How Long is the CASPer Test? Full Time Breakdown by Section

The short answer

From the moment you click "begin" to the moment you submit your last response, expect 90 to 110 minutes.

• Section 1 (typed scenarios + responses): ~45 minutes
• Optional break: 10 minutes
• Section 2 (video scenarios + video responses): ~45 minutes
• Submission + verification: 2-3 minutes

Plan to be at your computer for at least two full hours when you account for system check, identity verification, and the test itself.

Section 1 — typed-response scenarios (~45 min)

You'll see 8 written or video scenarios. Each scenario gives you about 90 seconds to read/watch, then 5 minutes to type three open-ended responses to three questions about that scenario.

The breakdown per scenario:

• Read scenario: 30-90 seconds (video scenarios cap at 60s)
• Type response 1: ~80 seconds
• Type response 2: ~80 seconds
• Type response 3: ~80 seconds
• Buffer / next-scenario load: 30 seconds

Total Section 1 time: roughly 5 minutes per scenario × 8 scenarios = 40-45 minutes.

Section 2 — video-response scenarios (~45 min)

This is the newer half of CASPer. You'll see 6 video scenarios. After each, instead of typing, you record video answers using your webcam.

• Watch scenario: 30-60 seconds
• 30 seconds to think
• Record video answer 1: 1 minute (hard cap)
• Record video answer 2: 1 minute
• Buffer between scenarios: 30 seconds

The video section often feels longer because of the on-camera pressure. Practising on camera before test day is the single most effective way to keep this section calm.

The optional 10-minute break

Halfway through the test you get an optional break. Take it. Even 5 minutes resets your focus before the video section, which is the more cognitively demanding half.

During the break:

• Stand up and stretch.
• Drink water.
• Don't check email, social media or notes — Acuity may flag this as a violation.
• Don't leave the room (your camera continues to monitor).

Time pressure: how to manage it

Most applicants run out of time on at least one scenario. Here's how to avoid that:

1. Don't aim to write a perfect answer. Aim for a complete answer with one strong example. Empty responses score zero.
2. Use the first 10 seconds to plan. Identify the stakeholders, the conflict, the value at stake.
3. Type, don't edit. Editing eats time. Bullet-point structure beats elaborate prose.
4. Practise on a 5-minute timer. The clock pressure is the killer; rehearse it.

What if you go over time?

You can't. The system auto-advances when your timer runs out. Whatever you've typed (or recorded) at that moment is your final answer for that question. There's no "save and come back."

This is why the planning + answer outline (next 30 seconds) matters more than polished prose. A complete imperfect answer scores higher than a beautiful incomplete one.