right or wrong. Treat this like a mini practice test. No timer, no pressure. Just honest self-assessment.
If you want to understand how the actual exam is structured before diving in, read our NACC exam format guide. If you are looking for a full study strategy, start with our complete guide to passing the NACC exam.
Let's get started.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
IPAC is one of the most heavily tested topics on the NACC exam. You need to know the chain of infection, the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene, and the correct order for donning and doffing PPE. These three questions cover the fundamentals — if you can answer them confidently, you are in good shape. If not, spend extra time reviewing our IPAC study guide.
Which of the following represents the correct sequence of the six links in the chain of infection?
A PSW is about to assist a client with oral care. According to the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene, when should the PSW perform hand hygiene?
A PSW is preparing to enter the room of a client on droplet and contact precautions. What is the correct order for donning (putting on) PPE?
These three questions cover the core IPAC concepts you will see on exam day. If the chain of infection or the 4 Moments tripped you up, those are high-priority review areas — they appear in multiple questions across the exam.
PSW Scope of Practice
Understanding what a PSW can and cannot do is the foundation of nearly every scenario question on the NACC exam. Controlled acts, the difference between delegation and assignment, and the DIPPS principles come up repeatedly. Get these wrong, and you will lose marks across multiple modules — not just Module 1.
A nurse asks a PSW to check a client's blood glucose level using a glucometer. The PSW has received training on this task but has never performed it independently. What should the PSW do?
What is the key difference between delegation and assignment in the context of PSW practice?
A PSW is caring for a client who wants to eat lunch in the dining room, but the care plan states they should eat in their room due to a recent fall. Which DIPPS principle should the PSW prioritize in this situation?
The scope of practice questions are where many students second-guess themselves. Remember: when in doubt, follow the care plan, communicate to the nurse, and never perform a task you have not been properly trained and authorized to do.
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Start Practicing →Vital Signs
Vital signs questions are some of the most straightforward on the exam — if you have memorized the normal ranges. The exam will test whether you can recognize an abnormal reading and know when to report it. If you have not already, review our vital signs reference guide to lock down these numbers.
A PSW takes a client's vital signs and records the following: temperature 37.8°C, pulse 88 bpm, respirations 20/min, blood pressure 128/82 mmHg. Which finding should the PSW report to the nurse?
A PSW is measuring a client's radial pulse. Which of the following techniques is correct?
While assisting a client with morning care, the PSW notices the client's respirations are 26 breaths per minute and they appear to be using their neck and shoulder muscles to breathe. What should the PSW do FIRST?
Vital signs are high-yield because they are testable in a very concrete way. You either know the normal ranges or you do not. Spend time drilling the numbers until they are automatic — there is no shortcut here.
Anatomy Basics
You do not need to memorize every bone and muscle for the NACC exam, but you do need to understand how body systems connect to the care you provide. These questions test whether you can link basic anatomy knowledge to practical PSW decisions.
A client has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). The PSW notices their ankles are swollen. Which body system is primarily responsible for this symptom?
A PSW is assisting a client with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Which of the following is a function of the urinary system?
If anatomy is an area where you feel less confident, focus on understanding the function of each body system and how common conditions affect that function. The exam rarely asks you to label a diagram — it asks you to connect a symptom to a system and know what to observe and report.
Medication Safety
Medication questions are a common source of anxiety for PSW students because the boundaries can feel unclear. The key is understanding the 6 Rights of Medication and knowing exactly what a PSW can and cannot do. These two questions test those boundaries.
A PSW is assisting a client with their prescribed oral medications. The PSW notices the pill looks different from what the client usually takes — it is a different colour and shape. What should the PSW do?
Which of the following tasks is a PSW legally permitted to perform regarding medications?
Medication safety is an area where the exam specifically tests whether you know the limits of your role. The safest answer is almost always: follow the 6 Rights, report any concerns to the nurse, and never make independent medication decisions.
Client Rights and Communication
The final two questions bring together several principles that run through the entire NACC curriculum: informed consent, confidentiality, and the PSW's duty to report. These concepts appear in scenario questions across multiple modules, so understanding them well gives you an advantage on a large portion of the exam.
A client tells a PSW that they do not want their family to know about their diagnosis. Later, the client's daughter asks the PSW directly, 'What did the doctor say about my mother's condition?' What should the PSW do?
A PSW arrives at a client's home for a scheduled visit and notices bruises on the client's arms that were not there during the last visit. The client says they 'fell,' but avoids eye contact and seems anxious. What is the PSW's FIRST responsibility?
These two questions illustrate a principle that applies across the entire exam: the PSW's role is to observe, report, and protect the client's rights. You are not expected to investigate, diagnose, or make decisions that belong to other members of the healthcare team.
How Did You Do?
Take a moment to honestly assess your results.
- 13-15 correct: You have a strong foundation across these core topics. Keep practising to maintain your edge, and make sure you are equally prepared for the modules not covered here (dementia care, palliative care, nutrition, and personal care).
- 9-12 correct: You are on the right track, but there are gaps worth addressing. Go back to any questions you missed and reread the rationale carefully. Then spend extra study time on those specific topics.
- Below 9: Do not panic — that is exactly what practice tests are for. You have identified your weak areas, which means you now know where to focus. Review the relevant modules, then come back and try these questions again in a few days.
These 15 questions are a small sample. The NACC exam draws from all 12 curriculum modules, and you will face 100 questions under timed conditions. The more you practise, the more confident you will feel on exam day.
PSW Leap has over 2,400 original practice questions with full rationales, covering every NACC module. You can start with 50 free questions — no signup required — and upgrade when you are ready. Start practising now →
Key Takeaways
- Active practice beats passive reading. Testing yourself with questions and reviewing rationales is the most effective way to prepare for the NACC exam.
- Know your high-weight topics cold. IPAC, scope of practice, vital signs, and medication safety appear across multiple modules and carry disproportionate weight on the exam.
- When in doubt, report to the nurse. The safest answer on any scenario question almost always involves communicating your observations to the appropriate team member rather than acting independently.
- Use DIPPS to break ties. When two answers look equally correct, filter them through Dignity, Independence, Preferences, Privacy, and Safety. The option that best balances these principles — with safety as the tiebreaker — is usually correct.
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Written by Shashank
PSW Student & Founder of PSW Leap
Shashank is a PSW student at a Canadian community college and the creator of PSW Leap. He built this platform after going through the NACC exam prep process himself, to help fellow students study smarter with practice questions mapped to every NACC module.
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