Whether you're applying to medical school, dental school, PA school, or another people-centered program, chances are you've heard of the CASPer test. Unlike traditional exams, CASPer isn't about memorizing facts or solving equations—it's designed to measure your social intelligence and professionalism through tough, real-world scenarios.
Because of its unconventional format, many students find the CASPer test confusing and even stressful. That's why we created this in-depth guide. Our goal is to offer a clear, concise roadmap for success - breaking down what the CASPer test is, and most importantly, explaining exactly how to craft high-performing responses that stand out from the crowd and demonstrate the qualities the test is trying to measure. We provide detailed examples at every step so you know exactly what to expect on the real CASPer exam and so you can see the theory in action.
Throughout this guide, we also highlight common CASPer mistakes and questions, and will link to valuable prep resources so you don't need to waste time scouring the internet for answers or prep materials. We've written this guide to be accessible for complete beginners, but feel free to navigate directly to the sections that are most helpful to you if you're already familiar with certain concepts.
CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test used by many medical and health science programs to evaluate "soft skills" - i.e. non-academic traits such as ethics, empathy, and communication. It was developed by Acuity Insights (formerly Altus Assessments) and is one component of the broader Altus Suite.
According to Acuity Insights, CASPer aims to evaluate skills that demonstrate social intelligence and professionalism—traits needed to thrive in academic and workplace environments that involve frequent human interaction.
Specifically, CASPer assesses the following 10 competencies:
Each question on the CASPer test is designed to assess one or more of these 10 competencies. In general, a question will focus on a primary competency and one or more secondary competencies. It's crucial to have a strong understanding of what each competency means in order to effectively demonstrate these qualities in your answers to CASPer questions.
First, it's important to understand the test format so you don't get caught off guard on test day. Before diving in, let's align on some basic terminology to avoid any confusion throughout the rest of the guide:
To illustrate, let's walk through an example question taken from our list of Casper practice questions:
Example CASPer Question
Scenario
Prompt 1
How would you approach balancing Alex's personal crisis with the team's professional obligations?
Response 1
I would...
Prompt 2
If you were to step in and help complete Alex's portion of the work, how would you ensure this doesn't create resentment or unfairness within the team?
Response 2
I would...
Source: 150+ Casper Practice Questions (Free) - CasperPractice.org
To keep our CASPer practice questions free, we use audio scenarios instead of video scenarios. The real CASPer test uses similar scenarios, but in video format.
The 2025 CASPer test consists of 11 total questions across two sections, grouped by response type:
Source: CasperPractice.org
Overall, the test takes approximately 65 to 85 minutes to complete, depending on break usage.
If you want to see what this looks like in an example practice test, check out our Free Casper Practice Tests - where you can find two full-length example practice tests in the 2025 format.
CASPer scenarios are delivered in either video or typed format. While there are differences between the two, they aren't so significant that you should be spending too much time worrying about them. In both cases, you should be trying to understand what competency the question is about and convey those qualities in your responses.
In general, video scenarios are more detailed and depict real-life situations, while typed scenarios are more vague and even abstract. Video scenarios are almost always associated with situational questions, while typed scenarios can be situational, personal, or another type of question (see the Question Types section for more).
| Feature | Video Scenarios | Typed Scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Short video clip (1–2 minutes) showing a real-life situation | Textual description (usually 1–2 sentences) outlining a situation or statement |
| Reflection Time | Optional 30 seconds after video before prompts | Optional 30 seconds after reading the text before prompts |
| Role Indication | Question will often define your role (e.g., friend, coworker) | Role is generally explicitly stated in the scenario, but not always |
| Associated Question Type | Usually situational | Situational, personal, or other |
| Common Focus Areas | Interpersonal conflict, ethical dilemmas, decision-making under pressure | Vague scenarios, personal values, past experiences, moral reasoning, and self-awareness |
| Key Points to Remember | Understand others' emotions, recognize dilemmas, propose realistic and ethical solutions | Interpret the text deeply, reflect on your personal stance or experience, and clearly justify your response |
| Example Scenario | You overhear your best friend's partner making disparaging remarks about your friend to someone else at a party. Your friend is not present and is unaware of these comments. |
Responses can also be in video or typed format. While the actual content of your answer shouldn't differ based on the format, each medium has its own unique considerations and tips for effective delivery. Naturally, video responses require attention to verbal and non-verbal communication, while typed responses focus more on writing speed and clarity.
