CASPer (Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following describes the MOST important quality of an effective team leader in a CASPer scenario?

Prioritizing task completion over team member well-being
Maintaining strict control over all decisions
Delegating all responsibility to avoid personal liability
Inspiring and empowering team members while remaining accountable (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Inspiring and empowering team members while remaining accountable

Effective leaders balance empowerment, motivation, and accountability to achieve both team cohesion and goals.

Question 2: You are volunteering at a community clinic and notice that a staff member is consistently rude to patients who speak limited English. What is the most appropriate response?

Start documenting incidents secretly and report them all at once after your volunteer term ends
Confront the staff member in front of patients to show solidarity
Say nothing because you are only a volunteer and have no authority
Speak privately with the staff member about your observations and, if it continues, raise the issue with your supervisor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Speak privately with the staff member about your observations and, if it continues, raise the issue with your supervisor

A private, respectful conversation gives the staff member a chance to change, and escalating if needed ensures patient protection.

Question 3: A CASPer prompt shows two team members in open conflict during a meeting. As a peer, your best action is to:

Take sides with whoever you agree with more
Ignore the conflict and hope it resolves itself
Suggest a brief recess and facilitate a calmer follow-up discussion (Correct answer)
Report both members to a supervisor immediately

Correct answer: Suggest a brief recess and facilitate a calmer follow-up discussion

Suggesting a pause de-escalates tension and creates space for more productive dialogue.

Question 4: In a CASPer scenario, a colleague claims that focusing on equity means lower-quality care for advantaged patients. The best response is:

Report the colleague for holding biased views
Avoid the conversation to prevent conflict
Agree that there is an unavoidable trade-off in equity-focused care
Acknowledge their concern and explain that equity expands overall system quality without reducing care for others (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Acknowledge their concern and explain that equity expands overall system quality without reducing care for others

Equity-focused care improves population health outcomes and system quality overall; it is not a zero-sum reduction in care for advantaged groups.

Question 5: In a CASPer scenario, identifying the root cause of a problem rather than addressing symptoms means:

Treating all causes as equally significant
Providing the fastest available solution regardless of durability
Analyzing what underlying factors generated the problem to prevent recurrence (Correct answer)
Escalating the problem to a superior for root cause analysis

Correct answer: Analyzing what underlying factors generated the problem to prevent recurrence

Root cause analysis produces solutions that prevent recurrence rather than repeatedly managing the same problem.

Question 6: A CASPer prompt shows a student from a low-income background who lacks access to preparation resources for professional programs. An equity-minded perspective would suggest:

Access to resources should not affect professional readiness
Admissions should discount their application due to lack of preparation
Systemic barriers require targeted institutional support to level the playing field (Correct answer)
This reflects insufficient personal effort on the student's part

Correct answer: Systemic barriers require targeted institutional support to level the playing field

Systemic barriers to preparation reflect structural inequity, not individual deficiency, and require institutional response.

Question 7: When a CASPer prompt involves a patient with a disability, the most equitable approach is to:

Ask the patient directly what accommodations would help them best (Correct answer)
Refer them to a specialist in disability care
Avoid discussing the disability to prevent stigma
Assume what accommodations they need and provide them

Correct answer: Ask the patient directly what accommodations would help them best

Asking patients about their own accommodation needs respects their autonomy and expertise about their own disability.

Question 8: A patient of limited English proficiency needs to discuss a serious diagnosis. The patient's bilingual adult child offers to interpret. What is the best approach?

Use a translation app on a smartphone
Use a professional medical interpreter to ensure accuracy and confidentiality (Correct answer)
Accept the child's offer to save time and resources
Delay the conversation until a bilingual staff member is available

Correct answer: Use a professional medical interpreter to ensure accuracy and confidentiality

Professional medical interpreters ensure accurate translation of complex medical information and protect patient confidentiality, which family members may compromise.

