How To Prepare For The CASPer Test: The Concise 2022 Guide

15 Casper Test Preparation Tips

Getting ready for the Casper can be challenging. That’s why admissions experts Nicole De La Pena and Aditya Khurana have broken down what med schools are looking for and how to navigate the Casper in this video: 

Let’s review more general Casper prep tips to help you get ready for test day! 

1. Research 

Because of how different the Casper Test is from other SJTs, it's important to do your research. Casper is not a test you buy a book for; you can’t rely on memorization.

Your research should involve reading as much as you can about the healthcare field and familiarizing yourself with the etiquette and practices that are required for patient interactions. 

The scenarios you will be presented with are examples of what you may one day experience as a friend, family member, colleague, or doctor. Read and familiarize yourself with cultural sensitivity, ethical issues, workplace dynamics, and how to properly communicate within a professional setting. 

Researching these subjects will give you the insight you need to properly respond and articulate your message while taking the test. You’ll have to demonstrate that you are capable and fully aware of the conduct required to succeed.‍

2. Understand the Test Format 

As stated earlier, the Casper test is fully virtual and taken from the place of your choosing. Ensure there is a stable internet connection capable of running the test uninterrupted. The Casper website states that a minimum of 1.5MB/s internet speed is required to take the test smoothly. 

In addition, you need a functioning, front-facing webcam, Google Chrome or Firefox, and a pair of headphones or speakers (with a mic). Once you have set up your Casper account, you can run the system requirements check to ensure you’re ready to take the test. These are the first and most important steps in understanding the test format.

Another important part of the test is the location. You can take the test wherever you want, but you must take it alone without any outside help. You can take it while sitting on your living room couch or sipping coffee at the kitchen table. Wherever it is, make sure it is quiet and comfortable for you. 

Each video prompt only plays once, so pay close attention to the scenario that is described and the questions you'll have to answer. The videos are not very long, so don't be mistaken into thinking that you'll have to memorize tons of information within a short span of time. 

If needed, you are allowed to have a blank piece of paper, a pen, a pencil, and a dictionary while you take the test. You'll be allowed to take any notes you want as you take the test, such as names or specific details, but pre-written notes of any kind are not allowed.

You will be presented with 11 scenarios divided across two sections. The first section is the video response section, and the second section is the typed response section. You’ll only have one minute to record each of your video responses and three-and-a-half minutes to write your written responses for each scenario. 

Read each question carefully and plan your answers accordingly, giving each question enough time to be answered thoroughly and completely. If you run out of time while answering a question, don't be alarmed; evaluators are aware of the time constraints.

3. Understand How You'll be Scored 

Each section of the Casper test is evaluated by a different person. This is done in order to minimize any bias that may appear during the evaluation phase of the testing process. 

Evaluators are not made aware of any personal information; they will not know your name, age, ethnicity, or any other revealing information. This eliminates the possibility of any prejudices interfering with a just evaluation. 

Evaluators are instructed to ignore spelling and grammatical errors; these types of minor mistakes are common and do not count against you. As evaluators read your responses, they flag responses that don’t align with ethical or professional practices. They must justify the reason for flagging your response. 

If your test has too many flagged responses, it will be deemed unacceptable. Additionally, giving a well-articulated and accurate response to a single question is better than giving three subpar responses within a single section.  

Casper evaluators rate your responses on a 1 to 9 scale, with 1 being a poor response and 9 representing a satisfactory response. Each evaluator is responsible for judging all of the responses they receive from multiple students at a given station. 

Once your sections have been scored, you’ll receive a quartile score:

Quartile	Meaning
1st Quartile	You scored in the lowest 25% compared to other test-takers
2nd Quartile	You scored higher than 25% of test-takers, but no more than 50% of test-takers
3rd Quartile	You scored higher than at least 50% of test-takers, but no higher than 75% of test-takers
4th Quartile	You scored higher than 75% of test-takers

Something unique about the Casper test is that your score is dependent on the performance of your peers! Your Casper score is relative to how other test takers have done on the exam.

4. Practice With Sample Questions 

When it comes to the Casper test, you can prepare by answering sample questions. You can find Casper practice questions on the official Casper website, which has some fantastic video and text-based scenarios to help you familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be asked. 

These scenarios will be general and will not pertain to a specific field or practice. Read the prompts and questions and watch the videos. Be aware of what the Casper test will look and feel like when test day comes around.

5. Get Expert Feedback on Your Responses 

How will you know if your answers are strong, and what can you do to stand out when you take the real Casper test? It’s a good idea to get feedback on each of your responses to sample questions from expert Casper tutors. This way, you can improve weaker answers and develop a strategy for answering any type of question.

6. Eliminate Tech Problems in Advance 

The best way to ensure you have the system requirements needed to take the Casper test is to run the system requirements check found on the reservations page of your Casper account. Don't go through the checklist on the day of the test. 

Run through it a few days before, and give yourself time to make any necessary changes to your computer, test location, or equipment. 

4 Casper Test Typed Response Prep Tips

Here are some Casper prep tips to ace the typed response section. 

1. Improve Your Typing Skills 

Responding to two questions in under four minutes can be challenging. Fast typers typically have an advantage here, with more time to flesh out their responses. Typing faster with fewer errors means you won’t need to go back and fix mistakes as often, and raters are more likely to understand the flow of your responses. 

If you’re not a confident typer, we recommend practicing with tutorials or games to boost your WPM. 

2. Use Words to Convey Core Competencies

You don’t need to comb through a thesaurus, but you can use words to your advantage as you write responses. For example, you may want to approach a person “in private” or “gently” guide someone to do something else. Show your professionalism, empathy, and respect with your words. 

3. Don’t Get Caught Up On Grammar and Spelling 

While grammar and spelling are important on most written tests, do your best to let perfectionism take a backseat to the flow and content of your answers. You have a limited amount of time; your answers are fine with a few grammar and spelling mistakes as long as your intentions are clear. 

4. Practice With If/Then Statements 

If/then statements can help you construct winning answers while answering scenarios. For example, you can write: “If this is the situation, then I would do this. If this is actually what’s going on, then I would do this.” Practice with this style before test day!

4 Tips For the Casper Video Response

Here are four Casper prep tips to help you get ready for video responses.

1. Record Yourself Practicing 

When you’re practicing with video response questions, record yourself and watch it back. This can help you identify how you come across on video—are your answers too quiet? Are you looking anywhere but the camera? These are things you can adjust with practice before your test. 

2. Warm Up Your Voice 

It’s important to warm up your voice. We recommend saying a few tongue-twisters, over-enunciating words, and ensuring your voice is “warmed up” to ensure everything you say is clear. This can also reduce your chances of stumbling over words. Additionally, keep water nearby to remedy a dry/scratchy throat! 

3. Make a Conscious Effort to Limit Fidgeting and Watch Body Language 

Maybe you have a habit of playing with your hair, putting your hand in front of your mouth when you speak, or slouching. People often tend to fidget more when they’re nervous, but it’s in your best interest to limit closed-off body language and fidgeting to appear more confident. 

Watch your posture, and do your best to avoid distracting movements.

4. Visualize Speaking to a Person 

Speaking to a computer with no one on the other end can feel unnatural. Picturing another person on the other end can help you hold eye contact with the camera, keep your tone conversational, and make you seem more engaged.