Answer strategy
CASPer Buzzwords and Keywords: Do They Raise Your Score?
No. There is no official list of CASPer buzzwords or keywords, and Acuity says raters are instructed not to take jargon into account. Raters judge the substance of each answer: your reasoning, judgment and communication. A word like “empathy” only helps when the rest of the sentence shows what you would actually do and why.
What Acuity says raters look for
Acuity's official preparation page says raters are instructed to refrain from taking jargon or grammar mistakes into account. It tells applicants to focus on content and to explain why they would do something, not only what they would do.
Its scoring explanation says raters focus on the substance and quality of a response to assess your thought process, judgment and communication. Each question is scored on its own. The quartile article describes what applicants in higher quartiles may show: effort, such as explaining a position fully; empathy, considering all perspectives meaningfully; impartiality; and clear communication.
None of that rewards a word appearing in your answer. It rewards what the words do. For the full picture of what is scored, see what CASPer actually scores.
Why buzzwords fall flat
Buzzwords feel safe because they name qualities that Acuity says CASPer measures, such as ethics, empathy, problem-solving and collaboration. But a rater reads many responses to the same scenario. A sentence that could be pasted into any answer tells them nothing about how you handled this situation.
Buzzwords also cost time. In the typed section you have 3.5 minutes for two questions. Every generic phrase takes time you could spend on the specific action and reason that carry the answer.
Common buzzwords and what to write instead
The fix is not to ban these words. Make each one carry a concrete action, person or reason.
| Buzzword phrasing | The problem | Write this instead |
|---|---|---|
| "I would be empathetic." | Names a quality without showing it. | Name what the person is likely feeling and what you would say first: "You seem worried about the deadline; can we talk about it?" |
| "Open communication is key." | Could fit any scenario. | Say who you would talk to, when, and what you would ask. |
| "I would act professionally." | Leaves out the decision. | State the action, such as following the policy or telling a supervisor, and why it is right here. |
| "I would take a holistic approach." | Sounds thorough but adds nothing. | List the two or three perspectives that matter and how they change your choice. |
| "Integrity, accountability, respect." | A list of values is not an answer. | Pick the value at stake and show the trade-off you are making. |
A before-and-after example
This scenario and both answers are original examples written for this guide. They are not official CASPer content or rated responses.
Scenario: You work at a café. A coworker, Jordan, has arrived late four times this month, and you have covered each time. Your manager asks you privately whether you know why the closing tasks keep running late.
Buzzword-heavy answer
I would show empathy and professionalism. Open communication is key, so I would communicate effectively with my manager and Jordan while maintaining integrity and respect. I would take a holistic approach and find a win-win solution.
It names six qualities and makes no decision. The rater cannot tell whether you would tell the manager, what you would say to Jordan or why.
Specific answer
I would be honest with my manager that closing has run late because I have been covering Jordan's late arrivals. I would not guess at Jordan's reasons. First, though, I would ask Jordan privately whether something is making it hard to arrive on time, because there may be a problem the schedule could fix. I would also tell Jordan I can't keep covering, so the team isn't left short and the manager isn't working from incomplete information.
The second answer uses honesty and empathy without naming them. It makes a decision, considers Jordan's side, sets a fair limit and gives a reason for each step. For a repeatable structure, see CASPer answer structure or the PACE framework.
When the right word does help
Precise vocabulary is useful when it names the actual issue quickly, such as “this is a confidentiality problem” or “there is a conflict of interest here”. One accurate label saves words, but only if the next sentence acts on it. Treat it as the start of your reasoning, not a substitute for it.
To check your own answers for buzzwords, read each sentence and ask: could this sentence appear unchanged in an answer to a different scenario? If yes, rewrite it with a person, an action or a reason from this scenario. Our guide to reviewing practice answers has more checks like this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official list of CASPer keywords?+
No. Acuity does not publish a keyword list. Its preparation page says raters are instructed to refrain from taking jargon or grammar mistakes into account, and to focus on the content of your answer.
Will using words like empathy or professionalism raise my CASPer score?+
Not on their own. Raters assess the substance of each response: your thought process, judgment and communication. A quality you show through a specific action and reason is stronger than one you only name.
Should I memorize phrases to use in CASPer answers?+
Memorized phrases tend to be generic and use up limited time. Practise a structure for reasoning instead, then fill it with the details of each scenario.
Are frameworks like PACE just buzzwords?+
A framework is a way to order your thinking, not words to insert. It helps if it leads you to a clear action and reason; it hurts if you recite its labels without applying them to the scenario.
Sources and scope
Checked October 19, 2026 against Acuity's preparation page, scoring explanation, quartile article and CASPer overview. The scenario, both sample answers and the swap table are original, AI-assisted CasperCoach editorial material, not official content or rated responses. CasperCoach is independent of Acuity Insights.