Question 9: A 16-year-old requests contraception and asks that her parents not be told. She is otherwise healthy and the request is for preventive care. What should the provider do?

Notify her parents because she is a minor
Provide contraception and respect her confidentiality per minor consent laws (Correct answer)
Refuse care until parental consent is obtained
Provide the contraception but document that parents were notified

Correct answer: Provide contraception and respect her confidentiality per minor consent laws

In most US states, minors have the legal right to consent to contraceptive services without parental notification, and confidentiality should be maintained.

Question 10: Non-verbal communication in CASPer video responses is important because:

It is scored separately from verbal content
It replaces the need for verbal explanation
It conveys empathy, attentiveness, and professionalism alongside your words (Correct answer)
Assessors only evaluate what you say, not how you say it

Correct answer: It conveys empathy, attentiveness, and professionalism alongside your words

Assessors evaluate the whole communication package, including body language, eye contact, and tone, as signals of interpersonal competence.

Question 11: A CASPer scenario shows a team member who consistently misses deadlines. The best collaborative approach is to:

Exclude them from future projects
Escalate to a supervisor without speaking to them first
Complete their work for them without discussion
Have a supportive conversation to understand the barrier and offer solutions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Have a supportive conversation to understand the barrier and offer solutions

Understanding the root cause of missed deadlines allows the team to provide meaningful support and maintain accountability.

Question 12: A CASPer scenario presents a conflict between following a supervisor's questionable instruction and your personal ethics. The best action is to:

Always follow supervisory instructions without question
Comply while raising your concern through proper channels (Correct answer)
Refuse any instruction that conflicts with any personal preference
Immediately resign in protest

Correct answer: Comply while raising your concern through proper channels

Raising ethical concerns through appropriate channels allows for resolution while maintaining professional relationships and responsibilities.

Question 13: Maintaining patient confidentiality in a CASPer scenario means:

Informing supervisors of all patient details automatically
Disclosing patient information only when legally or ethically required (Correct answer)
Discussing cases with colleagues in public spaces if no names are used
Sharing patient information only with immediate family members

Correct answer: Disclosing patient information only when legally or ethically required

Confidentiality is legally and ethically protected, with disclosure permitted only under specific defined circumstances.

Question 14: In CASPer, what is the MOST important characteristic of an effective team player?

Avoiding any disagreement to maintain harmony
Completing only your assigned tasks and nothing more
Dominating discussions to ensure quality outcomes
Being willing to adapt your role to support the team's overall goal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Being willing to adapt your role to support the team's overall goal

Flexibility and willingness to support broader team goals over individual roles is a hallmark of high-performing team members.

Question 15: Psychological safety in a team, as evaluated by CASPer, refers to:

Physical safety protocols in a clinical setting
The absence of any interpersonal conflict
Ensuring everyone agrees before moving forward
A team environment where members feel safe to speak up without fear of judgment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A team environment where members feel safe to speak up without fear of judgment

Psychological safety enables honest communication, risk-taking, and innovation critical to high-performing teams.

Question 16: When writing a CASPer typed response about a conflict, which communication principle should guide your answer?

Use respectful, balanced language that acknowledges multiple perspectives (Correct answer)
Show all parties are equally wrong
Avoid mentioning the conflict directly
Strongly advocate for one side to appear decisive

Correct answer: Use respectful, balanced language that acknowledges multiple perspectives

Balanced and respectful language demonstrates emotional intelligence and the ability to navigate disagreement constructively.

Question 17: In a CASPer scenario involving a systemic problem, the most effective problem-solver will:

Assume systemic problems are too complex for individual intervention
Wait for leadership to identify and address systemic issues
Identify recurring patterns and propose systemic changes to address the root cause (Correct answer)
Address individual instances as they arise without examining patterns

Correct answer: Identify recurring patterns and propose systemic changes to address the root cause

Effective problem-solvers recognize recurring patterns and advocate for systemic solutions that prevent future recurrence.

