The Casper test has been around for several years and is now required at many medical schools. It is open-ended in terms of the responses (no multiple choice questions). Casper is changing in 2022, as follows:
- the number of scenarios is increasing from 12 to 15
- 10 scenarios will be videos to view, 5 will be word-based (situations to read)
- responses are changing from all essay format to a blend of essays and video responses
- 9 scenarios require a written response (essay)
- 6 scenarios require a response via video (no essay)
New in 2020 was the AAMC’s Situational Judgment Test (SJT). It was piloted at a few medical schools, and was expanded in 2021 to six medical schools (Geisinger Commonwealth, Morehouse, University of California-Davis, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Des Moines University).
In 2022 it was renamed the AAMC PREview. Here is the list of schools, from the AAMC’s website, that are offering it, as of 4/4/22. Check on the PREview website throughout the spring since more schools may be added.
This test assesses pre-professional competencies that medical schools value: social skills, cultural competence, teamwork, reliability/dependability, resilience/adaptability, service orientation, capacity for improvement, ethical responsibility to self and others. The PREview is designed to promote holistic review of applicants such that schools can assess them more broadly. It is a remote proctored examination that tests applicants’ understanding of effective preprofessional behaviors; they are not expected to have mastered these behaviors. The PREview is a scored exam with results between 1 and 9 (9 being high); the score is reported on a scale with a rank.
It remains to be seen whether both the PREview and Casper will be required in future application cycles; my guess is that the PREview may supersede the Casper and obviate the need for the latter exam. The Casper is not designed specifically for medical school whereas the PREview was designed by the AAMC in conjunction with medical schools’ input.
For information about how to prepare for these exams please contact me at liza@thompsonadvising.com.
–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consultant
Originally posted in August 2020; updated in April 2021, February 2022, and March 2022