Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test (SJT). It asks what you would do in a tough situation, and more importantly, why. This helps determine behavioral tendencies of applicants pursuing people-centered professions.
Being socially intelligent and professional, in and out of higher education programs and the workplace, requires various skills and behaviors, which we use every time we find ourselves in a new situation. Casper provides insights about many of these skills that inform professionalism and social intelligence.
These skills include collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem solving, professionalism, resilience and self-awareness.
2 sections, 14 scenarios
Casper has 2 main sections: video responses and typed responses.
Video responses:
- You will read 2 word-based scenarios and watch 4 video-based scenarios
- For each scenario, you will record videos to answer 2 open-ended questions, presented one at a time. You will have 1 minute to record each response.
Typed responses:
- You will read 3 word-based scenarios and watch 5 video-based scenarios
- For each scenario, you will type answers to 3 open-ended questions, which will all be presented on the same page. You will have 5 minutes total to respond to all 3 questions.
90-110 minutes, with breaks
Casper typically takes 90-110 minutes to complete. We provide an optional 10-minute break after the video response section and another 5-minute break halfway through the typed response section.
Scored by human raters
Each response is evaluated by a different member of our diverse and trained group of raters, ensuring a fair and unbiased assessment of your skills. Our raters undergo rigorous training, including implicit bias training, so they can assess your responses accurately.
Scores sent to programs
2-3 weeks after you take your test, your Casper score is automatically sent to the programs you’ve selected for distribution. Programs will update your application status within their application portals.
Learn how to prepare for Casper
- You must reserve a specific date and time to take Casper
- We recommend reserving your test at least 3 days before your Casper test date to allow time to prepare by running through the system requirements check and taking the sample test
- Check the Dates and Fees page to see available dates
Learn everything you need to know to prepare for Casper in this on-demand webinar.
Why do programs require Casper?
Programs want to select well-rounded individuals who excel both academically and in their personal qualities. Casper is a reliable way to assess soft skills and it has been proven to predict future success, offering programs a meaningful insight into each applicant’s potential.
How does Casper help applicants?
Casper lets you showcase your personal and professional skills early in the admissions process, alongside your academic achievements. Although programs would like to learn more about each applicant personally, they often don’t have the resources to review every application in detail. Casper helps them take a holistic approach that ensures they can identify well-rounded candidates, even in a sea of applications.
Do I need to study for Casper?
The best way to prepare for the Casper test is by familiarizing yourself with the test format and technical requirements, so you can be comfortable and focused on test day. Once you’ve created an Acuity Insights account, you can take our practice test as often as you like.
Our research shows that third-party coaching and prep can hinder your test score, compared to using the free prep resources on our website. Visit the Casper test prep page for more information on how to prepare for the Casper test.
