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Traditionally, students have been asked to write autobiographical essays detailing their motivation to pursue a career in medicine, why they want to be physicians and why they're suitable for the program. It is hard to know how much of the application is truly from the candidate or if assistance was given, creating an uneven playing field for applicants.
Replacing the autobiographical essay is CASper. The Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics, is a web-based assessment of interpersonal skills and decision-making, to be completed at a computer. The assessment of non-cognitive skills is an important part of any medical school admissions process and is usually done through the evaluation of personal essays, autobiographical submissions and interviews. However, interviews are resource intensive (need interviewers, rooms, etc.) and cannot be done for all applicants. This method has been chosen as a more accurate way to give a balanced honest view of the candidate in a timed environment. It will also show your ability to think under pressure.
CASPer consists of twelve sections. Each section involves providing short-answers to two or three questions. This could change but so far eight of the twelve sections begin with a one-minute video-clip showing a certain situation, followed by questions asking for you to make decisions in the assigned role . The other four sections involve “self-descriptive questions”, also followed by questions requiring short answer responses. You will only be allowed a maximum of five minutes to provide answers for each section. You will be able to take a 15 minutes break halfway through the session. The amount of time will be aproximately 90 minutes.
This new tool is to be completed by every applicant around the same time they submit their application and the areas tested are confidentiality, ethics, empathy, professionalism, communication and flexibility.
How can the Career Council make a difference?
We will help you to prepare for this vital qualifying test in order to be asked for that all-important interview. We will build your confidence, focus on your communication skills and hone in on your moral compass. We will rehearse you though behavioural questions and a variety of other unexpected questions asked in order to better evaluate who you are as a person. Find out more...
See what McLeans Magazine has to say about the CASper interview.
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