March 21, 2025
Written By
Zach French
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A fast-paced, high-pressure test with no multiple choice, no content to study, and real-life ethical scenarios you can’t fake your way through. If you’re staring at this screen wondering how the heck you’re supposed to study for the CASPer test, you’re not alone.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the CASPer test for medical school. We’ll cover what it is, why schools care about it, and how to prepare. We’ll even let you take a peek behind the curtain with sample scenarios.
And if you don’t want to go through this alone, then don’t. At Premed Catalyst, we offer application advising and mentorship that walks you through the entire process, including CASPer test prep. And it works. For the 2024–2025 cycle, our on-time applicants have had a 100% acceptance rate.
Book a free strategy session now and make sure this one test doesn’t become the thing that sinks your shot at med school.
The CASPer test is a situational judgment test. Translation: they throw you into 11 made-up ethical dilemmas and expect you to type out how you'd respond with empathy, integrity, and common sense.
CASPer is fast-paced. Each scenario gives you just a few moments to absorb the prompt, and then you’ve got 3.5 minutes to type out thoughtful answers to two tough, real-world questions. And no, ChatGPT isn’t going to save you here. It’s proctored.
Some med schools barely glance at it. Others treat it like gospel. The problem is, you won’t always know which is which. So, if CASPer is required anywhere you’re applying, it’s not optional.
The CASPer test isn’t trying to see how smart you are. It’s trying to see what kind of person you are when things get tough. Med schools use it to figure out if you’re the kind of future doctor patients, colleagues, and communities can trust, not just someone who knows the textbook.
Here’s what CASPer is really measuring:
Underneath it all are four ethical principles that show up constantly in CASPer scenarios:
Let’s talk scores because, yes, CASPer is graded.
As of 2022, Acuity Insights (the people behind CASPer) stopped revealing exactly how they score you. What you do get is a single number: your quartile. That’s it. No breakdowns, no question-by-question feedback, no idea which answers you crushed it and which answers you flopped.
So, what counts as a “good” score? Third or fourth quartile. If you land in the top half, you’re competitive. Anything lower might raise some red flags, especially at schools that care a lot about CASPer.
And here’s the kicker: you won’t even see your own score until weeks after you’ve taken the test, and even then, it’s just your quartile. Med schools, on the other hand, get the full report. They see the breakdown. They know how you performed on each section. You don’t.
No sugarcoating: CASPer is a mental sprint. The 2025–2026 format clocks in at around 65 to 85 minutes, depending on how long you take with optional breaks. You’ve got to be ready to think fast, type faster, and stay sharp the entire time.
The test includes 11 scenarios total, split into two sections:
Each scenario is designed to drop you into a situation that’s messy, morally gray, or socially awkward. You don’t need medical knowledge. You need character, perspective, and the ability to balance compassion with responsibility, all under pressure.
Pro tip: There are also two optional breaks. A 10-minute break after the video section and a 5-minute breather after the first half of the typed section. Use them.
CASPer test dates aren’t one-size-fits-all. They depend on which schools you’re applying to. Every program has its own deadline, and if you miss it? That’s it. Your app’s incomplete, and you’re out.
Take Stony Brook’s med school as an example. For the 2025 admissions cycle, they’ve got multiple CASPer test dates spread across the year. Sounds like you have plenty of opportunity, right? But here’s the catch: you’ve got to register early enough to match their specific deadline. And they don’t send reminders. It’s on you.
So, don’t wait until the last minute. Check your schools’ CASPer deadlines now, and lock in your spot. The earlier you take it, the more time you’ll have to focus on the rest of your app.
You only get one chance per application cycle to take the CASPer test for each program type. That’s it.
Each CASPer score is tied to a specific application cycle and test type (like U.S. MD/DO, Canadian med, etc.). You can’t transfer scores between programs or countries, and you definitely can’t reuse an old score just because you liked how you did.
Med schools don’t see your raw answers. What they do get is a detailed report that ranks you against everyone else who took that version of the test. Then they stack that up next to your GPA, MCAT, secondaries, and letters to decide if you’re worth an interview.
Taking the CASPer test isn’t free, and it adds up fast if you’re applying to multiple schools.
Here’s what it costs:
Need to reschedule? If it’s within 30 days of your test or after you’ve confirmed your slot, expect to pay a rescheduling fee. And here’s the kicker: everything is non-refundable. No exceptions. Change your mind, miss your test, or mess up your booking? That money’s gone.
