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The Casper exam is a type of situational judgment test (SJT) designed to sample personal characteristics and professional attributes like ethics and problem-solving skills. It’s not just about what you know; it’s about how you handle real-world situations and communicate under pressure.
The Casper test is part of the Altus Suite (alongside Duet). Your Acuity Insights account is the platform where applicants manage their Altus Suite assessments. This account allows you to sign up for available test dates, complete the exam, and manage where your Casper scores are sent.
If you’re applying to medical school in the 2025/26 application cycle, the starting period for the test began on March 1. Try to take your exam as soon as possible to ensure there are no issues in the admissions process for your med school applications.
Get Casper-ready with MedSchoolCoach. Work with our Physician Advisors to get the insight, support, and realistic practice you need to build confidence and master the exam.
Test Dates and Participating Programs
The Casper test used for MD and DO programs may be taken on these days and times in 2025:
- March 20 – 8:00 PM EDT
- April 8 – 8:00 PM EDT
- May 1 – 8:00 PM EDT
- May 15 – 8:00 PM EDT
- May 29 – 6:00 & 8:00 PM EDT
- June 10 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- June 26 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- July 8 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- July 20 – 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM EDT
- July 31 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- August 12 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- August 26 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- September 16 – 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM EDT
- September 28 – 4:00 PM EDT
- October 21 – 8:00 PM EDT
- October 28 – 8:00 PM EDT
- November 13 – 6:00 PM EDT
- December 4 – 8:00 PM EDT
2026 Casper Test Dates:
- January 6 – 6:00 PM EDT
- February 10 – 8:00 PM EDT
Scheduling Your Casper Test
More institutions have begun requiring the Casper score along with the primary medical school application. For this reason, we recommend registering for the exam in April or May (early Spring) of the admissions cycle. Having this done alongside your application will help you prepare for interviews.
You should schedule your Casper test day around the time you complete your secondaries. This ensures your application is complete when admissions committees on your distribution list review it. Don’t wait until right before the distribution deadline to schedule the exam.
To book a Casper test, you must create an account on the official Altus Suite website, select the test type (Casper), and choose your preferred test date and time from the available options.
Medical Schools That Require Casper
Not every school requires Casper as a part of their application process. The following MD and DO schools in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean (MD-granting only) require Casper test scores to apply:
- American University of The Caribbean School of Medicine
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine
- California University of Science and Medicine
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM)
- Hofstra University School of Medicine
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Meharry Medical College
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- Netter School of Medicine Quinnipiac University
- New York Medical College
- Rush University Medical College
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Stony Brook University School of Medicine
- Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
- Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine
- Texas Christian University, School of Medicine
- Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
- Tulane University School of Medicine (While not “required,” the university very strongly encourages you to take the Casper.)
- University of Colorado Denver Medical School
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
- University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine
- University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, McGovern Medical School
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Long School of Medicine
- University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine
- University of Texas Southwestern
- University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
What’s New This Cycle
Recent changes have taken place for the 2025/2026 Casper test cycles. There will now be less time to take the test, but there will also be fewer scenarios. (The number of scenarios will go down from 14 to 11.) These will consist of only four video-response sections and seven typed responses.
Both scenarios will have only two associated questions, compared to the typed responses, which used to have three. Each question will be scored individually, while the typed responses were previously scored as a whole.
These new changes differ from how you might normally approach your test prep, so be sure to take your time when preparing for the exam to understand and get comfortable with the new test format.
Preparation Tips
On your journey to prepare for med school, here is a concise list of preparation tips for the Casper exam:
- Understand the format. The Casper exam is a computer-based assessment that combines video-based scenarios and word-based questions to gauge applicants’ responses in real-world situations. The test format is structured to include a video response section and traditional word-based responses.
- Practice under timed conditions. The Casper exam typically takes approximately 65 to 85 minutes to complete without any scheduled breaks. You are given 3.5 minutes to type your responses to the questions in each section. Once the 3.5 minutes are up for that section, you cannot go back to revise your answers. Make sure to add a time limit when practicing.
