Casper Requirement at Curtin University

Curtin University requires applicants to complete the Casper Situational Judgement Test as a mandatory component of the admission process for specific medical programs. Failure to complete the Casper test by the specified deadline can invalidate an application. This requirement applies to applicants for:

1. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) – Undergraduate (Direct Entry): For school leavers and those applying directly from undergraduate study.
2. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) – Graduate Entry: For applicants who have already completed a bachelor’s degree.

What Casper Assesses

Casper is an online test designed to evaluate key personal and professional characteristics considered essential for success in medical professions and studies. Developed by Acuity Insights, it presents applicants with a series of hypothetical video-based and text-based scenarios reflecting real-life situations. Applicants provide open-ended responses, typed within a time limit. The test assesses traits such as:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Empathy
• Equity
• Ethics
• Motivation
• Problem-solving
• Professionalism
• Self-awareness
• Resilience

It aims to provide the admissions committee with a more holistic view of applicants beyond academic scores like ATAR or GPA and aptitude tests like the UCAT ANZ.

Role in Admissions

For Curtin’s Undergraduate MBBS program, the Casper score plays a significant role in the initial ranking stage for interview invitations (Multiple Mini Interviews – MMI). According to information available for the 2024 intake (which may be indicative for future cycles), the ranking for MMI invitations was based on a weighting of:

• Academic Results (e.g., ATAR): 35%
• Casper Test score: 35%
• UCAT ANZ score: 30%

While Casper is crucial for securing an interview spot, the final offer of a place in the undergraduate program is typically based on academic results (40%), UCAT ANZ score (20%), and the MMI score (40%). Casper’s primary function here is as a pre-interview screening tool. The specific weighting and process for the Graduate Entry pathway should be confirmed directly with Curtin Medical School, but Casper remains a mandatory requirement.

Logistics

Applicants must register for the Casper test directly via the Acuity Insights website (takecasper.com). Specific test dates are designated for Curtin University applicants each year, usually falling between May and October for the following year’s entry. It’s essential to register well in advance and ensure you select Curtin University to receive your score distribution. When registering, applicants will likely need their Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) ID or a Curtin Application (App) ID. The test itself takes approximately 65-85 minutes to complete online. There is a fee associated with taking the test and distributing the score.

Based on the information provided about the Casper SJT requirement at Curtin University, engaging with mock tests offers significant advantages for candidates applying to the undergraduate or graduate entry Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programs. Here’s how practice helps:

1. Familiarization with the Unique Format:
   • The Challenge: The text highlights Casper is an online test featuring hypothetical video-based and text-based scenarios requiring timed, typed, open-ended responses. This format is unfamiliar to many applicants.
   • Mock Test Benefit: Practice tests simulate this exact online environment. Candidates get comfortable navigating the interface, viewing different scenario types (video/text), and understanding the timed response windows. This reduces test-day anxiety and ensures candidates aren’t caught off guard by the mechanics, allowing them to focus purely on their responses.
2. Understanding and Demonstrating Assessed Traits:
   • The Challenge: Casper assesses crucial personal and professional characteristics like collaboration, communication, empathy, ethics, equity, problem-solving, and resilience – qualities Curtin values beyond academic scores. It’s not always intuitive how to demonstrate these traits effectively in written responses to hypothetical scenarios.
   • Mock Test Benefit: By working through practice scenarios, candidates learn to identify the core ethical or interpersonal issues presented. They practice articulating their thought processes and justifying their proposed actions in ways that clearly demonstrate the desired attributes. Mock tests help candidates shift from simply stating what they would do to explaining why, reflecting the depth Curtin seeks.
3. Developing Time Management Skills:
   • The Challenge: The test requires responding to multiple questions for each scenario within strict time limits (typically 5 minutes for 3 questions in the typed section), all within a total test time of 65-85 minutes. Thinking critically and typing coherent responses under pressure is difficult.
   • Mock Test Benefit: Practice under timed conditions is essential. Mock tests force applicants to develop strategies for quickly analyzing scenarios, formulating responses, and typing efficiently. Repeated practice builds speed and helps candidates learn how to allocate their time effectively across the questions within each scenario, ensuring they can provide thoughtful answers without running out of time.
4. Optimizing Performance for High Stakes:
   • The Challenge: For Curtin’s undergraduate MBBS, the Casper score holds a significant weight – 35% – in determining who receives an interview (MMI) invitation. This makes performing well absolutely critical for progressing in the application process. It’s also a mandatory hurdle for graduate entry.
   • Mock Test Benefit: Given the substantial weighting, maximizing the Casper score is paramount. Mock tests provide a platform for refinement. Candidates can identify weaknesses in their reasoning or communication style, learn from sample answers or feedback (if provided by the practice platform), and hone their ability to craft responses that align with the assessment criteria. This deliberate practice directly contributes to improving their potential score on this high-stakes component.
5. Building Confidence and Reducing Anxiety:
   • The Challenge: Facing a mandatory, unfamiliar, and high-stakes test can be stressful.
   • Mock Test Benefit: Familiarity breeds confidence. By simulating the test experience multiple times, candidates become more comfortable with the process. Knowing what to expect and having practiced their response strategies significantly reduces anxiety, allowing for a clearer head and better performance on the actual test day.

In summary, practicing with Casper SJT mock tests is invaluable preparation for applicants to Curtin University’s medical programs. It allows them to master the unique format, learn how to effectively demonstrate the desired non-academic qualities, hone their time management skills, and ultimately maximize their score on a component that holds significant weight (especially for undergraduate MMI selection) in a highly competitive admissions process

In summary, Casper is a critical, non-negotiable step for anyone applying to Curtin University’s direct entry or graduate entry medicine programs, used primarily to assess non-academic suitability and select candidates for interviews.