The CASPer test is designed to evaluate "soft skills" - the non-academic competencies that are crucial for success in people-centered professions like medicine, nursing, dentistry, and other health sciences. Unlike traditional exams that test your knowledge of facts and concepts, CASPer assesses your social intelligence, ethical reasoning, and professional judgment through realistic scenarios.
Understanding what CASPer measures is essential for effective preparation. This guide breaks down the 10 core competencies that CASPer evaluates, explains how each competency is assessed, and provides insights into what evaluators are looking for in your responses.
Whether you're just starting your CASPer preparation or looking to refine your approach, this comprehensive overview will help you understand exactly what qualities you need to demonstrate to succeed on the test.
According to Acuity Insights (the creators of CASPer), the test evaluates 10 core competencies that demonstrate social intelligence and professionalism. These competencies are essential for success in academic and workplace environments that involve frequent human interaction.
Each CASPer question is designed to assess one or more of these competencies, with one typically being the primary focus and others serving as secondary evaluation points. Understanding what each competency means and how to demonstrate it effectively is crucial for CASPer success.
Collaboration refers to your ability to work effectively with others, contribute to group goals, and respect differing perspectives. This competency is about being a team player who can navigate group dynamics while maintaining individual effectiveness.
Key indicators of strong collaboration include:
You're working on a group project for your health sciences course. One team member, Sarah, has been consistently late to meetings and hasn't completed her assigned tasks. Another team member, Alex, is frustrated and wants to report Sarah to the professor. The project is due in two weeks, and your grade depends on everyone's contribution.
What would you do in this situation? How would you address the conflict while maintaining team cohesion and ensuring the project's success?
Communication encompasses your ability to convey information clearly and respectfully while also being attentive to what others are saying. This includes both verbal and written communication, as well as non-verbal cues.
Strong communication skills are demonstrated through:
You're a volunteer at a community health clinic. A patient who speaks limited English comes in with severe abdominal pain. The clinic's interpreter is not available, and the patient is clearly distressed and in pain. You need to communicate with the patient to understand their symptoms and help them get appropriate care.
How would you communicate effectively with this patient? What strategies would you use to ensure they receive proper medical attention?
Learn more about effective communication strategies in CASPer responses →
Empathy is the ability to understand and value others' emotions and perspectives. It involves putting yourself in someone else's shoes and responding with appropriate care and concern.
Empathetic responses show:
You're working as a hospital volunteer when you notice a young mother crying in the waiting room. She's holding a sick child and looks overwhelmed. When you approach her, she tells you that her child has been sick for days, she's missed work, and she's worried about paying her rent. She feels like a failure as a mother.
How would you respond to this mother? What would you say or do to show empathy and support?
Equity involves recognizing and addressing disparities or unfair treatment. This competency is about ensuring fair access to opportunities and resources, and advocating for those who may be disadvantaged.
Equity-focused responses demonstrate:
You're a student representative on your university's admissions committee. During a meeting, one committee member suggests that the university should prioritize applicants from prestigious high schools because they're "more likely to succeed." Another member points out that this would disadvantage students from underfunded public schools who may be equally qualified but lack access to the same resources.
How would you address this situation? What factors would you consider to ensure fair and equitable admissions practices?
Ethics refers to applying moral reasoning to make fair and responsible decisions. This involves considering the moral implications of your actions and choosing the right course of action, even when it's difficult.
Ethical decision-making includes:
You're working as a research assistant and discover that your supervisor has been manipulating data to support their hypothesis. The research is about to be published in a prestigious journal, and your supervisor tells you to keep quiet about it, saying that "everyone does this" and that speaking up could ruin your career prospects.
What would you do in this situation? How would you balance your ethical obligations with the potential consequences of your actions?
See more ethical dilemma examples and sample responses →
Motivation involves demonstrating commitment, drive, and a sense of purpose in your actions. This competency is about showing that you're genuinely interested in your chosen field and willing to put in the effort required.
Motivated individuals show:
You've been rejected from medical school twice, despite having strong academic credentials. Your family is encouraging you to pursue a different career path, and some friends suggest you're wasting your time. However, you remain determined to become a physician and have been volunteering at a free clinic, shadowing doctors, and taking additional courses to strengthen your application.
How do you stay motivated despite setbacks? What drives your continued pursuit of medicine, and how do you respond to those who question your persistence?
Problem solving is the ability to analyze complex situations to find effective, practical solutions. This involves critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to implement solutions that address the root cause of issues.
Effective problem solvers:
You're working at a community health center that serves a low-income population. The center is facing a critical shortage of medical supplies, and many patients are being turned away. The budget is limited, and traditional suppliers are too expensive. You need to find a way to ensure patients receive the care they need despite these constraints.
How would you approach this problem? What creative solutions would you explore to address the supply shortage while maintaining quality care?
Learn about different types of problem-solving questions in CASPer →
Professionalism involves acting with integrity, accountability, and respect in all settings. This competency is about maintaining high standards of behavior and representing yourself and your profession appropriately.
Professional behavior includes:
You're a medical student on a clinical rotation. During lunch break, you overhear two residents discussing a patient's private medical information in the hospital cafeteria. They're using the patient's name and sharing details about their condition that you know should be confidential. Other people in the cafeteria can clearly hear their conversation.
How would you handle this situation? What professional obligations do you have, and how would you address the breach of patient confidentiality?
Resilience is the ability to remain composed and effective under stress, setbacks, or change. This competency is about bouncing back from challenges and maintaining your performance under pressure.
Resilient individuals demonstrate:
You're in your final year of medical school when you receive devastating news: your father has been diagnosed with a serious illness and requires immediate surgery. Your family is counting on you for emotional support, but you also have crucial exams coming up that will determine your residency placement. You're struggling to focus on your studies while worrying about your father's health.
How would you manage this challenging situation? What strategies would you use to maintain your academic performance while supporting your family?
Self-awareness involves understanding your own thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and how they affect others. This competency is about recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth.
Self-aware individuals show:
During a group project, you receive feedback from your teammates that you tend to dominate discussions and don't give others a chance to contribute. This surprises you because you thought you were being helpful by sharing your ideas. You realize that your enthusiasm for the project may have been perceived as overbearing.
How would you respond to this feedback? What would you do to improve your collaboration style, and how would you demonstrate self-awareness in this situation?
Now that you understand what CASPer measures, here are some strategies to help you prepare effectively and demonstrate these competencies in your responses.
Use practice questions that mirror the complexity and format of real CASPer scenarios. Focus on questions that assess the competencies you find most challenging.
Learn to recognize which competencies are being tested in each scenario. Practice identifying the primary and secondary competencies before formulating your response.
Develop structured approaches for different types of questions. For situational questions, use the CARE framework, and for personal questions, use the ARC framework.
Regularly reflect on your own experiences and how they demonstrate the CASPer competencies. This will help you prepare for personal questions and develop your self-awareness.
Put your understanding of CASPer competencies to the test with our comprehensive practice questions.
Remember that CASPer preparation is not about memorizing answers or pretending to be someone you're not. It's about developing genuine competency in these areas and learning to express your authentic self effectively.
