Significant Changes to the Casper Test for the 2023-24 Admissions Cycle

The pursuit of a medical career is renowned for its fierce competition. With the overwhelming number of applications received annually, admissions officers sought a method to gain deeper insights into candidates beyond their numerical credentials, such as GPA and standardized test scores.

Acuity Insights has developed assessment tools for various medical, dental, physician assistant, veterinary, and direct medical programs to enhance their applicant evaluation process. Currently, they offer two exams within their suite: Casper and Duet. It's worth noting that Snapshot, previously available, has been discontinued for the upcoming admissions cycle.

The Duet assessment allows students to demonstrate alignment with the values of their chosen schools. Casper, functioning as a situational judgment test (SJT), enables students to showcase their ability to handle challenging scenarios. This test evaluates the following key characteristics:

• Equity
• Ethics
• Empathy
• Resilience
• Motivation
• Collaboration
• Self-awareness
• Communication
• Professionalism
• Problem-solving

Since its introduction in 2015, Casper has gained significant traction as a tool for assessing students' potential success in people-oriented careers. For the 2023-24 admissions cycle, Acuity Insights has revamped its offerings to provide institutions with a more comprehensive view of their applicants.

Casper: Key Changes for 2023-24

The format of this SJT has undergone substantial modifications for the upcoming admissions cycle. Previously, test-takers faced 15 scenarios, divided between video and text-based passage sections.

In the new format, students will encounter 14 sections in total, reducing the overall test duration from 110-120 minutes to approximately 90-110 minutes. This time includes an introduction, roughly 80 minutes of questions, and two optional breaks.

Section 1: Video-Based Scenarios

The question order has been restructured. In the past, students had to answer five text-based passages, with an optional 5-minute break midway. Before proceeding to the video passage, they could take an additional 10-minute break before tackling ten video passages.

Now, students will address the video prompts first. This change was implemented to address potential technical difficulties with response recordings earlier in the test, preventing the loss of previous work.

In this initial section, students will view six videos introducing a character, a predicament, and the student's role in the situation. After watching each brief video, students will have one minute per question to respond. Two scenarios will require typed responses, while four will necessitate recorded video responses, presented in a randomized order.

Section 2: Typed Scenarios

The number of text-based scenarios has increased from five to eight. Test-takers will be presented with a written scenario and must answer three questions within a five-minute timeframe. Five scenarios will require video responses, while the remaining three will involve typed answers. These scenarios will appear in random order.

The cost of taking the Casper test for medical school has risen to $85, which includes seven distributions to schools. An additional fee of $16 per school applies for further score distributions. For veterinary, dentistry, and BS programs requiring Casper and/or Duet, the fee is $60 with one free distribution and $16 for each additional distribution. The exam will continue to be administered online and can only be taken once per cycle.

Rescheduling policies have also been updated. Students can reschedule for free 31 or more days before the test date, with no limit on the number of rescheduling attempts. Within 30 days of the test date, a $20 fee applies for rescheduling. However, this fee is waived in cases of certified technical or medical issues.

These significant changes to the Casper test for the 2023-24 admissions cycle aim to provide a more streamlined and comprehensive assessment of applicants' non-academic qualities. As the landscape of medical and healthcare education admissions continues to evolve, staying informed about these updates is crucial for prospective students preparing for their applications.