- Improve typing speed. Since the exam is time-constrained, efficient typing can help you convey more comprehensive responses. Consider resources like typing.com to get speedier before you take Casper.
- Know what you need on test day. To participate in the Casper exam, you will need a reliable webcam and internet connection to access the platform, a government-issued photo ID, and confirmation of payment processing (all fees must be settled prior to accessing the test).
- Practice reflective thinking. Work on articulating your thoughts and ethical reasoning clearly and concisely.
- Review sample questions. Similar to when studying for the MCAT, you should explore Casper sample questions, webinars, and practice tests to get a feel for the types of scenarios you will encounter.
- Reflect on your experiences. Consider personal, educational, and professional experiences that have shaped your perspectives and ethics.
- Stay informed on current issues. Awareness of societal, ethical, and health-related issues can enrich your responses. For example, understanding how AI is impacting the medical community or advancements in diversity in medicine will help you anticipate questions or topics that will come up.
FAQs
Casper:
- Type: An online situational judgment test (SJT).
- Purpose: Assesses non-academic skills like ethics, communication, and empathy.
- Format: Consists of video and written scenarios followed by open-ended questions.
- Type: Another situational judgment test, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
- Purpose: Designed to evaluate pre-professional competencies important for medical school and healthcare success.
- Format: Presents written scenarios that medical school applicants might encounter, assessing responses to ethical dilemmas and communication challenges on a 4-point spectrum from “very ineffective” to “very effective.”
Duet:
- Type: An online tool that assesses compatibility between an applicant’s preferences and a program’s characteristics.
- Purpose: Helps medical schools understand how an applicant’s values align with their program’s culture and mission.
- Format: Applicants rate their preferences on various aspects of medical education and training environments. Programs do the same, allowing for a match in values and priorities.
Snapshot: No longer required for medical school admissions.
Preparing for the Casper test is unique because it assesses your personal attributes, rather than academic knowledge.
You don’t want to prepare at the last minute, but you also don’t need to study months in advance, like the MCAT. Follow our preparation tips above, and you’ll be ready to tackle the Casper!
The Casper exam is not scored based on correct or incorrect responses. Instead, raters from a diverse range of professions and backgrounds will score your responses between 1 (lowest) and 9 (highest). No single rater will rate more than one response. This limits any potential bias.
Your overall score from all raters is tallied and compared to other students who took the same Casper test. Based on this comparison, you will be assigned a quartile score, indicating the range of test-takers you outperformed:
- 1st Quartile: You scored lower than 75% of test-takers.
- 2nd Quartile: You scored lower than 50% of test-takers, but better than 25%.
- 3rd Quartile: You scored better than 50% of test-takers, but lower than 25%.
- 4th Quartile: You scored better than 75% of test-takers.
This quartile score is the only information you, as the test-taker, will receive. On the other hand, schools receive your exact percentile score, which is what Casper calls a “z-score.” This indicates how many standard deviations your performance was from the mean.
Casper test results are typically available to designated programs within approximately 2-3 weeks after taking the test.
The Casper test is offered on multiple dates throughout the year. The availability of test dates varies depending on the type of program you’re applying to (e.g. medical, nursing) and the geographical region or country.
Typically, there are over a dozen dates available in any given cycle. So if you miss your previously scheduled exam date, you can always reschedule. Just keep in mind that each program usually charges a fee.
If the missed date was the last opportunity for any of your distribution deadlines, you will need to contact your support line to get them removed before scheduling a new test.
Get Help to Boost Your Casper Performance
Effective Casper preparation starts with understanding the test format, practicing strategically, and reflecting on your personal and professional experiences.
Focus on enhancing critical thinking skills and communicating clearly under pressure, while tailoring your study plan to best suit your unique needs and schedule.
Learn how MedSchoolCoach can help you boost your Casper performance and prepare for any ethical scenarios that come your way.
Sahil Mehta MD
Dr. Mehta is the founder of MedSchoolCoach and has guided thousands of successful medical school applicants. He is also a practicing physician in Boston where he specializes in vascular and interventional radiology.
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