Casper (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics, earlier CASPer or "CMSENS")
is an admissions test developed by Harold Reiter and Kelly Dore. It was made for the
McMaster University
McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood, Ontario, Ainslie Wood and Westdale, Ontario, Westd ...
's Program for Educational Research and Development and has been used by
McMaster University Medical School
The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, known as the McMaster University School of Medicine prior to 2004, is the medical school of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the McMaster Faculty of ...
since 2010.
The test is intended to examine an applicant's
soft skill
Soft skills, also known as power skills, common skills, essential skills, or core skills, are psychosocial skills generally applicable to all professions. These include critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking, professional writing, ...
s such as empathy. As of 2025, the test is used as part of the admissions process in 12 Canadian
medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...
s.
Braden MacBeth from
Science-Based Medicine
''Science-Based Medicine'' is a website and blog with articles covering issues in science and medicine, especially medical scams and practices. Founded in 2008, it is owned and operated by the New England Skeptical Society, and run by Steve ...
has criticized Casper for its lack of transparency. MacBeth believes that it should not be used in the admissions process.
The studies used to promote the test are considered to be poor scholarship by other independent academics. Most of the research supporting Casper was authored by people affiliated with the company that produces it. People hired to grade the test are not required to have any qualifications.
References
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Tests