Casper for Medical School in 2027: When to Take It and Which Schools Use It

If you are applying to medical school for 2027 entry, you may discover that some of your schools require or consider the Casper test as part of their admissions process.

Casper is an online situational judgment test designed to assess qualities such as ethics, empathy, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Unlike the MCAT, it does not test biology, chemistry, or other academic knowledge. (Acuity Insights)

Not every medical school uses Casper, so your first step should be checking the requirements of every program on your school list.

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What Is the Casper Test?

Casper uses realistic interpersonal and professional scenarios to evaluate how you think through situations and communicate your reasoning.

The current test contains 11 scenarios divided into two sections:

The full assessment takes approximately 65 to 85 minutes, including two optional breaks. (Acuity Insights)

This is shorter than older versions of Casper, which is important if you have been using preparation resources from previous application cycles.

When Should You Take Casper for the 2027 Application Cycle?

There is no single Casper test date that applies to every medical school.

Schools determine which test dates they will accept, and the available dates depend on the programs you select when registering.

Acuity Insights recommends using its official Casper Dates and Fees tool to enter the schools you are applying to and see the dates available for those specific programs.

A good general strategy is to take Casper early enough that your score can reach your schools without delaying completion of your application.

Do not wait until a school's final distribution deadline. Acuity also recommends reserving your test at least three days before your chosen test date so there is enough time for identity verification, payment processing, system checks, and preparation.

Which Medical Schools Use Casper?

The list can change between admissions cycles, so applicants should avoid relying on an old static list.

Acuity Insights currently lists U.S. institutions using Casper that include medical schools such as:

• Albany Medical College
• Central Michigan University
• Drexel University
• East Tennessee State University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Mercer University
• New York Medical College
• Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Rosalind Franklin University
• Rutgers University
• SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Temple University
• Texas A&M University
• Tulane University
• University of Colorado
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Vermont
• University of Washington
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• West Virginia University

Osteopathic institutions appearing among Casper users include schools such as Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

However, do not treat this as a permanent or exhaustive list. Requirements can change, and an institution may use Casper for only certain programs.

Always search for your individual medical schools using the official Acuity Insights test-date and school finder before registering.

How Often Can You Take Casper?

Casper is not an exam you can repeatedly retake during the same application cycle.

Acuity states that applicants:

• May take a particular Casper test type only once per admissions cycle
• Need a new Casper test for a future admissions cycle
• May need separate tests for different test types, countries, or languages

Your Casper score is valid only for the admissions cycle in which you take it.

That makes choosing the correct test type and schools important when you register.

How Should You Prepare for Casper?

Casper preparation should focus less on memorizing answers and more on becoming comfortable thinking clearly under time pressure.

Start by understanding the format and practicing realistic scenarios.

A strong approach is to:

• Identify the people affected by the situation.
• Consider different perspectives before making assumptions.
• Explain what additional information you would want.
• Recognize ethical or professional concerns.
• Suggest a reasonable course of action.
• Explain why you chose that response.
• Practice communicating clearly within the time limit.

Because typed scenarios currently give you only 3.5 minutes for two questions, practicing concise responses is particularly valuable.

Acuity Insights also provides an official practice test after registration and recommends becoming familiar with the testing format before test day.

What Do You Need on Casper Test Day?

Casper is taken online, so make sure your testing setup works before the exam.

You will generally need:

• A laptop or desktop computer
• Reliable internet
• A working webcam and microphone
• Government-issued photo identification
• A quiet testing environment

Applicants should also check their test date, time, and time zone carefully after booking.

Casper vs AAMC PREview

Casper is not the only situational judgment assessment you may encounter.

The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is a separate assessment developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges. It evaluates how applicants understand effective and ineffective professional behavior in situations they may encounter during medical school. (AAMC PREview)

For the 2026 testing year, which corresponds with the 2027 medical school application year, some medical schools require PREview, recommend it, or accept it to satisfy a broader situational judgment test requirement.

This means you should check whether each school on your list requires:

• Casper
• AAMC PREview
• Either situational judgment test
• Neither test

Do not assume that taking Casper automatically satisfies a school's PREview requirement, or vice versa.

What About Duet?

Duet is separate from Casper. Casper evaluates how you respond to professional and interpersonal scenarios, while Duet is designed to explore how your preferences and values align with characteristics of the programs to which you apply.

Not every school that uses Casper requires Duet. Acuity's registration system shows whether your selected programs require additional assessments.

Do Casper Scores Matter as Much as the MCAT?

They serve very different purposes. The MCAT measures academic knowledge and reasoning, while Casper gives schools another source of information about interpersonal and professional qualities.

Acuity states that individual programs decide how Casper scores are used and how much weight they receive in admissions decisions.

Applicants should therefore avoid trying to determine a universal Casper score needed for medical school. There is no single score threshold that applies across all participating programs.

Your wider medical school application still matters, including your:

• GPA and coursework
• MCAT
• Clinical experience
• Community service
• Research
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Interviews

Meaningful clinical exposure can also give you real experiences to reflect on when answering situational and medical school interview questions. Students seeking additional exposure before applying can explore Go-Elective's Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships.

Final Thoughts

If Casper appears on the requirements list for any of your target medical schools, plan for it early.

For 2027 applicants, the most important steps are to check each school's current requirement, use Acuity Insights to identify an accepted test date, understand the updated 65 to 85-minute format, and practice communicating thoughtful responses under time pressure.

Most importantly, use the official Acuity Insights school and test-date finder rather than relying on an old list of Casper schools. Requirements and available dates can change between application cycles.

FAQs About Casper for Medical School

1. Is Casper required for medical school in 2027?

Not by every medical school. Individual programs decide whether Casper is required or used in their admissions process. Check each school individually through Acuity Insights.

2. How long is the Casper test?

The current Casper test takes approximately 65 to 85 minutes and contains 11 scenarios, including four video-response and seven typed-response scenarios.

3. Can you take Casper more than once?

You cannot take the same Casper test type more than once during a single admissions cycle. You must take it again if you apply during a future cycle.

4. When should I take Casper?

Take it early enough to meet the distribution deadlines for all the medical schools on your list. Available dates depend on the programs you select, so check the official Acuity Insights schedule rather than using a general test-date list.

5. Is Casper the same as AAMC PREview?

No. Both assess nonacademic qualities relevant to medicine, but they are separate assessments operated by different organizations and use different formats. Medical schools determine which assessment, if any, they require.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , MCAT/MSAR/USMLE, Med Schools, Pre-health,

Author: Tatina Himes

Date Published: Sep 2, 2026