What Is the CASPer Exam? A Key Guide for 2025 Med School Applicants

The CASPer exam is becoming a crucial requirement at more medical schools every year—and not because it tests your academic knowledge. Unlike the MCAT, CASPer evaluates your situational judgment, giving admissions committees a deeper look into your ethics, professionalism, and ability to navigate real-life challenges in medicine.

If you're applying to medical school in 2025, here's everything you need to know about the CASPer test and how to prepare.

What Is the CASPer Exam?

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an online situational judgment test used by medical schools to assess your non-cognitive skills—things like empathy, ethics, professionalism, and communication.

Rather than test scientific knowledge, CASPer presents you with real-life scenarios, followed by three open-ended questions that you must answer within a short time frame. Your responses are evaluated for qualities that are essential in future physicians.

Why Is CASPer Important?

Medical schools are increasingly seeking students who not only excel academically but also demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. CASPer helps admissions teams:

• Evaluate your ethical reasoning and empathy
• Assess how you think through tough, real-world situations
• Identify whether you’ll thrive in the social, team-based, and emotionally challenging environment of clinical practice

CASPer is part of a growing movement toward holistic admissions, where schools want to understand more than your GPA and MCAT score.

How Is the CASPer Exam Structured?

The CASPer test includes 12 sections, each featuring either a short video or written prompt. After each prompt, you’ll be asked three open-ended questions, and you’ll have five minutes to type your answers.

The exam takes about 60 to 90 minutes, with a 15-minute break halfway through. The test is designed to evaluate core competencies, including:

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

There are no right or wrong answers, but the quality of your responses—and your ability to think critically and ethically—is what counts.

How Is CASPer Scored?

Each scenario you respond to is scored by a different trained evaluator, which helps reduce bias. Your performance is rated based on:

• Your reasoning and ethical framework
• How well you articulate your decisions
• Your overall communication style and empathy

CASPer does not release your scores to you. Instead, your results are automatically sent to the medical schools you’ve selected.

Who Requires the CASPer Exam?

Many medical and allied health programs in the U.S. and Canada now require CASPer, including:

• MD and DO programs
• Physician Assistant (PA) programs
• Nursing and dental schools
• Residency programs in select specialties

Be sure to check whether your target schools require CASPer by visiting their admissions page or referencing your application portal.

Logistics: How to Register and What It Costs

CASPer is taken online, but it’s proctored to ensure test integrity. You’ll need:

• A government-issued ID (no student IDs)
• A working webcam and microphone
• A reliable internet connection
• A quiet testing environment

The test fee ranges from $25 to $75, which covers registration and score distribution to your selected schools. Additional schools may cost around $15 each.

Registration must be completed at least 3 days before your test date. If you require accommodations (e.g., extra time, closed captioning), apply at least 3 weeks in advance and submit documentation.

How to Prepare for the CASPer Test

Although CASPer isn’t about memorization or formulas, preparation still matters. Here's how to get ready:

1. Understand the Format

Practice reading or watching scenarios and then writing responses to open-ended questions within five minutes. Time yourself to build speed and clarity.

2. Practice Ethical Reasoning

Focus on situations involving dilemmas, professionalism, or equity. Reflect on how you'd handle conflict, mistakes, or pressure.

3. Use Practice Tools

Use official CASPer practice tests or third-party question banks to simulate exam conditions.

4. Be Clear and Reflective

Explain your thought process. Use your full five minutes to expand on your rationale and explore multiple perspectives.

5. Stay Calm and Confident

Remember, you're not expected to have perfect answers. Schools want to see how you think, not just what you think.

What Happens After the CASPer Exam?

Once your test is scored, the results are sent directly to the schools you've applied to. You won’t see your score. However, if a school invites you to an interview after submitting your CASPer, that’s a good indication that you did well.

Some schools may use CASPer scores as a filtering tool, while others incorporate them as part of a comprehensive review process alongside your MCAT, GPA, and interview performance.

Final Thoughts: CASPer Is Just One Piece of the Puzzle

CASPer is a unique part of the medical school admissions process. It’s not meant to trip you up—it’s an opportunity to show who you are beyond your academic metrics.

If you want to stand out even more, consider gaining clinical experience abroad through Go Elective’s pre-med and pre-health internships. By shadowing physicians and working with underserved populations abroad, you’ll develop many of the same qualities CASPer is designed to measure—empathy, professionalism, and resilience.

Visit goelective.com to learn more and start building a stronger, more well-rounded application.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: May 12, 2025