10 Casper Competencies the Test Measures
The 10 competencies Casper raters score, from empathy to self-awareness, with a short example and a practice drill for each.
Quick answer
Casper scores every response against 10 competencies: collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem solving, professionalism, resilience, and self-awareness. Strong answers typically demonstrate two or three of these at once rather than trying to hit all ten in a single response.
Casper doesn't have a syllabus, but it does have a rubric. Every response, typed or on camera, gets evaluated against the same set of 10 personal characteristics, first developed under the test's original name (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) and still the backbone of how Acuity Insights trains its raters today. Knowing this rubric in advance means your instincts under pressure already point somewhere useful. This guide breaks down all 10, with a short example of each in action.
Collaboration
Working productively with others, even under pressure or disagreement. Raters want to see you separate feelings from facts, address concerns without blame, and land on a plan with clear ownership.
Example: A group project member keeps missing deadlines. A strong response checks in privately about obstacles instead of assuming laziness, then sets a realistic schedule with named owners and a midweek check-in, rather than a vague speech about "teamwork."
Communication
Organizing your thoughts and delivering them clearly, especially under time pressure. A strong answer states your role and the core issue up front, names the information you need, outlines a plan, and closes with who you'll inform and when you'll follow up.
Example: On camera, this also means maintaining eye contact, speaking at a measured pace, and using the last few seconds to state a concrete next step instead of trailing off.
Empathy
Recognizing another person's feelings and responding with practical support, not performed emotion. Acknowledge the feeling briefly, then act.
Example: A patient is anxious about treatment costs. A strong response acknowledges the stress respectfully, moves the conversation somewhere private, and verifies what options actually exist before promising anything.
Equity
Considering who a plan might unintentionally disadvantage, and adjusting for it. Raters want to see you notice hidden costs in a "neutral" solution.
Example: A policy that looks fair on paper (same rule for everyone) might still fall hardest on people with less flexibility. A strong response applies the rule consistently while building in an accessible alternative for people facing real barriers.
Ethics
Applying core ethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice) to identify what's actually at stake, then choosing a proportionate response. Confidentiality is the default, unless there's a genuine safety concern.
Example: If a scenario raises a possible duty to report, a strong response verifies the facts first rather than escalating on a rumor, and explains what would change the calculus.
Motivation
Consistent effort and ownership, not enthusiasm for its own sake. Raters look for concrete habits (regular practice, seeking feedback) rather than vague promises to "try harder."
Example: In a personal-reflection question, naming the specific system you built after a setback (a weekly planning block, a rule to flag risks early) reads as motivated. A general statement about "learning to work harder" doesn't.
Problem Solving
A multi-step process: identify the real problem, clarify what's unknown, gather the decisive facts, act to reduce harm, and check whether it worked. Orderly thinking beats a dramatic fix.
Example: "If I can verify X, I'll do Y; if not, I'll do Z" shows a rater you can act under uncertainty without overreaching on assumptions.
Professionalism
Respecting boundaries, staying accountable, and using the right channel. Address issues privately first when it's safe to, document facts rather than opinions, and escalate through the appropriate process rather than publicly.
Example: A strong response to a coworker conflict starts with a private conversation, not a group chat callout, and documents what was discussed rather than what was assumed.
Resilience
Staying functional and composed when a plan fails. Raters want to see you use support systems and adjust, not glorify burnout or pretend setbacks don't happen.
Example: Describing a setback calmly, naming the specific support you sought, and outlining what you changed afterward demonstrates resilience better than describing how hard you pushed through alone.
Self-Awareness
Recognizing your own limits and impact on others. This shows up as asking for help early, accepting feedback without getting defensive, and naming a specific mistake rather than deflecting.
Example: In a reflection question, admitting exactly what you got wrong and what you'd do differently next time reads as more mature than a vague "I learned a lot from that experience."
How to Practice Against the Rubric
You don't need to name a competency out loud in your answer. What matters is that your response demonstrably contains it. A useful drill: after writing a practice answer, go back and label which one or two competencies it actually demonstrates. If you consistently hit communication and empathy but rarely show resilience or equity, that's a sign to pick practice prompts that stretch those muscles specifically. The sample questions and answers are a good place to start, and the question-type guide has response frameworks that naturally surface several of these competencies at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 10 Casper competencies?
Collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem solving, professionalism, resilience, and self-awareness.
Do I need to mention the competency by name in my answer?
No. Raters are trained to recognize these qualities in how you reason and respond, not to look for buzzwords. Naming them explicitly can even sound scripted.
Which competency matters most?
None is weighted above the others in isolation; strong answers typically demonstrate two or three competencies at once (for example, empathy plus problem solving) rather than trying to hit all ten in a single response.
How are these competencies scored?
Each response is scored by a trained human rater who evaluates how well it demonstrates the relevant competencies for that scenario. See our complete scoring guide for the full mechanics.
The Bottom Line
Casper's 10 competencies are the actual rubric behind an otherwise unpredictable-feeling test. Learn what each one looks like in practice, notice which ones your answers naturally lean on, and use targeted practice to shore up the rest. Pair this guide with the practice scenarios and the question-type frameworks so every drill reinforces a specific competency instead of practicing in the dark.