CASPer Test!

[Mcdonalds3am]

How is the CASPer test incorporated into our application? If we all have to take it in September, October or December according to the dates posted, does that mean that the score is incorporated into the pre-interview score before invites are sent? I don't understand the purpose of not informing us of the breakdown for how we are scored and weighted. What is the harm in telling us? Any insight is appreciated. 

[ThatCanadianGuy]

It's a pass or fail test. At least, that is what my rejection letter this last year said. 

[heyhellohi]

Some schools may tell you how it is used in their process (ex: for Mac, its 33% of your pre-interview score), whereas in some other schools, it remains unknown (ex: a lot of schools) or used as a threshold (ex: for Dal, the bottom X% of applicants don't get an interview). Sometimes, medical schools may want to protect their admissions process and chose not reveal everything about it, so that's why they don't say how they use the CASPer.  

For the CASPer, your test DOES end up being graded and having a score assigned to it (which you never see [annoying, I know..]). People never receive their CASPer score because if they did, people would be able to game the system and determine how to best answer questions on the test.  So they hide the scores to maintain fairness for everybody who writes the test in the future.

Hope this helps! 

[ballsortahard]

Is Casper something people study for?

[Eudaimonia]

2 hours ago, ballsortahard said:

Is Casper something people study for?

Since we're not sure exactly how the score is used at UofA, you'll want to aim for more than just a pass. Do well so you also have increased chances at other schools that use Casper. Casper prep is similar to MMI prep which you will be doing later so you might as well do it now. The prep isn't so much "studying" but more practicing and reflecting. Search the forum for those prep tips!