It’s been a little while since we posted about the Casper Test, and there have been some noteworthy changes for the 2023-2024 medical school application cycle.
Through our carefully curated FAQs, this article will get you up-to-date on the format, participating schools, test dates, etc for this situational judgment test.
Without further ado, let’s get into it:
(Have a question you can’t find below? Leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you)
Casper is an online situational judgment test (SJT) that poses hypothetical ethical dilemmas or difficult conflicts and asks you how you’d respond and why. It gauges “behavioral tendencies of applicants pursuing people-centered professions.”
Collaboration
Communication
Empathy
Equity
Ethics
Motivation
Problem Solving
Professionalism
Resilience
Self Awareness
The test is divided into two sections–a video response section with two word-based scenarios and four video-based scenarios, as well as a typed response section with three word-based scenarios and five video-based scenarios.
Each video response scenario has two open-ended questions, presented one at a time. Test takers have one minute to record each response.
Each typed response scenario has three open-ended questions, presented altogether. Test takers have five minutes total to respond to all three questions.
Casper progresses from one scenario to the next automatically. It takes 90-110 minutes to complete the test. There’s an optional 10-minute break between the video response and typed response sections and an optional 5-minute break halfway through the typed response section.
According to the Casper website: “Each scenario of a test is scored by a different rater. The group of raters reflects the diversity of the population. All raters are extensively trained, put through implicit bias training, vetted, and understand the importance of their work as a rater and the impact it has on an applicant’s future. The Acuity Insights team has numerous quality assurance measures in place to ensure the integrity of scores assigned by our raters.”
Once a test is rated, 2-3 weeks after the test date, the Casper score is sent automatically to the programs that the applicant has selected for distribution. Programs then update application statuses within their individual application portals.
You’ll need to choose at least one school to sign up for a test date, but then you can add however many other schools to your Distribution List.
At the bottom of this article, you can find a full table of all participating US allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, their distribution deadlines, and whether they require the Duet.
After you have completed the registration for your Acuity Insights account, you’ll be able to reserve a test.
Here are the 2023-2024 test dates for medical school (US allopathic and osteopathic):
May 4, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
May 23, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Jun 1, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Jun 11, 2023 - 1:00 PM EDT
Jun 11, 2023 - 4:00 PM EDT
Jun 27, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
Jun 27, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Jul 9, 2023 - 1:00 PM EDT
Jul 9, 2023 - 4:00 PM EDT
Jul 18, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
Jul 18, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Jul 27, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
Jul 27, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Aug 10, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
Aug 10, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Aug 27, 2023 - 1:00 PM EDT
Aug 27, 2023 - 4:00 PM EDT
Sep 12, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
Sep 12, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Oct 12, 2023 - 5:00 PM EDT
Oct 26, 2023 - 8:00 PM EDT
Nov 14, 2023 - 5:00 PM EST
Dec 7, 2023 - 8:00 PM EST
Jan 7, 2024 - 1:00 PM EST
Jan 16, 2024 - 8:00 PM EST
Feb 15, 2024 - 8:00 PM EST
Mar 12, 2024 - 8:00 PM EDT
Apr 9, 2024 - 8:00 PM EDT
Ideally, before you turn in your secondary essays to your medical schools.
You take the online Casper test on a computer at a location of your choice. Since the test requires your full concentration, you should take the test in a space that is free from distractions and noise. You may use headphones. You must take your test alone.
For your test, you will need access to a computer, webcam, microphone, and reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth speed of at least 2 megabytes per second that passes the ‘Casper Requirements Check’ found on the Reservations and Casper homepage in your Acuity Insights account.
We have a few quick example Casper stations that you can find here.
We also have a free full-length test that you can find here.
Also check out this article which provides 3 sample questions and analyzes best responses.
Acuity Insights has its own practice materials here.
Any applicants applying for the 2023/24 admissions cycle (programs starting in 2024) will not be required to take Snapshot.
The Duet is a separate value-alignment assessment required by certain medical schools. It compares what applicants value most in a program to what the programs have to offer. If a program on your Distribution List requires the Duet, you’ll be prompted to take it.
The Duet has three categories. You will first review and reflect on the program characteristics and definitions. Keep in mind that you will be presented with 21 pairs for comparison, 6 of which are between characteristics under Teaching & Learning, 6 pairs between characteristics under Mission & Culture, 6 pairs between characteristics under Program Features, and 3 pairs between the main categories.
For each pair of characteristics under a given category, you select the one that is more important to you and continue until all comparisons are complete. You can only change the response that immediately precedes the current one. You will not be allowed to go back more than one response to change your answer.
Here are some examples of the kind of characteristics you could run into:
Mission & Culture:
*Culture of diversity, integrity, and respect
Program emphasizes strong moral character, empathy, and respect, with attention to cultural awareness and sensitivity, so as to empower a measurably diverse student, faculty and patient population.
VS
*Scientific innovation
Program seeks to advance medical research and develop technologies that enrich our understanding of human diseases and how to treat them.
Teaching & Learning:
*Student-centered teaching
Program faculty employ teaching strategies that give students more autonomy over what is learned, how it is learned, and the pace of their learning. Students can provide feedback regarding the efficacy of teaching methods.
VS
*Early clinical exposure
Program enriches student learning by incorporating clinical practice early in the curriculum (i.e., before year 3 of training).
Program Features:
*Research opportunities
Program faculty actively involve students in science and clinical research. Students are encouraged to engage in research as a part of their ongoing learning enrichment.
VS
*Promotion of wellness in the student body
Program promotes mental and physical health amongst students through accessible in-person and online resources such as exercise facilities, wellness centers, workshops, and counseling.
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