CASPer test day
What to Wear for CASPer: Dress Code, Camera and Rules
Wear something simple, comfortable and neat, such as a dress shirt, sweater or blouse with pants. CASPer has no formal dress code, and Acuity says raters are trained to evaluate what you say, not how you look. Your outfit only needs to do three things: keep your face visible, avoid distracting anyone and stay comfortable for a test that usually takes 65 to 85 minutes.
Is there a CASPer dress code?
No. Acuity Insights, which runs CASPer, says on its test-day help page that there is no formal dress code and that raters evaluate the content of your responses, not your appearance. The same page still asks you to present yourself respectfully and without distractions. It suggests dressing comfortably, avoiding overly casual clothing such as pajamas and treating the test like a virtual interview.
Its official preparation page is more specific: simple, comfortable clothing like a dress shirt, sweater or blouse, and pants. You do not need to buy anything. Most applicants already own something that fits this description.
Who actually sees you
Two different things use your camera. First, the webcam and microphone are used for identity verification and proctoring, so they must stay on for the entire test and your face should be visible except during scheduled breaks. That includes the typed section. Second, the current standard format starts with four video scenarios. Each has two questions, and you get one minute to record each answer.
Raters see those recorded answers. According to Acuity's scoring explanation, responses are anonymized first, so raters do not see personal details such as your name or age. They are told to focus on substance: your thought process, judgment and communication.
What to wear for CASPer, item by item
The table separates Acuity's published rules from its recommendations and from our own practical suggestions. That matters because a forum post saying something is “not allowed” is only reliable if an official page says so.
| Item | What to do | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Dress shirt, sweater, blouse or a plain top | A good default | Acuity recommendation |
| Pants or other bottoms you would wear in public | Wear them | Acuity recommendation: its suggested outfit includes pants |
| Pajamas or very casual loungewear | Avoid | Acuity recommendation: named as an example of distracting clothing |
| Suit, blazer or tie | Optional, not required | CasperCoach suggestion: fine if it helps you focus, but no rule asks for it |
| Smartwatch or fitness tracker | Remove before you start | Acuity rule |
| Corded headphones | Allowed | Acuity rule. Wireless ones may work, but test them and charge them first |
| Face mask | Allowed where local regulations require one | Acuity rule: remove it briefly for ID photos at the start and midpoint if it is safe to do so |
| Cap, hood or sunglasses | Take them off | CasperCoach suggestion, based on the rule that your face should stay visible. We found no item-specific rule |
| Religious or cultural head covering | No published restriction found | The published requirement is that your face is visible. Ask Acuity before test day if you are unsure |
| Prescription glasses | No published restriction found | CasperCoach suggestion: check your recording for screen glare |
| Name badge, lanyard or school-branded top | Take it off or swap it | CasperCoach suggestion: Acuity anonymizes responses before rating, so do not show your name on camera |
| Jewellery that clinks or busy fine patterns | Swap it if your test recording shows a problem | CasperCoach suggestion: noise can reach the microphone and fine patterns can flicker on some webcams |
The only clothing-adjacent items with explicit rules are wearables, headphones and face masks. Everything else is judgment, guided by one requirement: your face should stay clearly visible to a camera that is on, uncovered and facing you. For the full list of allowed materials, such as blank paper, a pen and a hard-copy dictionary, see our CASPer test rules guide.
If you wear a religious or cultural head covering
We found no Acuity page restricting religious or cultural dress. The published requirement concerns visibility: your face should be visible to the camera. If your covering also covers part of your face, or you are unsure how the identity photos will work, contact Acuity through the chat in your account before test day, not during it. Their answer is the one that counts. Do not rely on ours or a third party's.
Check your outfit on camera before test day
An outfit that looks fine in a mirror can look different on a laptop webcam. A plain white shirt may wash out against a bright wall, and a cap brim can shadow your eyes. Acuity suggests rehearsing with the free official practice test, or with your computer's camera app (Camera on Windows, Photo Booth on Mac). The official practice test does not save your answers, so record a separate clip if you want to review yourself.
A ten-minute recorded check
- Match the real conditions. Use the same room, computer and seat you will test from. Test at the same time of day as your sitting if you can. Acuity lists test times in North American or Australian Eastern time unless stated otherwise, so convert yours. An evening slot may mean no daylight.
- Dress fully. Put on the whole outfit, including whatever headphones you plan to use.
- Record a one-minute answer. Speak to an everyday prompt, such as “A friend asks you to cover for them at work. What do you say?” Talk for the full minute, as you would on test day.
- Review it with the sound on. Check whether your whole face is visible without shadows or glare, whether anything clinks or rustles near the microphone, whether your top blends into the wall, and whether a name, logo or personal item is visible.
- Change one thing and record again. Move the light, change your top or remove the noisy item, then compare the two clips.
For framing, lighting and audio beyond clothing, use the CASPer system requirements guide alongside Acuity's own system requirements check.
Common situations
You are testing straight after work or a clinical shift
No published rule stops you from wearing a work uniform or scrubs. If it is clean and you are comfortable, it can work. Take off any name badge or employer lanyard. Acuity anonymizes responses before rating, and showing your name on camera works against that. If you have time, a plain top is the simpler choice.
Your room runs hot or cold
Choose one layer you can keep on throughout the test. Pulling a sweater over your head during a timed answer costs time and focus. The standard format has an optional 10-minute break after the video section and a 5-minute break after the first four typed scenarios, so adjust your clothing then.
You were planning to dress formally
That is fine, but not necessary. A suit does not earn points, and a stiff collar or warm jacket can make a long sitting less comfortable. Pick whatever helps you feel settled and focused.
What matters more than your outfit
Once your clothes are neat, comfortable and not distracting, they have done their job. Acuity's guidance puts the weight on the answer itself: explain why you would act, not only what you would do. Our own advice for video answers is to look at the camera and keep going if you stumble, because the one-minute timer keeps running. See whether you can redo a CASPer video response.
If speaking on camera is the part you feel least ready for, our video response practice guide has a short drill. It gets you used to a one-minute recorded answer before test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will what I wear affect my CASPer score?+
Acuity says there is no formal dress code and that raters are trained to evaluate the content of your responses, not your appearance. It still recommends avoiding overly casual or distracting clothing, such as pajamas.
Do I need to dress up for the typed section?+
Keep the same outfit on. Typed answers are rated as text, but your webcam stays on for proctoring throughout the test and your face should remain visible except during scheduled breaks.
Can I wear a hoodie for CASPer?+
We found no published rule against a plain hoodie. Acuity's guidance points toward something closer to virtual-interview clothing, such as a sweater or dress shirt. If you do wear one, keep the hood down so your face stays visible.
Can I wear my smartwatch if I turn notifications off?+
No. Acuity's test rules say to remove smartwatches and any wearable technology before starting the test, so take it off rather than silencing it.
Sources and scope
Checked October 19, 2026 against Acuity's test-day guidance, test rules, preparation page, scoring explanation and format description. Items marked as CasperCoach suggestions in the table are practical editorial advice, not Acuity requirements. Where no official rule was found, this guide says so instead of guessing. The table and camera check are original, AI-assisted CasperCoach editorial material. CasperCoach is independent of Acuity Insights. If Acuity's instructions or a message in your account differ from this page, follow Acuity.