Casper Test for Medical School: What 2027 Applicants Need to Know

The Casper test is an online situational judgment test used by some medical schools to assess qualities that are difficult to measure through GPA or MCAT scores alone.

Instead of testing scientific knowledge, Casper looks at how you approach interpersonal and professional situations involving communication, empathy, ethics, collaboration and problem-solving.

Not every medical school requires Casper, so applicants should always check the requirements of each program on their school list.

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What Is the Casper Test?

Casper is an open-response situational judgment test (SJT) administered by Acuity Insights. You are presented with realistic scenarios and asked how you would respond and why.

The assessment considers qualities such as:

• Communication
• Collaboration
• Empathy
• Ethics
• Equity
• Problem-solving
• Professionalism
• Resilience
• Self-awareness

Programs use Casper alongside other application components to gain a broader understanding of applicants beyond academic performance.

What Is the Casper Format in 2027?

The current Casper test takes approximately 65–85 minutes and contains 11 scenarios across two sections.

Video-response section

• 4 scenarios
• 2 questions per scenario
• 1 minute to answer each question

Typed-response section

• 7 scenarios
• 2 questions per scenario
• 3.5 minutes to answer both questions

This is significantly shorter than the previous format, which contained 14 scenarios and took up to 110 minutes.

Do All Medical Schools Require Casper?

No. Some U.S. MD and DO programs require Casper, while others recommend it or do not use it at all.

Requirements can change between application cycles, so applicants should avoid relying on an old list of participating schools.

Acuity Insights maintains a current test dates and school requirements tool, where you can search by country, program and school.

Check every school on your list before registering.

When Should You Take Casper?

There is no single Casper date for all medical school applicants. Schools specify the dates they accept, so your testing schedule should be based on the programs you are applying to.

Acuity recommends registering at least three days before your preferred test date, although earlier registration gives you more time to complete the system check and practice test.

Do not wait until late in the application cycle to discover that one of your target schools requires Casper.

Can You Take Casper More Than Once?

For the same test type, you can only take Casper once per admissions cycle. Casper results are also valid for only one admissions cycle. If you reapply in a future year, you will need to take it again.

Applicants applying to different test types, such as programs in different countries or languages, may need separate Casper assessments.

How Is Casper Scored?

Casper responses are evaluated by trained human raters rather than AI. Your responses are assessed based on how effectively you reason through each situation, explain your decisions and demonstrate relevant professional and interpersonal qualities.

Applicants receive a quartile result for the typed-response portion, showing how their performance compares with other test takers in the same admissions cycle.

The quartiles range from:

• 1st quartile: lower relative performance
• 2nd quartile
• 3rd quartile
• 4th quartile: highest relative performance

Programs receive Casper results directly and decide independently how much weight to give them in admissions.

How Should You Prepare for Casper?

Casper is not a content-heavy exam like the MCAT. You do not need to memorise scientific facts or medical terminology.The best preparation is becoming comfortable with the test format and learning to explain your reasoning clearly.

Acuity recommends completing its official 11-scenario practice test, which mirrors the current format.

During practice:

• Read each scenario carefully
• Consider different perspectives
• Explain why you would take a particular action
• Avoid making assumptions without evidence
• Practise answering within the time limit
• Become comfortable responding on camera
• Practise concise typed responses

Acuity also notes that minor grammar and spelling mistakes are not the focus of scoring. Clear reasoning and content matter more.

What Makes a Strong Casper Response?

Strong responses usually demonstrate balanced judgment rather than immediately choosing one side.

For example, instead of accusing someone of behaving unethically, you might first gather more information, consider the perspectives of those involved, identify potential consequences and then propose a fair course of action.

Clinical experiences can help applicants develop many of the interpersonal skills that Casper evaluates.

Through experiences such as pre-health and pre-med clinical internships, students may encounter situations requiring communication, teamwork, cultural awareness and reflection on healthcare inequalities.

The aim is not to memorise stories for Casper, but to develop greater awareness of how people, systems and circumstances influence difficult decisions.

Casper vs. the MCAT

The two tests assess very different things.

A strong MCAT score therefore does not replace Casper when a medical school specifically requires both.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. How long is the Casper test?

The current Casper test takes approximately 65–85 minutes, including optional breaks. It contains 11 scenarios.

#2. How many questions are on Casper?

There are 11 scenarios, each followed by two questions. Four scenarios require video responses and seven require typed responses.

#3. Can you study for Casper?

You do not need traditional content study, but preparation is still useful. Acuity recommends becoming familiar with the format and completing its official practice test.

#4. What is a good Casper score?

Applicants receive a quartile result for the typed portion. The 4th quartile represents the highest relative performance group, but individual medical schools decide how Casper affects their admissions decisions.

#5. Can I retake Casper if I get a low score?

Not during the same admissions cycle for the same Casper test type. You may take it again if you apply in a future cycle.

#6. Is Casper required for medical school?

Only some medical schools require Casper. Requirements change, so applicants should check each school's current admissions requirements or Acuity Insights before registering.

Article Details

Categories

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

Author: Tatina Himes

Date Published: Sep 8, 2026