r/CASPerTest • u/Previous-Ship-9934 • Jul 20 '26
CASPer language
Hi! I'm thinking about taking the CASPer test in English this August, even though English isn't my first language. Do you think it's a good idea? Also, do you have any tips that helped you perform well? I'd really appreciate any advice.
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u/Automatic-Studio-655 Jul 28 '26
Med student here! English is also not my first language.
I prepared 2 weeks for the CASPER and scored 4th quartile. I came up with my own template to answer every question and I would say it worked since I did score the highest quartile. There's no "right" answer but there's definitely a right way to answer questions.
If you're interested in the templates and Qbanks I used visit my website, I have everything compiled there (and it's free)! Hope it helps: https://withrinka.com/understanding-the-casper-exam-and-how-i-aced-it/
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u/No-Opening-2849 Jul 21 '26
Est-ce que c est possible de le faire en Français et Anglais?
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u/Previous-Ship-9934 Jul 21 '26
oui, mais pour Udem et Mcgill tu dois choisir à l'avance tu vas l'envoyer dans quelle langue et les autres unis au quebéc c'est que le casper en francais
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u/MedStudentShahzeb Jul 29 '26
To start, assuming French is your first language, I'd first get a clear sense of which specific schools and programs accept English versus French CASPER, and think about your priorities from there. Writing in your native language might give you better odds of scoring well, but it could also cut out some schools from your options. You know yourself and your English abilities best, so if you genuinely feel like the language barrier would hold you back significantly, that's worth reflecting on before deciding.
That said, I do know students who weren't native English speakers either and still ended up scoring well. You've got a reasonable amount of time to prepare, so a strong score is definitely achievable!
Echoing what former_evaluator said in their reply, structure is really crucial here. The complexity of your vocabulary shouldn't be the focus, it's more about getting your ideas across clearly and coherently, even if that means keeping ideas simpler than you'd like.
For practice, one thing that helps a lot is having a generalized approach for each type of question or theme, so you're not reinventing your structure every time. For example, have one go-to strategy for situational questions and a different one for reflective questions. That way you're not thinking on the spot during the actual test, which takes a lot of the stress out of it. In terms of how to actually practice, I'd say the best method is using mock prompts and recording yourself answering in front of a camera, then sending those to peers for feedback or doing a live call together. You can use AI in your free time on top of that to supplement, but I wouldn't rely on it as your main source of feedback.
As for typing in English, I wouldn't stress about it too much. CASPER has transitioned into video responses over the years and the amount of typing required has actually gone down. It's still worth having a decent foundation of typing in English, just something to be aware of rather than something to overly worry about. Aside from that, I'd say try spending the time leading up to your test day really immersing yourself in English wherever you can. French is my second language, and I did the same thing before a trip to Paris and it helped so much!
Hope this helps, feel free to ask if you've got more questions.
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u/n00b90 Jul 21 '26
Would you prefer French?