CASPER complements the academic and clinical portions of your file. It is the place where dental schools see how you think under pressure — about people, about ethics, about competing values. Strong preparation translates directly to a stronger admissions file.

CASPER (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an online, open-response situational judgment test (SJT) that evaluates social intelligence and professionalism through real-world scenarios.

It is administered by Acuity Insights and is increasingly required or accepted by U.S. dental schools as part of holistic evaluation — alongside grades, test scores, and interview performance.

The exam consists of 11 scenarios total, split into two response modes:

• 4 video-response scenarios — you record your answer on camera.
• 7 typed-response scenarios — you type your answers under a timer.

The video-response section runs first, followed by the typed-response section. Each mode tests a different skill — quick spoken reasoning vs structured written analysis.

Each video-response scenario presents 2 questions, recorded live with 1 minute per question. There is no opportunity to re-record — what you say is what is submitted.

This section tests rapid ethical reasoning under time pressure: clarify the situation, identify the stakeholders, weigh the options, commit to an action, and articulate your reasoning — all inside 60 seconds.

Each typed-response scenario shows 2 questions at once, and you have 3.5 minutes total to type both answers.

Budget the time deliberately — roughly 1.5–2 minutes per question. The 2-question-at-once format means you should read both prompts first, then write the answer to the simpler one first to bank time.

The full session runs 65–85 minutes with optional breaks built in:

• 10 minutes after the video section
• 5 minutes after the first 4 typed scenarios

Use both breaks. The shift from spoken to written answers — and the cognitive load of 11 scenarios in under 90 minutes — makes mental resets essential.

Preparation starts with frameworks for analysing ethical and interpersonal scenarios. Common frameworks: identify the stakeholders, clarify the conflict, consider short-term vs long-term impact, weigh competing values, commit to action with justification.

The goal is to craft well-reasoned, values-based responses rather than reactive ones — and to practise switching between quick video thinking and concise written responses.

Effective preparation includes access to a curated bank of video and typed CASPER-style prompts, with developed responses to common themes:

• Empathy — recognising emotional states, responding appropriately.
• Teamwork — navigating disagreements, sharing credit, escalating concerns.
• Accountability — owning mistakes, learning from them, repairing trust.
• Ethical judgment — applying values under ambiguity.

CASPER provides dental schools with insight into your character, reasoning, and interpersonal qualities, complementing your academic credentials. With its time-pressured, open-response format, CASPER offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate who you are beyond your scores.