How Is the Casper Test Scored

The Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (Casper) test is a situational judgement test required by many professional schools for admission. This includes programs such as optometry, dentistry, physician’s assistant, physiotherapy, and medical schools. Depending on the institution, the Casper test result is weighed differently; however, it still plays an important role in admission decisions and adequate preparation should be made to increase your chances of being accepted. Therefore, it is best to figure out how the test works and what result you should be aiming for. In this article, we will cover how the Casper exam is scored and what defines a good Casper score.

What Is the Test Structure?

The 2024-2025 Casper is a 90–110-minute test of 14 components. These 14 components are divided into two sections in the following order:

1. Video Response Section consisting of 6 components (4 video-based scenarios and 2 word-based scenarios that are in random order). During this section, the test-taker gets 1 minute each to record themselves on their webcam and verbally answer 3 questions pertaining to each prompt.
    
2. Typed Response Section consisting of 8 components (5 video-based scenarios and 3 word-based scenarios that are in random order). During this section, the test-taker has 5 minutes to type their answer to 3 questions pertaining to each prompt.

For more information on what to expect on your Casper test day, read our article here.

I. Who Actually Scores Casper and How Many Raters See Your Answers?

Casper is evaluated by trained human raters, not automated systems. Acuity Insights recruits and accredits independent scorers who assess responses using standardized rubrics focused on competencies such as ethical reasoning, empathy, professionalism, and communication. Importantly, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers on Casper, responses are judged on the quality of reasoning, thoughtfulness, and how well applicants demonstrate these competencies. To ensure everyone is evaluated fairly, each scenario is scored by a different rater, meaning no evaluator reviews your full test or forms an overall impression of you as a candidate. Raters are blinded to all identifying information and see only the response assigned to them. Scores from each scenario are then standardized and aggregated, with applicants receiving Casper quartile scores that reflect their performance relative to others who completed the same test. Programs receive standardized results rather than individual responses, reinforcing a scoring process designed to be balanced, anonymous, and methodologically consistent.

How Is the Test Scored?

The test format contains 14 scenarios altogether, and each scenario is reviewed by a different person. However, evaluators only assign a score to the first 9 scenarios in the first section, which requires typed responses. Feedback and results are currently not provided for the video-recorded responses in the second section. The evaluators come from a variety of professions and backgrounds, and they do not receive any information about your personal or educational background when evaluating.

Generally, the evaluators must assign each scenario a mark out of 9 (1 being poor, and 9 being satisfactory), meaning the three questions pertaining to the same scenario are marked holistically instead of assigning a separate mark to each of the three questions. This means that even though there are three questions for each scenario, each of the three questions is not assigned 3 points. Instead, the entire scenario is marked as a whole. This means that not only are the evaluators reviewing your responses to each question, but they are also accounting for other aspects such as how you present yourself, the sense of empathy and equity that you demonstrate through your responses, your communication skills, and the amount of effort you are putting into your responses. For instance, an attempt at a more challenging question within the three presented questions may impact your performance more positively, compared to skipping a challenging question entirely. Therefore, answering all three questions will not necessarily guarantee you a higher mark, while leaving a question blank will not necessarily result in a lower mark. Based on your overall performance, evaluators will rate your personal and professional skills and knowledge relative to other applicants that also took the Casper test on the same day and time. This means your score on the Casper test will depend on how others do in comparison to you, and do not represent the number of "right" or "wrong" answers.

If an answer is deemed by the evaluator as one that does not align with the professional and ethical standards they believe the test-taker should have based on standardized criteria, it will be flagged. However, evaluators must also provide a reason for any flagged responses, which is then reviewed by the admissions committee. If an applicant’s responses are flagged too many times, it may be deemed unacceptable by the admissions committee. Note that each scenario may have multiple “correct” or acceptable answers, but being flagged means that the test-taker may have demonstrated an unethical, unprofessional or potentially harmful approach to the presented scenario. This may suggest that the candidate is lacking the critical thinking skills and ability to deal with similar situations in their potential future healthcare profession. Therefore, be sure to think carefully when answering the prompts and provide strong, valid reasoning to back up your responses.

