Complete Guide to the Casper Exam by Rex

Introduction

• Presenter: Rex, a first-year medical student at Duke University
• Purpose: Share insights for success in the medical school application process, specifically the Casper exam
• Background: Rex had more success in his application process than expected and aims to help others achieve similar results

What is the Casper Exam?

• Full Form: Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics
• Type: Situational judgment test (SJT)
• Purpose: Measures soft skills, unlike MCAT which measures hard knowledge
• Requirement: Increasingly required by medical schools
• Origin: Developed by McMaster University, Canada
• Format: 12 sections, each with a video or word-based scenario followed by 3 questions
• Duration: 60-90 minutes, with an optional 15-minute break
• Environment: Can be taken at home with a webcam monitoring
• Scoring: Human raters score each section, exact grading criteria are unclear

Rex's Criticism of the Casper Exam

• **Distrust in McMaster University: **Due to their handling of admissions during COVID-19 using random lotteries
• Bias in MMI: Multiple Mini Interview, another McMaster innovation, introduces bias based on socioeconomic status
• Typing Test: Disadvantages those who did not have early typing education
• Black Box Scoring: Lack of transparency in scoring methodology

Exam Details

• Sections: 12 sections with video or word-based scenario
• Questions: 3 questions per section, 5 minutes to answer
• Scoring: Anecdotal evidence suggests scoring may be from 0-9 points per section
• Typing Requirements: Realistic typing speeds considered, e.g., 60 words per minute
• Preparation: Focus on minimizing nerves and practicing typing under pressure

Tips for Preparing and Taking the Casper Exam

Minimize Nerves

• Understand the test format to avoid surprises
• Establish a good test environment (quiet, free of interruptions)
• Practice typing under stressful conditions

Study Ethical Scenarios

• Get a feel for types of ethical scenarios and questions
• Look up Casper and MMI examples

Medical Ethics Knowledge

• Understand basics like HIPAA and patient privacy

Consider All Sides

• Show different perspectives and approaches in your answers

Establish Assumptions

• Clearly state any assumptions about roles and relationships in scenarios

Explain Thoroughly

• Provide detailed explanations to show thought processes and critical thinking

Conclusion

• Personal Opinion: Exam is unnecessary and biased, but required by medical schools
• Advice: Focus on thorough preparation and clear, well-explained answers
• Engagement: Encourages viewers to leave comments/questions and watch more related videos