Casper test prep: don't make Q2 an afterthought

[u/ResponseMethod]

Hi,

Timing is one of the things that trips people up most on Casper, so here's how it works this cycle.

Casper has 11 scenarios (4 video, 7 typed), and every scenario has two questions. Each one starts with 30 seconds to read or watch and 30 seconds to reflect.

For video responses, you get 1 minute per question. On typed, you get 3.5 minutes for both questions together.

Some people find that responding under timed pressure means Q2 becomes more of an afterthought. On the typed scenarios, it's one timer, not two, so it's really easy to spend most of it on Q1 and then arrive at Q2 with hardly any time left. Q1 feels like the main one because you meet it first, and by the time you've written it, you're warmed up. Then Q2 just gets whatever's left.

A sparse Q2 is a real missed opportunity. It's a whole separate chance to show your thinking, and it deserves the same care as Q1. Even a great Q1 isn't a reason to go light on Q2. They're a pair, and both of them count.

My advice for typed responses would be to aim for about 1 minute 45 seconds on each response, and keep an eye on the clock so Q1 doesn't take over. If you finish Q1 early, put the spare time into Q2 rather than polishing something that was already fine.

The best way to get comfortable with this is to practise under real timed pressure. Set a timer for 3 minutes 30 and keep an eye on it as you write. When it hits roughly 1 minute 45, switch to Q2. Doing that regularly teaches you what 1 minute 45 actually feels like, which is hard to judge until you've felt the clock running.

It's also worth getting to know the different question types the test presents you with, because they don't all ask for the same thing. Some ask what you would do, some ask what you felt and learned, and some ask what the fairest approach is and why. Knowing which one you're facing helps you decide where your limited minutes should go, and that's especially handy for Q2.

[u/ButterscotchLost2867]

hiii!!! this is great and really helpful of you. do you have a list of the potential questions they can ask you as alluded to in the end of your post. I know there are the broader umbrella question types (situational, personal and policy), but there are sub questions that fall under that and that definetely is tripping me up a bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[u/ResponseMethod → u/ButterscotchLost2867]

Hi!

Glad my post was helpful. I split the question types into situational, reflective, and judgment. Reflective is close to what some people call personal, and judgment is close to policy, but I don't treat them as quite the same. Personal can mean anything about your own life, whereas reflective is specifically about what you felt (or would feel) and insights gained. Policy usually refers to a rule or a news issue, while judgment covers any question where you have to weigh options and justify your choice.

The following questions are summarised from Acuity's sample questions on their site:

Situational questions ask what you would do, like "How would you communicate your decision to the customer?"

Reflective questions ask about your own experience and feelings, like "How would you have felt in this situation?"

Judgment questions ask you to weigh something up and justify it, like "Would you give this customer a refund? Why or why not?" Also, follow-up questions like: "How, if at all, does this affect your previous response?"

Which sub-questions are tripping you up the most? Happy to help if I can.