II. When Do You Get Results and What Is Sent to Schools?

After you click “submit” on your Casper test, there’s a bit of a suspenseful pause. First, your responses are scored by trained human evaluators (remember: there are no “right” or “wrong” answers, such as testing your medical knowledge, as raters are judging the quality of your reasoning and professionalism relative to other test takers responses, not looking for specific factual solutions).

Once your Casper test is scored, it is sent to every school on your distribution list, usually about 2-3 weeks after your test date. This happens without you needing to upload anything manually, and it is one of those steps no one sees except the admissions offices themselves.

For you, the moment of truth comes a bit later. Around 4 to 5 weeks after testing, your Casper quartile score, a relative ranking that shows how you performed compared to all other test‑takers in your cohort, becomes visible in your Acuity Insights account. You’ll typically receive an email notification when your quartile is ready to view, and logging in lets you see your performance grouped into one of the four quartiles (e.g., third quartile means you scored in the top 50% of test‑takers).

So in short: Casper scores are reported to your schools first, about 2-3 weeks after you take the test, and then you see your quartile score a couple of weeks later. That means your application is complete and being assessed at the programs you care about long before you even see your own score, a design that helps admissions offices move forward without delay.
III. What Triggers a Red Flag (With Examples)?

A common red flag in Casper responses is failing to recognize harm or ethical concerns that could be avoided by completing practice tests! For example, dismissing a colleague’s inappropriate comment as “not a big deal” or choosing to ignore unsafe behaviour shows a lack of responsibility and insight. Another red flag is extreme or unrealistic actions, such as immediately reporting someone to authorities without first gathering information or considering less escalatory steps when appropriate.

Poor empathy also stands out during the exam. Responses that blame individuals, minimize emotional distress, or show indifference, such as telling a stressed peer to “just deal with it”, suggest limited interpersonal skills. Similarly, self-centred reasoning, where decisions are made solely to protect oneself rather than balancing fairness, safety, and compassion, can raise concerns.

Finally, lack of reflection or accountability is a major red flag. For instance, refusing feedback, assuming malicious intent without evidence, or failing to consider multiple perspectives suggests rigidity. Strong Casper responses acknowledge complexity, demonstrate empathy, prioritize safety, and show a willingness to reflect, qualities that medical schools are actively looking for.

IV. What Is a Competitive Score by Program Type?

If you’re preparing for the Casper exam, one of the most common (and stressful) questions amongst Casper test takers is: what score is actually competitive? While Casper doesn’t release raw scores or cutoffs, results are reported in quartiles on your Acuity Insights account, showing how you performed relative to other applicants taking the test on the same date. In general, scoring in the top half, especially the third or fourth quartile, is considered competitive across most programs that require the test.

For medical school applicants, where the Casper test is often used as part of a holistic review, a fourth quartile score is ideal and signals strong ethical reasoning, empathy, and professionalism compared to peers. A third quartile score is still viewed as solid and competitive, particularly when paired with strong academics and experiences. Lower quartiles may not automatically disqualify an applicant, but they can raise concerns in highly competitive admissions pools.

If you’re unsure which programs require Casper and how widely it’s used, you can find a comprehensive, up-to-date list here: Which Schools Require the Casper Test.

V. Missed or Blank Answers: Does It Hurt?

Running out of time on Casper happens more often than you’d think, and yes, leaving an answer blank can hurt, but it’s not the end of the world. Casper is all about showing how you think, and when a response is left empty, raters simply have nothing to evaluate. That question is usually scored very low, which can slightly drag down your overall result.

The good news is that Casper is made up of many scenarios, each scored by different raters, so one missed response won’t sink your entire test. If you want more information on how to improve your test scores, check out our article here!

When Do You Get Results and What Is Sent to Schools?