For the 2025–2026 application cycle, numerous U.S. medical schools require CASPer as part of the admissions process. Some also require or recommend Duet, an assessment that evaluates how well your values align with a program's mission.
Here’s a list of U.S. MD programs that require CASPer:
Remember, requirements can change, so always verify with each school's admissions office.
Let’s get this straight: you can’t study for CASPer the way you studied for the MCAT. There are no flashcards, no equations, no content to memorize. But that doesn’t mean you walk in blind.
CASPer is a test of judgment, professionalism, and how well you think on your feet. It’s a pressure test for your values, communication, and emotional intelligence. So no, you don’t “study” for it. You train for it.
Here are 8 CASPer strategies that actually make a difference:
The heart of the CASPer test is how you respond to real-world scenarios. The more scenarios you’ve seen, the better your instincts will be when it’s time to respond. Below are three classic CASPer-style situations. Use them to train your brain and your judgment for test day.
You’re waiting at the gate. The airline announces pre-boarding for passengers with disabilities. A young, healthy-looking couple steps forward. A woman behind you mutters, “Unbelievable,” and nudges you for agreement: “You see what I mean, right?” The couple hears it and looks visibly uncomfortable.
What CASPer wants to know: Will you stay silent? Escalate? Or defuse the situation with empathy and maturity?
Strong response:
You might say, “Not all disabilities are visible,” to shut down judgment without creating drama. That shows awareness and emotional control.
Or you could add nuance: “Asking for proof would create more harm than good. Many conditions aren’t obvious, and air travel isn’t exactly predictable. Barriers like that punish people who already struggle.”
Bonus move: Share a real story. Maybe you once stood up for a friend with a chronic illness who faced a similar moment of doubt or judgment. That adds authenticity and shows you’ve lived the values you’re talking about.
You’re walking home when you notice a young woman ahead being followed by a man yelling at her. His tone’s aggressive. She looks nervous.
What CASPer wants to know: Do you freeze, overreact, or step in thoughtfully?
Strong response:
You might walk up casually and say, “Hey! I’ve been looking for you,” giving her a way out without escalating the situation. That shows you understand safety, subtlety, and human dynamics.
If things don’t calm down? You stay with her, walk to a public place, and make sure she feels safe. Your role is to be a calm protector not a hero, not a hothead.
Real-world angle: Maybe you once helped a classmate mid-panic attack and kept them grounded, walked them out, gave them space. That experience proves you know how to stay calm under pressure and help someone feel seen and supported.
You’re co-running a startup. One of your partners, Rick, has been dropping the ball. Investors are frustrated. Your other partner wants to force him out.
What CASPer wants to know: Do you jump to conclusions or act like a real leader?
Strong response:
Start with a direct, private conversation. Figure out what’s going on before making assumptions. If Rick’s facing personal challenges show empathy but set boundaries.
If the issues continue? Set clear expectations and deadlines. If things still don’t improve, restructuring might be necessary. Business needs don’t disappear just because someone’s going through something personal.
Add your real-life version: Maybe you dealt with a class project where someone ghosted the group. Instead of venting, you reached out, clarified roles, and helped them get back on track or made the hard call to move forward without them.
If you’ve looked into the Acuity Insights Suite, you’ve probably seen more than just CASPer on the list. Two other tools, Duet and Snapshot, might show up depending on where you apply. Here’s what each one actually is, what it measures, and whether you should care.
Here’s the truth: how much the CASPer test matters depends on the school. For some med programs, CASPer is just another data point, something they glance at after your MCAT and GPA. For others? It’s a dealbreaker. If your score’s low, you’re not getting that interview. End of story.
The frustrating part? Most schools won’t tell you how much weight they give it. But behind the scenes, CASPer is often used as a screening tool, a way to weed out applicants before interview invites go out. Especially at schools getting thousands of applications, CASPer helps them filter for professionalism, empathy, and maturity before they ever meet you.
So how much does it matter? Enough that a bad CASPer performance can quietly kill your app. Enough that a strong one can tip the scales when everything else is equal.
You’ve come too far to get tripped up by a test that doesn’t even ask science questions. But that’s exactly what happens to so many premeds. They nail the MCAT, crush their GPA, and then stumble on CASPer because they didn’t have a plan.
At Premed Catalyst, we’re not just here to help you pass a test. We mentor you through the entire application process. From school selection to personal statement reviews to CASPer and interview prep, we work with you to build a complete, standout application.
Book a free strategy call. We only take on four students per month, and those spots go fast.