u/former_evaluator

A recent pattern is appearing among people who have taken the CASPer test this year. Many felt well-prepared going in, but were caught off guard by some newer question formats.

Here are some that are worth knowing, with examples of what they look like.

1. "How, if at all, would this change your response?"

Q1 is situational; you explain what you'd do. Then Q2 introduces new information and asks whether it changes anything. That second question is a follow-up judgment question.

Example:

Scenario: A teammate submits a group report without telling the rest of the group that he used AI to write his section. The report has already been submitted when you find out.

Q1: What would you do in this situation? Explain your reasoning.

Q2: Suppose you later find out that your program explicitly permits the use of AI tools for this assignment. How, if at all, would this change your response to the previous question? Explain your reasoning.

Q2 isn't asking what you'd do next. It's asking you to weigh a new ethical consideration against your original position. The structure should shift - acknowledge what's changed, analyze the competing values, and reach a conclusion.

2. Hypothetical reflective questions

These don't ask what you'd do - they ask how you'd feel, or what you'd find most challenging personally.

Example:

Scenario: You are placed in a group assignment with two students you've never worked with before. Early on, it becomes clear that one group member is taking over decision-making without consulting the others, while the third member has stopped contributing almost entirely.

Q1: What aspect of this situation do you think would be most challenging for you personally? Explain your reasoning.

Q2: Based on your personality, how do you think you would feel having to address the disengaged group member directly? Explain your response.

There's no scenario to resolve here. Both questions are asking you to look inward - what this reveals about how you work, what you'd need to be aware of, and how you'd manage yourself.

Questions? Feel free to ask!

Hi, here’s this week’s Friday scenario, along with an example of a high-scoring response and an update on how CASPer questions are evolving.

Recent changes in CASPer question styles

You might have noticed that CASPer questions are becoming more layered this year, with some newer formats appearing.

One style asks you to imagine how you would feel in a situation, rather than describe a past experience. These “Based on your personality…” questions can be trickier because they are still reflective, but they are not asking for a story from your past.

Instead, they ask you to show insight into yourself in the present: how you might react, what would feel difficult, and what that reveals about your values, habits, or other people. So instead of answering like “Tell me about a time when…”, focus on self-awareness and explain what you would find difficult about the situation.

Here's a scenario with an example of this new question style:

Scenario

You're at a family dinner, and your relative brings up a topic you strongly disagree with. They're expressing views that you find problematic, and several other family members are nodding along. You care about this person, and you don't want to damage the relationship, but you also feel like you need to say something.

Question

Based on your personality, how do you think you would feel in this situation? Explain your response.

High Scoring Response

Based on my personality, I would feel torn and uneasy. I would feel uncomfortable staying quiet because I disagree with what was said. At the same time, I would feel anxious about speaking up and creating tension in front of everyone.

The hardest part for me would be the internal conflict. I want to be honest, but I would also worry about making the situation awkward or damaging the relationship. I know I sometimes focus too much on keeping the peace, even when something bothers me. Afterwards, I would probably replay the moment and question whether I had been considerate, or whether I had avoided speaking because I was uncomfortable.

Why this scores well

This response works because it focuses on the student’s internal reaction, not just the relative’s behavior.

First, it names the feeling clearly: torn, uneasy and anxious. That answers emotional honesty rather than a “I would do the right thing” response.

Second, it explains why the situation would feel difficult personally. The conflict is not just about whether to speak up, it is about balancing honesty with the fear of creating tension or damaging the relationship.

Third, it shows self-awareness. The response recognizes a pattern: focusing too much on keeping the peace, even when something feels wrong. That kind of insight is what makes a reflective answer stronger, because it shows the student understands their own tendencies rather than only describing the situation.

What to avoid

Jumping straight to what you would do, rather than what you feel - which is not the point of this question. This question is asking what the situation reveals about who you are.

If you have any questions about the new question formats or the scenario above, feel free to ask!