Here’s an analogy: the CASPer test is like a math test, can’t anticipate the exact question but as long as you understand the formula and know how to apply it, you’ll be fine

OVERVIEW: WHAT IS THE CASPER TEST?

• The CASPer is a 90 min test to access your personal characteristics to see if you’re fit to be a nurse or other health care practitioner. Pre-med students also take the CASPer when applying to certain Medical schools.

• There are 12 scenarios: 10 or 11 of them are video prompts, one or two word prompts

• 3 questions per prompt and 5 minutes total to answer those 3 questions

• Videos are 45 seconds long, if I remember correctly, you get 30 seconds to read the word prompts

• 15 minute break after the halfway mark.

• Every answer is graded from 1(unsatisfactory) to 9 (superb)

• Grammar is not graded

• Each prompt is graded by a random person

• The questions asked as non-nursing related questions for the most part (you might have a hospital scenario but it’s just a test of your ethics, not really what you know about nursing or anything)

• The CASPer accounts of 20% of 80% grades, 20% CASPer

The way I prepared CASPer by doing as many sample questions as I could!

I’ll put as many resources as I can find in the description box: specific websites I used, youtube videos that I found super useful, and other links like that.

Some of these websites ask you to pay for access to additional scenarios and stuff like that but I did not pay a dime, I think there are enough free resources to prepare you for this test. So if you are not doing the best financially, don’t feel the need to purchase these packages, you can do well without them.

FIRST STEP: SIGN UP

Official CASPer website: https://takecasper.com/dates-times/

I wrote my test near the end of January in 2019. Sign up early so you can choose the date you want before they fill up.

4 TYPES OF POTENTIAL SCENARIOS

1. Witnessing someone doing wrong (bullying)

2. Comprising integrity/ethics (inappropriate school or work behaviour)

3. Disagreement/uncooperation (group work)

4. Personal (your opinion and experiences)

The first three will probably appear as a video prompt. The personal questions will likely appear as a word prompt.

Video prompts cannot be paused, rewinded or fast forwarded (as if you’d want to do that). As soon as it finishes playing, the questions appear and the countdown starts so you don’t have much time to think.

During the video/word prompt, think about the following questions (take jot notes if you want)

1. What problem is demonstrated?

2. What are the different POVs?

3. How will the issue affect others?

FORMAT

You have to train the way you respond to questions. The following is the specific format I used to answer almost every question. This is literally the holy grail formula.

1. Don’t jump into any conclusions

If the question was something like “What is going through your mind? Or what would you do? or something along those lines, this is what I would say…

Say this: First, I will remain objective, non-judgemental, and not jump into any premature conclusions or assumptions.

I literally started every response with this sentence. Since each question is being graded by a different person, they won’t know that you’re repeating the same thing in all of your responses.

2. List possible scenarios, everything you can think of! Mention the good and the bad, even if they seem unrealistic

Consider all possibilities, even ones that seem unrealistic or that may not really come to mind.

Phrases you should use:

At first glance, it appears…

However, this person may also…

3. What would you do in each possible scenario?

Say this: I would approach friend/colleague/classmate in a non confrontational manner. I would describe to them what I believed to be occurring and my concerns...

1. Did they not understand that what they were doing was wrong? If no, educate them and encourage them to upholds the standards of their workplace, schoolplace, etc

2. Did they know that what they were doing was wrong but did it anyways?

3. Does it go against policy? If yes, it is your duty as an employee to report the behaviour, otherwise you are equally in the wrong

4. Does it not go against store policy but is against ethics? Give a warning and encourage them to uphold higher standards.

Say this: if he/she is… then I would...

4. Do you agree with (so and so)?

• Use personal examples if relevant

• Never say you fully agree or disagree because you don’t know the fully story.

• Trying to understand where people are coming from is key, even for sensitive and controversial topics (ex. sexism, racism, etc)

Say this: I can understand the frustration of...

IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS

• There is no right or wrong answer.

• Don’t act on suspicions unless you are concerned for an individuals(s) health or safety

• Report if the person is not complying or teach if the person is unaware

• The questions never reveal the full story! They’re pretty vague and left to your interpretation. If you need additional information, mention that you need additional information (be specific on what information you’re missing).

• Always be skeptical and give people the benefit of the doubt. As I said, you don’t know the full story.

• Think out loud! The graders want to understand your entire critical thinking process. If you’re stuck and don’t know how to answer a question, start typing anyway. You don’t have much time to think so write whatever comes to mind and you’ll probably come up with something. There were a couple times where I froze for like 30 seconds to a minute during the personal questions and that was such a waste of time, I should have immediately started typing.

• Try your best to be concise

MY EXPERIENCE

How I Studied:

• First thing I did after signing up was go to the CASPer website. They have a test prep section that’s helpful.

• I watched as many sample videos/scenarios as I could. When I first started preparing, I just thought of what I would do in my head while watching the video, then read the sample response. Once I got more familiar with the format, I began writing down my own detailed answers before checking the sample response. I compared my answer with theirs and added stuff that I had missed or removed what I thought I didn’t need to say. Finally, when I got more confident, I practiced with a stopwatch.

• I didn’t do these practice scenarios all at once. I started early, probably around December and did a couple every other day or so.

• I typed up my answers to as many different scenarios as I could and printed it out. For days, I reviewed my notes and memorized the important phrases and sentences I wanted to repeat in my actual CASPer test.

Days Before the Test:

• Check if audio/video is working, no issues with internet

• I wrote down my “sentence starters” and my “key phrases” on sticky notes and plastered them on the wall behind my laptop.

• The CASPer test gives you one sample question to do to test if everything is working properly before you do your official test. Do this either the day before as like the final practice.  After doing this sample question, I don’t think I did any more. I focused on reviewing the notes I had made until the time of my test (I actually never ended up looking at them but it made me feel better knowing it was there if I needed it)

• Keep reviewing your notes, get comfortable with the format

Time Limit Concerns for Slow Typers:

• I’m a pretty fast typer and still, I was worried about the time limit.

• 5 minutes for three questions means 1 minute 40 seconds per question. You’ll probably spend around 7 seconds reading and processing each question, maybe more. Don’t waste a single second.

• If you’re a slow typer, here is my best advice to you: quality over quantity. As corny and annoying as that sounds, it’s true. You should write at least 3 descriptive, quality sentences for each question. Aim to be concise.

• Practice your typing speed. There are many typing tests online that you can do to improve your typing speed.

• If you are stuck, type anyway! Like I keep saying, think out loud. Something will come to you eventually.

How Much Should I write? There is absolutely no way you’ll be able to write as much as is written in the sample responses you find online. It’s just not possible. Aim for writing at least 3 descriptive, quality sentences for each question.

How Long Does It Take To Get Results: Unfortunately, you won’t know how you scored on the CASPer. But offers were sent out like the first or second week of May.

How Did I Feel After Taking The Test? Overall, the test wasn’t super hard. Some scenarios were tricky but even if you don’t understand the scenario or what to do, you’ll still get points for saying all the stuff I told yall to say, which was to remain non judgemental, not jump into conclusions, try to understand their point of view, etc. Some of the scenarios are situations we’ve experienced ourselves and can relate to. So just be yourself. Show them that you’re a pretty good person. The test is not meant to stress you out, just to see if you’ll be able to critically think when you’re actually a nurse and need to make challenging decisions.

RESOURCES

• CASPer website

• https://www.caspertest.com/casper-sample-questions/

• https://caspertestprep.com/CASPer-Sample-Questions.html

• BeMo (website and YouTube channel)

• https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/free-sample-casper-questions

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWK0aMZNK0tur-MAGI0KHwg

• Google and youtube: sooo many free scenarios, dig deep