The CASPer test is an online assessment of the personal and professional characteristics important to doctors.

In our CASPer preparation course, you will be provided with a set of situational judgement test (SJT) questions, mirroring those found in the real test. An SJT is a psychometric test in which you are given hypothetical situations and asked what you would do in each. Per Altus Assessments, the company that created the CASPer test, questions are used to “determine behavioural tendencies and assess how an individual will behave in a particular situation.’

What Does CASPer Test Involve?

Our CASPer prep training is kept up-to-date as the test evolves. Currently, the test is divided into 15 components, with 5 word-based situations and 10 video-based. You will have five minutes to respond to three challenging questions after each scenario. The test includes an optional 10-minute break at the halfway point.

The average time to finish the test is 100 to 120 minutes. Each of the 12 scenarios has a different highly-trained rater, who provides an accurate and trustworthy assessment of your personal and professional qualities.

Altus states that studying will not increase your score, but research has found otherwise. Like any assessment, CASPer can be prepared for.

CASPer Format

The CASPer exam is divided into 15 sections, each of which contains three open-ended questions, derived from word- or video-based scenarios. The three questions have a five-minute time limit for responses. You will need to think on your feet and type your responses rapidly.

You move forward automatically to the next section after five minutes. There are optional five and ten minute breaks that can be taken, and it takes between 100 and 120 minutes to finish the CASPer test.

Because you cannot go back and examine your responses, be sure to provide comprehensive responses. Each portion of the exam is graded separately, and after the exam has been scored, the results are forwarded to the programmes you chose. You’ll neither have access to your score nor receive it.

Each school has its criteria, so you must prepare according to them.

Video-Based Questions

During our CASPer preparation course, you will watch a brief clip before answering questions. You will notice that each question in the CASPer test varies in focus, assessing the different behavioural traits.

A breakdown of video-based scenarios:

• An explanation of your position (for example, “You are a friend.”)
• a one to a two-minute clip
• Three free-form inquiries, such as “How would you counsel your friend in this circumstance?”

Word-Based Questions

As part of the CASPer test, and our prep course course, you will face word-based prompts. You will be provided with a written scenario, and have to answer according to it.

Examples of word-based settings include:

You are the attending doctor at the ER. A middle-aged man with a “scruffy” appearance enters, wearing sweatpants and an outdated sweater, and complaining of excruciating back pain. The individual repeatedly insisted during history-taking that he requires a form of opioid anaesthesia. A nurse quietly informs you that this individual routinely enters the hospital and is given painkiller prescriptions.

• What are your initial thoughts on this case?
• What should you do in this scenario?
• If the patient insisted on receiving a painkiller prescription, how would you respond to him?

To conclude, these questions need you to utilise your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. You should explain how you came to your decision, what you would do, and why. Here is a further example of a word-based prompt:

Consider a period when you had to give something up to achieve a goal.

• Give a brief account of the circumstances and the sacrifice you made.
• Do you regret making the sacrifice or not? If not, why not?
• Did this experience teach you anything you can use in your chosen career? Describe your reaction.

What is the Purpose of CASPer?

The main purpose of this CASPer preparation training is to assess different personnel traits, namely:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Empathy
• Equity
• Ethics
• Motivation
• Problem Solving
• Professionalism
• Resilience
• Self-Awareness

How the CASPer Prep Course is Helpful in the Admissions Process

To ensure students possess the soft skills and behavioural traits required for success in the test, we have launched and iterated our CASPer preparation offering.

Test results provide programmes with valuable information about prospective applicants, as the CASPer is a reliable indicator of future success in medical school. Success in CASPer therefore reassures a program that you will be a good fit, and in turn a good doctor. CASPer is just one facet of the application, but many programs will use a cutoff – meaning that success is crucial.

Preparing for the CASPer Test

There are numerous ways to prepare for the CASPer test, even if it is difficult because it depends on your behaviour and ethics. You can more effectively get ready for the CASPer by:

• Engaging with CASPer questions and scenarios and taking practice exams.
• Practise your typing speed and accuracy.
• Reviewing ethical cases and guidance on the duties of a doctor

Working with sample questions is the most effective technique for becoming more familiar with the CASPer test material.

About Blackstone Tutor

BlackStone Tutors is a professional training institute. We help students enter Medicine and continue to succeed beyond medical school as they progress towards  specialisation. We also educate healthcare professionals – from nurses to pharmacists.

We offer specialised courses for medics, dentists, pharmacists, physicians training to become GPs, and more.