If you're applying to medical school, you’ve likely heard of the CASPer test. CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test designed to assess your professionalism, communication skills, empathy, and ability to handle challenging scenarios. It’s used by many med schools to evaluate how you’ll respond to real-world situations, beyond what grades and test scores can show. People think that there is no way to prepare for this as it is not testing content- however, getting comfortable with ethical dilemmas sets you up for medical school and beyond.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to approach and ace CASPer:
1. Understand What CASPer Is Testing
CASPer isn’t testing your scientific knowledge or ability to memorize facts. Instead, it’s looking at the non-cognitive skills you’ll need as a future doctor:
Empathy and Compassion: Can you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and respond with care? Will you break the rules in certain circumstances, or be creative with solutions?
Ethical Reasoning: How do you handle ethical dilemmas where there may not be a clear right or wrong answer? Can you think outside the box and avoid black and white thinking?
Communication Skills: Can you articulate your thoughts clearly and professionally?
Problem-Solving: How do you approach complex situations or conflicts?
2. Practice with Sample Questions
CASPer consists of 12 sections, each with a different scenario—either a video or text-based prompt—followed by three open-ended questions. You’ll have 5 minutes to answer the questions in each section, so practicing within this time limit is crucial.
Here’s an example of a scenario: You witness a coworker taking credit for work you did. How do you handle the situation?
Questions that follow could include:
What is your immediate reaction?
How would you address the issue with your coworker?
What steps would you take to ensure this doesn’t happen again?
To practice:
Write out your responses under timed conditions.
Review your answers to make sure they are concise but still demonstrate empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment.
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