Question 18: In a CASPer scenario where team members disagree on an approach, the most effective collaborative response is to:

Facilitate a discussion where all perspectives are heard before deciding (Correct answer)
Let the group decide without sharing your own perspective
Push your own view firmly until others agree
Side with the most senior member to maintain hierarchy

Correct answer: Facilitate a discussion where all perspectives are heard before deciding

Structured discussion that includes all voices leads to more informed decisions and stronger team buy-in.

Question 19: In a CASPer video response about equity, which framing BEST demonstrates genuine understanding?

'Fairness means not considering race or background in any professional decision.'
'Structural barriers create unequal starting points that require targeted responses to address.' (Correct answer)
'Certain groups simply make choices that lead to worse outcomes.'
'Everyone deserves the same treatment, full stop.'

Correct answer: 'Structural barriers create unequal starting points that require targeted responses to address.'

Recognizing structural barriers as the root of inequity is more accurate and actionable than individual-focused or colorblind framing.

Question 20: A CASPer prompt describes a team member who speaks very little in group discussions. The most professional response is to:

Create space in meetings and directly invite their input (Correct answer)
Report them to management for low participation
Ignore the issue since participation is voluntary
Assign them less work since they seem disengaged

Correct answer: Create space in meetings and directly invite their input

Actively inviting quieter team members fosters inclusion and often surfaces valuable perspectives.

Question 21: Why is self-reflection particularly important after a difficult patient encounter?

It allows providers to assign blame for what went wrong
It enables providers to avoid similar patients in the future
It is required for legal documentation in clinical settings
It helps identify what emotions influenced decision-making and how to improve future interactions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It helps identify what emotions influenced decision-making and how to improve future interactions

Reflecting on difficult encounters helps clinicians understand emotional influences and improve future clinical practice.

Question 22: In a CASPer video response, speaking at an appropriate pace is important because:

Faster speech demonstrates confidence and intelligence
Pace is irrelevant if the content is strong
Slower speech always signals thoughtfulness
Measured pace aids clarity, comprehension, and conveys composure (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Measured pace aids clarity, comprehension, and conveys composure

A measured pace helps evaluators follow your reasoning and signals that you are composed under time pressure.

Question 23: In a CASPer interprofessional scenario, recognizing the unique expertise of other disciplines means:

Valuing and integrating each profession's knowledge for better patient outcomes (Correct answer)
Deferring all decisions to the most experienced profession present
Limiting your input to only your area of formal training
Avoiding overlap with other disciplines to prevent turf conflicts

Correct answer: Valuing and integrating each profession's knowledge for better patient outcomes

Interprofessional collaboration leverages diverse expertise to improve patient care outcomes beyond what any single discipline can achieve.

Question 24: In a CASPer scenario involving a patient with limited health literacy, an equitable approach includes:

Asking them to bring a family member to explain things for them
Using plain language, visual aids, and checking for understanding (Correct answer)
Shortening the appointment to minimize confusion
Using full medical terminology to respect their intelligence

Correct answer: Using plain language, visual aids, and checking for understanding

Plain language and comprehension checks are evidence-based strategies for reducing health disparities related to literacy.

Question 25: A CASPer scenario involves a peer who frequently dominates group conversations. To communicate your concern professionally, you should:

Speak with the peer privately using specific examples of the behavior (Correct answer)
Send a group email criticizing their behavior
Tell the group to exclude them from discussions
Ignore the behavior and adapt

Correct answer: Speak with the peer privately using specific examples of the behavior

Private, example-based conversations about behavior are more constructive and less humiliating than public or written criticism.

Question 26: You should act the part of a medical student in each scenario. On a four-point scale, you will be asked to score the effectiveness of each response. SCENARIO: In your clinical skills course, you are placed in a small group. One of the members of your group has recently had trouble with their homework. The group member frequently arrives late for meetings, creates subpar materials, and frequently requests reminders to complete responsibilities. A new task is given to your group. It is due in three weeks and will be graded on the basis of the group's overall performance. Please rank the impact of each solution to this issue. Ask the group member directly during your one-on-one meeting how you can support their contribution to the task.

