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The CASPER exam: What is it and how to do well:

What is it:

The CASPER test: Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics is an online situational judgement test which aims to assess your professionalism and decision making. By presenting non-medical scenarios, they ask questions to test your response to difficult situations. This is comparable to scenario stations in MMI as the questions tend to be open ended and allow for your own judgement.

What Universities are using it:

In 2024 the following universities used the CASPER test as part of their selection process:

  • Anglia Ruskin University
  • Brunel Medical School
  • Three Counties Medical School at The University of Worcester
  • Aston Medical School
  • Kent and Medway Medical School.

The test is taken after the university has vetted your UCAT/ GAMSAT score and before they invite you for interview.

What are they looking to test:

CASPER does not assess medical knowledge; instead, it looks at: ability to make ethical decisions, empathy and effective communication. This is more of a holistic assessment of you as a person and how suited you are to the profession instead of your capacity to retain information for a recall exam. In that respect it may be a more appropriate discriminator for selecting good medical students.

You may feel that the CASPER test is redundant when you already have to take an entrance exam to be considered by the university. However, is important to consider how these skills apply to working as a doctor. Empathy and good communication are paramount when building relationships with patients and their families and the role necessitates difficult decision making and facing complex ethical situations, all of which are assessed by CASPER.

Structure of the CASPER exam:

  • The test lasts 60-90 minutes (depending on if you qualify for extra time), there is an optional 15-minute break halfway.
  • It is comprised of 2 main sections and depending on the question, they will ask for a video or typed response.
  • Within the test you will be given 14 scenarios presented in either a video (8 total) or via text (6 total).
  • You will get an optional 30-second reflection period to think about your answer before responding.

Video responses: Comprised of 2 word-based scenarios and 4 video based scenarios. For each scenario you will record an answer to 2 open ended questions. You have up to 1 minute for each response.

Typed responses: Comprised of 3 word-based scenarios and 5 video based scenarios. For each scenario you will type an answer to 3 open ended questions. You have 5 minutes to answer all 3 questions.

How Is it scored:

  • Each question is marked by a different person. Each response is scored relative to the response given by other test takers therefore the score indicates how strong the response is within the cohort. Answers are scored on a scale of 1-9 (9 being the best).
  • The total scores are dived into quartiles: 0-24 percentile makes up the lowest scorers followed by 25-49, 50-74 and then the top scorers in 75-100 percentile.
  • In summary, if you score in the fourth quartile (75-100) you have performed better than 75% of other test takers. Similarly, if you were in the first quartile (0-24) you performed worse than 75% of other test takers.
  • Whilst you will not receive your raw score (it will be sent directly to the university), you will be told which quartile your score was in. This score is valid for one application cycle therefore if you are unsuccessful, the score cannot be carried forward into the next cycle.

How to prepare:

Firstly, the test aims to assess how you as an individual are suited to the role as a doctor, so unlike the UCAT, BMAT and GAMSAT, excessive preparation is not needed. It may however be useful to practice using sample questions and recording/ typing your response in the test timeframe.

Other ways to prepare include:

Taking the exam:

To sit the exam, you need:

  • A computer/laptop with a webcam and mic
  • A stable internet connection

To create an account, you will need valid photo ID and an email address. You can register your account a few weeks (but no later than 3 days) before sitting the test and can select a date and time that works for you. It is worth noting that the exam costs £30 to sit however in the 2024 cycle this fee was covered by the NHS.

As mentioned before, you may be eligible for extra time and other testing accommodations; this requires a formal request with supporting evidence at least 3 weeks before the test date.

What to do post exam:

You can relax now! Nothing to prepare for until interview time. It will take up to 3 weeks for your results to be sent to the medical school and if your score is competitive enough, they will invite you to interview (this will likely be after 3 weeks as they have other factors to consider). After the university has received your results, you will be able to see what quartile you ranked in via the website.

My personal tips:

  1. Trust that by getting to this stage, you have the skills required to do well in this test
  2. Practice video responses with your 1 ON 1 Future Doc tutor and ask them to review your written answers. One or two sessions prepping for the exam should suffice.
  3. Practice writing speed
  4. Reflect on any difficult decisions you have had to make and what you would do differently next time as this may be asked.
  5. Relax the day before, there is nothing more to do other than mentally prepare yourself for sitting the test.
  6. Use the breaks- take a walk and look away from the screen to rest your eyes and reset.

Final thoughts:

The CASPER is not a particularly difficult exam but there is limited information out there so this article aims to simplify the process and explain the reason you may be asked to sit the exam.

If you would like support with CASPER or any element of your application then Future Doc 1 ON 1 coaching is perfect for you.

Written by Luiza