After you click “submit” on your Casper test, there’s a bit of a suspenseful pause. First, your responses are scored by trained human evaluators (remember: there are no “right” or “wrong” answers, such as testing your medical knowledge, as raters are judging the quality of your reasoning and professionalism relative to other test takers responses, not looking for specific factual solutions).

Once your Casper test is scored, it is sent to every school on your distribution list, usually about 2-3 weeks after your test date. This happens without you needing to upload anything manually, and it is one of those steps no one sees except the admissions offices themselves.

For you, the moment of truth comes a bit later. Around 4 to 5 weeks after testing, your Casper quartile score, a relative ranking that shows how you performed compared to all other test‑takers in your cohort, becomes visible in your Acuity Insights account. You’ll typically receive an email notification when your quartile is ready to view, and logging in lets you see your performance grouped into one of the four quartiles (e.g., third quartile means you scored in the top 50% of test‑takers).

So in short: Casper scores are reported to your schools first, about 2-3 weeks after you take the test, and then you see your quartile score a couple of weeks later. That means your application is complete and being assessed at the programs you care about long before you even see your own score, a design that helps admissions offices move forward without delay.

What Is a Good Test Score?

Although the evaluators assign each scenario a raw score from 1 to 9, the test-takers will only receive quartile scores around one month after their test date. Because your performance is rated relative to others that tested on the same day and time as you, your score will be presented relatively, in the form of a quartile score. The quartile score indicates the percentage of other test-takers that you scored higher than, and compares your performance to other test-takers.

For example, if you are in the first quartile, this means that you are within the 25th percentile compared to other test-takers. In other words, you scored lower than 75% of other test-takers. If you are in the second quartile, you are in the 50th percentile, which means you scored better than 25% of other test-takers (in the first quartile), but lower than test-takers in the third and fourth quartiles. Similarly, being in the third quartile means you performed better than at least 50% of other test-takers, but worse than 25% of other test-takers. Lastly, being in the fourth quartile means you performed better than at least 75% of other test-takers (those in the first to third quartiles) that took the Casper test on the same day and time as you.

It’s safe to say that scoring in the 3rd or 4th quartile lands you a solid spot within the application cycle. However, note that each institution weighs the Casper test differently in their selection process and admission decisions, so do not let a lower quartile score prevent you from applying to a certain program or school. As mentioned previously, the Casper test measures a variety of different factors aside from just your responses, including empathy, equity, communication and effort. As long as your GPA is competitive and you have other extracurriculars or achievements that align with the school’s expectations and requirements, it would still be worth trying to apply.

VI. Practical Scoring-Aligned Tips

To score well on Casper, focus less on sounding perfect and more on showing how you think. Clearly acknowledge the ethical issue or conflict, identify the people involved, and explain your reasoning step by step to exemplify your interpersonal skills. Raters are looking for insight, not rehearsed answers, which can be built through completing Casper test prep!

Empathy matters during the exam! Even in time-pressured responses, briefly recognize emotions or perspectives before jumping to action. At the same time, avoid extreme or punitive solutions, prioritize safety, fairness, and professionalism while showing a willingness to gather more information.

Finally, keep your responses structured and concise. A short, well-organized answer that demonstrates reflection and accountability will always score better than a long but unfocused one.

Conclusion

Casper is not about finding the “right” answer; it’s about demonstrating sound judgment, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making under pressure. By understanding how responses are scored and what raters look for, applicants can focus on clear reasoning, professionalism, and reflection. Ultimately, strong Casper performance comes from showing how you think, not just what you would do.

VII. FAQ

Q: Who evaluates CASPer answers?

A: Trained human raters score Casper responses.

Q: How many questions can I leave blank without failing?

A: There’s no fail cutoff, but blanks lower your score.

Q: When will I see my CASPer results?

A: About 2–3 weeks after the test.

Q: Can I retake CASPer if I’m unhappy with my score?

A: Not in the same application cycle.

Q: Do grammar mistakes lower my score?

Minor errors don’t matter if your meaning is clear.