Video responses are recorded using your computer's webcam. Communication is one of the competencies assessed by the CASPer and this is partly measured by how well you communicate your ideas in video answers. Here are some important considerations for video responses:
To avoid unexpected issues with video answers on test day, it's important to take the system requirements check on the Acuity website in the 6 hour window before your CASPer test.Learn more here.
Written communication is also an important aspect of communication, and you should be able to convey your thoughts clearly and concisely. Here are some important considerations for typed responses:
In both cases, it's important to simulate the real test environment as much as possible in your prep so that you're familiar with the format and time limits on test day.
The worst prep habit students tend to have is not practicing with a timer - this can lead you to freeze up and panic on test day and ultimately derail your performance. Always practice with a timer!
Before diving in, it's important to note that there is no such thing as a perfect answer to a CASPer question. Given the short time limit, it is entirely possible for two completely different answers to address the same question in completely different ways and receive a top score. This is part of what makes the CASPer so tricky, and is also why there is so much conflicting advice about how to answer CASPer questions online.
Frameworks like the ones shown below are like training wheels: they are systematic, repeatable ways of demonstrating basic ethical reasoning and the qualities that CASPer tests for. However, as you answer more and more practice questions, you will naturally expand your CASPer toolkit, and you should eventually feel free to add to or modify the frameworks wherever you see fit to adapt to the specific question you're answering.
CASPer test questions primarily focus on one of two types of scenarios: situational or personal. Situational questions present specific real-life situations and ask how you would respond, while personal questions explore your experiences and values. Although you may occasionally encounter other question types like policy or philosophical questions, these are relatively uncommon in comparison. Since CASPer is designed to assess professional judgment and interpersonal skills, situational and personal questions make up the vast majority of the test, with situational being most frequent. To maximize your preparation, we recommend focusing your practice primarily on these two core question types.
Below is a summary of both question types:
| Situational Questions | Personal Questions | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Presents a specific scenario and asks how you would handle it | Asks about your experiences, beliefs, and reflections |
| Focus | Ethical reasoning, problem solving, and professionalism | Self-awareness, personal growth, and values |
| Common Scenarios | Social group, workplace, school, community | Past experiences, quotes |
It is possible to have "mixed" questions, where a situational scenario is paired with a situational and a personal prompt, for example. In this case, you should answer each prompt using the appropriate framework (see below). For simplicity, this guide only deals with cases where both prompts aligned with the scenario - e.g. a situational scenario paired with two situational prompts.
Below is a side by side comparison of two example practice questions of each type from our comprehensive list of Casper practice questions:
Example CASPer Situational Question
Scenario
You are a manager at a small company. One of your employees, who is a single parent, frequently requests to leave work early to pick up their child from school due to a lack of reliable childcare. This has started to affect the team's productivity and morale.
Prompt 1
How would you handle the situation to ensure that the team's productivity is maintained while also being empathetic to the employee's needs?
Prompt 2
If other employees start expressing dissatisfaction due to perceived favoritism, how would you address their concerns?
Source: 150+ Casper Practice Questions (Free) - CasperPractice.org
Example CASPer Personal Question
Scenario
Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge or setback. How did you cope with the situation and what did you learn from the experience about resilience?
Prompt 1
What specific steps did you take to overcome the challenge or setback, and how did these actions demonstrate resilience?
Prompt 2
In what ways did this experience shape your understanding of your own resilience and ability to handle future obstacles?
Source: 150+ Casper Practice Questions (Free) - CasperPractice.org
When answering situational questions on the CASPer test, it's not enough to react to the scenario at face value. CASPer situations are often intentionally vague, one-sided and missing information. You need to demonstrate proactive ethical reasoning that goes beyond the facts introduced in the scenario. The CARE framework (Clarify, Ask, Recognize, Explore) helps you do exactly that.
Let's break down each step of the CARE framework in more detail and apply it to the first prompt in the example situational practice question above:
Start by explicitly summarizing the most important issue in the scenario. Often, the scenario will present multiple issues and you will have to prioritize them. Doing this signals to the grader that you understand the task at hand and sets sets the tone for the rest of the response. Generally, you can identify the core problem by asking the question "what will happen if I do nothing?" Whatever negative outcome will occur if left unchecked is the most pressing issue. Often there are multiple competing issues at hand and your job will be to frame this tension.
