February 15, 2023
Here are the changes and how they benefit you and your applicants.
We are continuously researching and investigating ways to improve our assessments and make admissions more fair and equitable. If you’re familiar with Casper then you may know it typically presents 15 scenarios or dilemmas, and asks applicants to respond to three questions per scenario.
During the 2022-2023 cycle we introduced a video response format within the Casper assessment. Results from several analyses across two years have demonstrated that adding a video response section further reduced or maintained demographic differences and maintained excellent test reliability.
What is changing in Casper?
The Casper score will include typed and video response sections
Programs will receive a single combined score of applicants’ responses to typed and video response sections. This score maintains high test reliability and has shown to reduce or maintain the magnitude of demographic differences
The 6 video-response scenarios will require only 2 questions.
The number of questions for the video response section has been reduced from 3 to 2. This change reduces the total test time for applicants from 100-120 minutes to 90-110 minutes while maintaining the high levels of reliability associated with the Casper test.
The typed-response section of Casper will now have 8 scenarios
We have reduced the number of typed-response scenarios to eight, while maintaining the high level of reliability.
The video-response section will be first
Although rare, applicants occasionally experience technical problems while uploading or recording videos that cannot be remedied in the moment. By presenting the video-response section first, these rare occurrences will be identified before they spend time completing the typed section.
Quick comparison of the old and new Casper tests
What does this mean for the Casper scores you receive?
| Old Casper | New Casper |
| 15 scenarios | 14 scenarios |
| 10 video-based scenarios 5 word-based scenarios | 9 video-based scenarios 5 word-based scenarios |
| 6 video- responses 9 typed- responses | 6 video- responses 8 typed- responses |
| Typed response section appears first Video-response section appears second | Video-response section appears first Typed response section appears second |
| Total test time = 100-120 minutes | Total test time = 90-110 minutes |
All programs will continue receiving Casper scores as they normally have from previous cycles to incorporate into their existing process, but now the score will include the video-response section.
How will applicants benefit?
Research has shown that demographic differences were reduced or maintained across several demographic characteristics when the combined score was used. The video format also provides applicants with an additional mode of communication to demonstrate their professionalism and social intelligence that may be preferable to some applicants for a variety of reasons.
What can we share with our applicants to help them prepare?
We have updated the online Applicant Communication Kit with new information for your program’s admissions requirements page that explains what applicants need to know about the new test format. We have also updated the AcuityInsights.app website (formerly TakeAltus) with detailed test prep materials, resources, and FAQs.
Want to hear more about the upcoming changes?
Register by clicking on the relevant webinar below:
- Program webinar – Feb 16, 2023 at 12pm ET
- Advisor webinar – Feb 24, 2023 at 12pm ET
