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.
Free PSW practice questions. Below are 15 original NACC-style multiple-choice questions written by PSW Leap, each with a full rationale, covering IPAC, scope of practice, vital signs, anatomy, medication safety and client rights. They are free and need no signup. NACC's student FAQ does not mention official practice tests (NACC's student FAQ, checked September 4, 2026), so use these to check your understanding before your college-run exam.
What do these 15 free PSW practice questions cover?
Below are 15 free PSW practice questions covering five areas that recur across the 12 PSW Leap study modules: Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), Scope of Practice, Vital Signs, Anatomy Basics, and Medication Safety, plus two questions on client rights and communication. 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. New to the exam entirely? Our guide to what the NACC PSW exam is and how 2026 sittings are scheduled explains the exam, what NACC stands for, and who books your date. Prefer an interactive version? Try the 10-question sample quiz first, no signup needed either.
Let's get started.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
IPAC comes up throughout the PSW Leap study modules, from personal care to palliative care. 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?
Sources for this answer: Public Health Ontario, How to Put On Personal Protective Equipment (PDF poster), steps 1–5, and How to: Put On and Take Off Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), p. 3; both accessed September 26, 2026.
These three questions cover the core IPAC concepts. If the chain of infection or the 4 Moments tripped you up, those are high-priority review areas: they come up in scenario questions across several modules.
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?
Source for this answer: the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, s. 27 (2) para 5 and s. 29 (1); accessed September 26, 2026. See also how delegation and assignment apply to PSW medication tasks.
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. What should the PSW do?
Source for this answer: Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Personal Support Worker Program Standard, January 2022 (PDF), vocational learning outcome 4, element D, printed p. 17; accessed September 26, 2026.
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.
Ready to practice?
PSW Leap has 2,500 original practice questions across 12 study modules that follow the NACC PSW curriculum — with detailed rationales for every answer.
Start Practicing →Vital Signs
Vital signs questions test whether you can recognize a reading that needs reporting and know what to do about it. Compare each reading with the client's own baseline and the care plan's reporting parameters: typical adult ranges are a starting point, not the rule. If you have not already, review our vital signs guide.
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. The client's usual readings, recorded in the care plan, are temperature 36.6°C, pulse 88 bpm, respirations 20/min and blood pressure 128/82 mmHg, and the care plan says to report a temperature of 37.5°C or higher. Which finding should the PSW report to the nurse?
Source for this answer: Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Personal Support Worker Program Standard, January 2022 (PDF), vocational learning outcome 6, element B, printed p. 22; accessed September 26, 2026.
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?
Sources for this answer: the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, s. 27 (2) para 5 and s. 29 (1); Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Personal Support Worker Program Standard, January 2022 (PDF), vocational learning outcome 6, element B (printed p. 22) and vocational learning outcome 7, element E (printed p. 25); all accessed September 26, 2026.
Vital signs are high-yield because they are testable in a very concrete way. Learn the typical adult ranges as a starting point, then practise the step these questions reward: comparing each reading with the client's own baseline and the care plan's reporting parameters, and reporting a change to the nurse.
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. Practice questions rarely ask you to label a diagram; they ask 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 9 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 questions test whether you know the limits of your role. The safest answer is almost always: follow the 9 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 share of scenario questions.
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?
Sources for this answer: Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, s. 28 (1); Retirement Homes Act, 2010, s. 75 (1); Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Personal Support Worker Program Standard, January 2022 (PDF), vocational learning outcome 12 (printed pp. 39–40) and vocational learning outcome 7, element E (printed p. 25); all accessed September 26, 2026.
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. NACC's student FAQ lists a 2.5-hour final exam that tests every part of the program (NACC's student FAQ, checked September 8, 2026), and NACC's student exam-system walkthrough shows it as 200 questions in 150 minutes, written at the college campus with a college proctor (NACC walkthrough PDF, checked September 8, 2026); neither source publishes a pass mark, so confirm that with your college. PSW Leap's timed mock exams use 200 questions in 2.5 hours as our own practice setting, so you get used to holding focus for a long sitting.
PSW Leap has 2,500 original practice questions with full rationales, organized into 12 study modules that follow the NACC PSW curriculum. Try the 10-question sample quiz →, or start the 50 free Learn Mode questions — no account needed. Create a free account when you want your progress saved.
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 the cross-cutting topics cold. IPAC, scope of practice, vital signs, and medication safety appear in scenario questions across several modules, so gaps there cost you more than once.
- 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, weighed together. When safety and a client's choice pull apart, the best answer usually explains the risk, offers the safe alternatives the care plan allows, respects the client's decision, and reports it so the team can review the plan (Personal Support Worker Program Standard, vocational learning outcome 4, element D (PDF), accessed September 26, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
This page has 15 free sample questions with full rationales covering IPAC, scope of practice, vital signs, anatomy, medication safety, and client rights. PSW Leap also has a 10-question sample quiz at pswleap.com/try and 50 free questions in Learn Mode, none of which need a signup. The full bank is 2,500 practice questions organized into 12 study modules that follow the NACC PSW curriculum.
NACC's student FAQ does not mention official practice tests; the student FAQ says you must enrol in a NACC-member college to write the final exam, which cannot be taken on its own (nacc.ca/faqs/for-students, checked September 4, 2026). The questions on this page and the sample quiz at pswleap.com/try are free, original PSW Leap questions with a rationale for every answer, written to the NACC PSW curriculum rather than copied from any exam.
No. These are original PSW Leap practice questions written to the NACC PSW curriculum, not questions copied from or endorsed by NACC. NACC's student FAQ does not mention official practice tests (nacc.ca/faqs/for-students, checked September 4, 2026). Use these questions to check your understanding, and confirm final-exam details with your college.
Written by Shashank Jha
Founder, PSW Leap
Shashank Jha is the founder 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 organized around the NACC PSW curriculum.
He's also the author of PSW Exam Success: The Ultimate Prep Book — the 455-page paperback PSW Leap grew out of.
Learn more about PSW LeapPSW Leap
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