Very Ineffective
Effective
Ineffective
Very Effective (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Very Effective

Privately and empathetically asking the member how you can support their contribution is the most effective approach because it addresses the difficulty directly, preserves their dignity, and fosters collaboration, making it Very Effective. This shows strong teamwork and interpersonal skill — qualities valued in medicine — rather than blaming, ignoring, or removing the person.

Question 27: A CASPer prompt shows a scenario where one team member has access to important information the rest of the team lacks. The best collaborative action is to:

Keep it private until you determine its strategic value
Use the information advantage for personal benefit
Share the information transparently with the team (Correct answer)
Share it selectively with trusted members only

Correct answer: Share the information transparently with the team

Transparent information sharing ensures all team members can contribute fully and makes decisions more informed.

Question 28: A CASPer prompt shows a patient who does not understand their treatment plan. What communication strategy is most appropriate?

Use teach-back method: ask the patient to explain it in their own words (Correct answer)
Tell the patient to research it online
Provide a brochure and end the conversation
Repeat the information louder and more slowly

Correct answer: Use teach-back method: ask the patient to explain it in their own words

The teach-back method confirms understanding and identifies gaps in patient comprehension.

Question 29: In a CASPer scenario, a patient from a marginalized community expresses distrust of the healthcare system. The most empathic response is to:

Dismiss their concerns as personal bias
Transfer their care to a provider from the same community
Acknowledge their experience and explore what the system can do to address their concerns (Correct answer)
Defend the healthcare system and reassure them it is trustworthy

Correct answer: Acknowledge their experience and explore what the system can do to address their concerns

Acknowledging historical and systemic reasons for distrust validates the patient's experience and is the foundation for rebuilding trust.

Question 30: When evaluating a CASPer scenario, considering consequences means:

Considering how your actions affect all stakeholders in the short and long term (Correct answer)
Focusing exclusively on the most probable outcome
Only considering immediate outcomes
Weighing consequences only for the primary person involved

Correct answer: Considering how your actions affect all stakeholders in the short and long term

Ethical and effective problem-solving requires anticipating consequences for all affected parties across multiple time horizons.

Question 31: A CASPer scenario shows a patient in visible distress who says 'I'm fine.' An empathic response is to:

Insist they are not fine and demand elaboration
Accept their response and proceed with clinical tasks
Gently acknowledge the discrepancy between their words and their appearance and invite them to share (Correct answer)
Document that the patient refused to discuss their emotional state

Correct answer: Gently acknowledge the discrepancy between their words and their appearance and invite them to share

Gently naming the discrepancy opens a door for the patient to share while respecting their pace and agency.

Question 32: You should act the part of a medical student in each scenario. On a four-point scale, you will be asked to score the effectiveness of each response. SCENARIO: In your clinical skills course, you are placed in a small group. One of the members of your group has recently had trouble with their homework. The group member frequently arrives late for meetings, creates subpar materials, and frequently requests reminders to complete responsibilities. A new task is given to your group. It is due in three weeks and will be graded on the basis of the group's overall performance. Please rank the impact of each solution to this issue. In a group meeting, distribute tasks equally among all participants while ensuring that expectations are clear.

Very Ineffective
Ineffective
Very Effective
Effective (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Effective

Distributing tasks equally with clear expectations is a sound organizational practice that gives everyone a defined role and reduces confusion, so it is Effective. It is not Very Effective because it treats the struggling member like everyone else without directly addressing the specific reasons behind their lateness and subpar work.

Question 33: In CASPer, which approach BEST demonstrates empathic engagement with a grieving patient?

Quickly pivot to treatment planning to give the patient something to focus on
Sit with the patient, acknowledge their loss, and allow them to lead the conversation (Correct answer)
Maintain clinical distance to avoid becoming emotionally involved
'At least you still have your family — many patients are alone.'

