Empathy is one of the 10 traits that is tested for on the CASPer test. However many applications do not know how to
illustrate this trait effectively on the CASPer test.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It involves putting yourself in another person's
shoes, imagining their experiences and emotions, and relating to their perspective. Empathy allows you to connect with
others on a deeper level, build stronger relationships, and provide emotional support and comfort. It is an important
social and emotional skill that can be developed through practice and can have a positive impact on personal and
professional relationships.
By showing CASPer raters that you understand and care about other people's experiences and emotions, you can make a
lasting impression and obtain a higher score on the CASPer Test. Here are some tips on how to make your CASPer responses
sound more empathetic.
1) Use empathy statements:
Empathy statements are short phrases that convey understanding and support to your reader. They can be used to validate
your reader's emotions and experiences, and to show that you're there to help them through difficult times. Some
examples of empathy statements include "I'm sorry you're going through this," "That must be really tough," or "I'm here
for you if you need anything."
2) Use emotional language:
To make your answers sound more empathetic, try to use emotional language that reflects the feelings of your readers.
This can help them feel seen and understood. For example, instead of saying "I understand that you are feeling anxious,"
you could say "I can sense how overwhelming and scary this situation must be for you."
3)Acknowledge challenges and struggles:
To show the CASPer raters that you understand other people’s experiences, it's important to acknowledge the challenges
and struggles that others may be facing. This can help them feel validated and less alone in their struggles. For
example, instead of saying "I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with depression," you could say "It's really tough
to deal with depression, and I can only imagine how hard it must be for you."
4)Provide validation and support:
To make your answers sound more empathetic, it's important to provide validation and support for your readers. This can
help them feel heard, supported, and empowered to take action. For example, instead of saying "I hope you feel better
soon," you could say "It's okay to feel overwhelmed and discouraged at times. But remember, you are strong and
resilient, and I'm here to support you every step of the way."
5)Avoid judgmental language:
To show empathy, it's important to avoid using judgmental or dismissive language that could make your readers feel
invalidated or misunderstood. For example, instead of saying "You're overreacting," you could say "I can understand why
you feel upset."
6)Use gratitude:
Expressing gratitude can be a powerful way to show empathy to your CASPer raters. By thanking individuals experiencing
difficulty in a scenario for their time, their honesty, or their willingness to share their experiences, you can create
a sense of mutual respect and appreciation. For example, you might say "Thank you for being so open and honest with me.
I really appreciate it."
7)Show, don't tell:
Rather than just telling your CASPer raters that you understand how individuals in a scenario feel, try to show them by
using vivid and descriptive language that paints a picture of their experience. For example, instead of saying "I
understand how frustrating it can be to deal with customer service," you could say "It's so frustrating to spend hours
on the phone, waiting for someone to answer and help you with your problem."
8)Use storytelling:
Storytelling is a powerful tool for building empathy because it allows you to share experiences and emotions in a way
that is relatable and memorable. By using examples and anecdotes, you can help your CASPer raters connect with the
emotions and experiences you are describing. For example, you could share a personal story about a time when you felt a
similar emotion or experienced a similar situation.
9)Use active voice:
Active voice can be more engaging and relatable than passive voice, because it creates a sense of urgency and immediacy.
For example, instead of saying "The situation was very difficult," you could say "You are facing a very difficult
situation."
10)Use positive language:
Using positive language can help to create a more optimistic and hopeful tone in your responses. This can be especially
important when discussing difficult or sensitive topics, as it can help to provide a sense of comfort and support to
your CASPer rater. For example, instead of saying "You shouldn't be afraid," you could say "You have the strength to
overcome this fear."
11)Ask questions:
Asking questions is a great way to show that you are interested in others' experiences and want to learn more about
their perspectives. By asking open-ended questions, you can encourage individuals in the scenario to share their
thoughts and feelings with you. For example, you could ask "How do you feel about this situation?" or "What has your
experience been like?"
By using some of these tips appropriately, you can make your CASPer responses more empathetic and supportive. 4th
quartile CASPer scorers use these tactics all the time which enables them to stand out on the CASPer Test and score
higher compared to other students. Getting a mediocre score negatively impacts your chances of getting accepted into
your dream school. The CASPER test is not perfect and if you do not adequately prepare in a manner that the Casper test
assesses your soft skills you might not be happy with your results. It is very easy and algorithmic to perform well on
this test if you follow the right steps in your preparation journey. Sign up for 30 free CASPer Scenarios and work with
our proven 4th Quartile Mentors.