This opening statement is reinforced by explicitly identifying who seems to be the most vulnerable person(s) in the scenario - physically, emotionally, socially, or professionally. By anchoring your response to this person's wellbeing, you start off your response with sound ethical reasoning and a clear focus.
In this scenario, the core issue is balancing team productivity with supporting an employee facing childcare challenges. The most vulnerable person is the single parent employee, who is struggling to manage work responsibilities while caring for their child. This situation also impacts the broader team whose workflow and morale are being affected by the frequent early departures.
Before jumping to conclusions, gather every critical fact you don't yet know about the situation and describe precisely how you would obtain that information. Make sure to seek out any unexpected factors that could alter your understanding of the situation.
When feasible, conduct these inquiries privately to respect confidentiality and avoid unnecessary embarrassment. In your response, go beyond a generic request for more information by outlining the specific points and channels you would use—for example, meeting one-on-one with an individual, consulting internal records, or reviewing relevant policies—so that your plan for uncovering missing context is clear and actionable.
Before making any decisions, I would need to understand several key aspects of this situation. First, I would schedule a private one-on-one meeting with the employee to learn more about their specific childcare challenges - is this a temporary situation or ongoing? What support systems do they currently have in place? I would also consult HR to understand our company's policies regarding flexible work arrangements and family leave. Additionally, I would review team workflow documentation to identify which projects and deadlines are most impacted by the early departures. This information would help determine what accommodations might be feasible while maintaining team productivity.
The biggest mistake students make when answering situational questions is making assumptions based on the information provided in the scenario. CASPer situational questions are intentionally vague, one sided, or incomplete. You will need to ask for additional context to fully understand the situation.
A strong response demonstrates empathy by first identifying everyone directly involved and then considering those indirectly affected by your decision. Describe how each stakeholder experiences the core issue and what they stand to gain or lose. Highlight the needs of the most vulnerable parties while also acknowledging the responsibilities of those in positions of authority. This balanced perspective shows you understand the full human impact of the scenario and can weigh competing interests thoughtfully.
Looking at this situation from multiple angles, I need to consider several perspectives. The single parent employee is struggling to balance their professional responsibilities with being the sole caregiver for their child - this likely creates significant stress and financial pressure. Their team members may feel frustrated about having to take on extra work or adjust deadlines, which could impact morale and their own work-life balance. As a manager, I have responsibilities to both support my employee's wellbeing and ensure the team can meet its objectives. The broader organization also has interests in maintaining productivity while fostering an inclusive workplace that supports working parents. Most importantly, the wellbeing of the employee's child needs to be considered, as they require adequate care and supervision.
Once you have the necessary context, map out conditional pathways using clear If/Then logic, specifying how each piece of information will guide your next steps. For every outcome of your inquiries, compare the best- and worst-case scenarios to understand their ripple effects on those most at risk and the wider environment.
Ground your proposed actions in moral, legal, scientific, and policy considerations to ensure they are defensible and effective. Then present a categorical solution coupled with concrete tactics—such as revising processes, instituting checks, or offering targeted support—to address the core problem. Finally, when appropriate, embed measures for future prevention by recommending training, policy updates, or system redesigns that will stop similar issues from arising again.
Based on the information gathered, I would develop a tailored solution. If the childcare challenges are temporary, I would work with HR to explore short-term accommodations like flexible hours or remote work days. If it's an ongoing situation, I would consider more permanent solutions like adjusting their work schedule or implementing a hybrid arrangement. To maintain team productivity, I would reorganize project workflows - for instance, scheduling key meetings and collaborative work during the employee's core hours, and shifting independent tasks to times when they need to be with their child. I would also establish clear communication protocols so the team knows when and how to reach them during modified hours. To prevent similar challenges in the future, I would recommend reviewing our workplace policies around family support and flexible arrangements, potentially advocating for expanded childcare benefits or establishing formal flexible work guidelines. Throughout implementation, I would regularly check in with both the employee and team to ensure the solution is working effectively and make adjustments as needed.