Correct answer: Sit with the patient, acknowledge their loss, and allow them to lead the conversation

Presence, acknowledgment, and patient-led conversation respects the pace of grief and validates the patient's experience.

Question 34: Structural determinants of health, relevant to a CASPer equity scenario, include:

Genetics and family history only
Income, housing, education, and systemic racism (Correct answer)
Patient adherence to treatment plans
Individual lifestyle choices only

Correct answer: Income, housing, education, and systemic racism

Social determinants like income, housing, education, and systemic racism are among the most powerful drivers of health inequity.

Question 35: In a CASPer interprofessional healthcare scenario, a role conflict arises between two professions. The best approach is to:

Insist your profession's approach takes priority
Avoid the situation by limiting interprofessional interaction
Use the patient's best interest as the guiding principle for resolution (Correct answer)
Refer the conflict to a patient who can decide

Correct answer: Use the patient's best interest as the guiding principle for resolution

Centering the patient's best interest provides an objective basis for resolving professional role conflicts.

Question 36: In a CASPer video prompt, evaluators look for evidence of critical thinking by assessing:

Your use of professional terminology
Whether you reached the correct predetermined answer
How quickly you responded to the prompt
The quality of your reasoning, consideration of multiple perspectives, and justification for your conclusion (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The quality of your reasoning, consideration of multiple perspectives, and justification for your conclusion

CASPer evaluators assess reasoning quality, perspective-taking, and justification — not whether you reached a single correct answer.

Question 37: In a CASPer scenario, a team fails to achieve its goal. A collaborative post-mortem analysis should:

Avoid discussing the failure to maintain team morale
Examine systemic and process factors without personal blame (Correct answer)
Identify and punish the member most responsible for the failure
Attribute the failure to external circumstances entirely

Correct answer: Examine systemic and process factors without personal blame

Systemic analysis of failures identifies correctable processes and prevents blame culture from undermining future teamwork.

Question 38: Which response best demonstrates empathic communication in a CASPer healthcare scenario?

'I understand this must be very difficult for you — let's talk about your concerns.' (Correct answer)
'You need to follow the treatment plan exactly as prescribed.'
'Many patients have this condition; it is not as serious as you think.'
'I will forward your questions to the specialist.'

Correct answer: 'I understand this must be very difficult for you — let's talk about your concerns.'

Acknowledging the patient's emotional experience before problem-solving validates their feelings and builds trust.

Question 39: A CASPer prompt describes a student who is consistently late because of childcare responsibilities. An equitable institutional response would be to:

Exempt the student from attendance requirements permanently
Explore flexible accommodations that address the barrier while maintaining standards (Correct answer)
Apply the same late policy to all students regardless of circumstances
Transfer the student to a program with fewer attendance requirements

Correct answer: Explore flexible accommodations that address the barrier while maintaining standards

Equity-informed accommodation addresses structural barriers while maintaining academic integrity and standards.

Question 40: In a CASPer scenario where a supervisor gives unclear instructions, the BEST action is to:

Ask a clarifying question before starting the task (Correct answer)
Complete the task your own way and hope it is correct
Wait indefinitely until clear instructions are provided
Guess and proceed to avoid looking incompetent

Correct answer: Ask a clarifying question before starting the task

Asking for clarification prevents wasted effort and demonstrates professional communication initiative.

CASPer (Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics)

CASPer is a situational judgment test used in health professions admissions that evaluates 10 core behavioral competencies—including collaboration, communication, empathy, fairness, ethics, and professionalism—through 11 video and typed scenario responses.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

75%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

acuityinsights.app — Exam format, time limit, exam information · verified Oct 2026
my.acuityinsights.app — Eligibility, fees, registration deadline, renewal · verified Oct 2026
intercom.help — Test delivery, passing score, score release, score validity, retake policy · verified Oct 2026