CASPer Test Format Explained: 14 Scenarios in 2 Sections

The format at a glance

CASPer is a situational judgement test (SJT) delivered fully online. There are no multiple-choice questions, no right/wrong answers, no math.

Each scenario presents an open-ended situation. You're asked to respond as you would in real life — what you'd do, what you'd say, what you'd consider.

What a CASPer scenario looks like

A scenario typically gives you a short prompt — written, or a 30-60 second video clip. After the prompt, you're asked 2-3 open-ended questions.

Example (paraphrased — never use real CASPer questions in practice):

"You are a third-year medical student on a busy ward round. A senior doctor makes a comment about a patient that you find inappropriate. The patient overhears. The doctor moves on without addressing it."

You might then be asked:

1. What would you do in this moment?
2. What would you do after the round?
3. How would you balance respecting your senior with patient dignity?

There's no objectively correct answer. The marker is looking for: empathy, ethical reasoning, professionalism, communication structure, and your ability to balance competing concerns.

Section 1 — typed responses

You read or watch the scenario, then type your three responses. Each typed answer has a 5-minute total budget shared across all three responses (so plan to spend about 80 seconds typing each).

Format expectations:

• 2-4 sentences per response is typical.
• Bullet points are allowed but not required.
• Spelling and grammar matter, but not perfectly — markers focus on substance over polish.
• Don't over-pad. Markers are reading hundreds of these — they reward clarity.

Section 2 — video responses

The newer half. You watch a scenario, then record video answers using your webcam.

• 1 minute hard cap per video answer.
• You see your own video while recording.
• You can pause once between sub-questions.
• Cannot re-record — first take is your submission.

The video section is where most applicants under-perform without practice. It tests live thinking + on-camera composure under time pressure. The competencies being measured are the same as Section 1, but the medium amplifies hesitation.

How AI marks each response

CASPer uses both human raters and AI-assisted scoring. Each response is rated on a Likert scale (typically 1-9) by independent reviewers who have not seen your other responses. Your final score is normalised to a quartile — see our breakdown of CASPer scoring.

The AI looks for:

• Acknowledgment of stakeholders — who is affected by this situation?
• Ethical framing — what values are in tension?
• Concrete action — what would you actually do, not just feel?
• Reasoning structure — can you explain why?
• Professionalism — tone, register, scope of action.

Your AI feedback after free practice will mirror these dimensions. The 9 competencies behind the marking are well-documented.

What CASPer is really measuring

CASPer was developed by McMaster University to predict professional behaviour in healthcare training — not knowledge, not technical skill. It predicts:

• How likely you are to behave ethically under pressure.
• Whether you can hold competing concerns in tension.
• Whether you communicate with care and structure.
• How resilient you are when situations don't resolve cleanly.

Years of validation data show CASPer scores correlate with future professionalism complaints, residency evaluations, and clinical-skill assessments. Schools weight CASPer because it predicts real-world behaviour better than GPA + MCAT alone.