If those example answers look unrealistically long, that's because they are! The purpose of this example is to demonstrate what a thorough answer looks like. Even if you won't have time to write a comprehensive answer like this, you should strive to have the same structure and considerations.
Personal CASPer test questions invite you to reveal who you are, not just what you'd do. They assess your self‑awareness and alignment with professional values. The ARC framework (Anecdote, Reflection, Connection) helps you tell a concise, compelling story that showcases your growth and suitability for your chosen field.
For personal questions, structure your response using this approach:
Let's break down each step of the ARC framework in more detail and apply it to the first prompt in the example personal practice question above:
Begin by briefly describing a real, personal situation that highlights the challenge or goal you faced. Keep the background concise—focus on the details that matter (who, what, when, where) so the reader immediately understands the context. If an obstacle or setback was involved, explain it clearly and show you took ownership of the situation.
After failing my organic chemistry midterm in my second year despite extensive studying, I knew I needed to change my approach. I had been relying on memorization rather than understanding core concepts. I met with my professor who helped identify gaps in my knowledge and suggested focusing on reaction patterns. I also joined a study group and attended weekly tutorials for additional practice. Through these changes in my study methods, I earned an A on the final exam and finished with a B+. This experience showed me that setbacks can drive positive change if we're willing to critically evaluate and adapt our approach.
This is the heart of your response. Discuss the concrete lessons you extracted and the competencies you demonstrated—leadership, adaptability, empathy, problem‑solving, or communication. If you're highlighting a personal mistake or weakness, show how you overcame it and what you did differently as a result. Use active language ("I learned," "I applied," "I improved") to demonstrate growth.
This experience taught me several important lessons about resilience and adaptability. First, I learned that initial failure doesn't define us - it's our response that matters. The process of analyzing my study methods showed me the importance of metacognition and being willing to critically examine our approaches when they're not working. Most importantly, I discovered that seeking help and being open to feedback, while sometimes uncomfortable, is essential for growth. This mindset shift from seeing failure as devastating to viewing it as feedback has stayed with me and helped me approach other challenges with greater emotional maturity and strategic thinking.
Close the loop by explaining how your experience and its lessons prepare you for a career in your chosen field. Tie specific skills you gained to professional competencies—whether that's teamwork in healthcare, analytical rigor in business, or creativity in education. This step shows that you're not just introspective, but also forward‑thinking and ready to contribute.
As a future physician, resilience will be crucial when facing challenging cases and complications. My experience learning to adapt my study approach and seek help demonstrates the growth mindset needed in medicine. The emotional maturity I gained - processing disappointment productively - will help me maintain composure under pressure. This reinforced that being a great doctor requires both knowledge and the humility to learn continuously from challenges.
Unlike traditional exams, the Casper test evaluates your performance <strong>relative to your peers</strong> who took the same version of the test at the same time you did. Each of your answers is reviewed by a different grader to eliminate bias and is evaluated on a 1-9 Likert scale. Then, your answer scores are averaged and your overall score is expressed as a percentile (source: Acuity Insights). This percentile score is delivered to the institutions you're applying to, but you as the test taker will only ever see your quartile score, that is:
Casper quartile results give institutions a window into applicants' non-cognitive strengths—qualities rather than a fixed pass/fail mark. Because each program values different attributes, there is no universal "passing" score - different institutions weigh the CASPer differently, so it's important to know the importance of the CASPer for the programs you're applying to and to prepare accordingly.
Graders have the option to flag your answers if they present any red flags, such as unethical, unprofessional, or unsafe behavior. These flags could be passed on to the institutions you're applying to along with your score. For this reason, it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid any behavior that could be considered unethical, unprofessional, or unsafe.
Example quartile score. Source: My Official Guide to Scoring 4th Quartile on CASPer, r/premed, Reddit
Many health-profession programs now require Casper as part of their admissions process, mostly in Canada, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. This includes nearly all Canadian medical schools (e.g., University of Toronto, McGill, UBC), a growing number of U.S. MD programs, and numerous nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physician-assistant, social-work, and education graduate programs. To see a full list of institutions that require the CASPer, check out our list of Schools That Require CASPer, where you can see all the different schools and programs that require the CASPer in 2025.
CASPer can feel daunting - but with the right prep, it's very manageable. Practice with realistic questions, get detailed feedback, and understand the grading criteria.
