What is CASPer?

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an online situational judgment test used by a growing number of medical schools, PA programs, and other health professions programs as part of their admissions process. Unlike the MCAT, which tests your academic knowledge, CASPer evaluates your personal and professional qualities: empathy, ethics, communication, problem-solving, and self-awareness.

The test takes about 90 to 110 minutes and presents you with a series of scenarios (video-based and text-based) followed by open-ended questions. There are no right or wrong answers. The test is scored by human raters who evaluate your reasoning, maturity, and ability to consider multiple perspectives.

Which schools require CASPer?

The number of schools requiring CASPer has grown steadily. As of the 2025-2026 cycle, over 50 medical schools in the US and Canada require or consider CASPer scores. The list changes annually, so we recommend checking the official list at Acuity Insights (the company that administers CASPer) for the most current requirements.

Important
Check CASPer requirements early. The test must be taken before or during the application cycle, and some schools have specific deadlines. Registration and available test dates can fill up.

How CASPer works

The test has two sections:

Video-based scenarios: You watch a short video depicting a situation (a workplace conflict, an ethical dilemma, a patient interaction) and then answer three open-ended questions. You have 5 minutes total to type your responses.

Word-based scenarios: You read a short text describing a situation and answer three open-ended questions with the same 5-minute time limit.

There are typically 9 video sections and 6 word sections (15 total), though this may vary. Each section is scored independently by a different rater, so one weak response does not affect your other scores.

How to prepare

CASPer is not a test you can cram for, but you can prepare effectively. The goal is not to memorize answers but to practice structured ethical reasoning.


Understand the scoring

Raters evaluate your ability to identify stakeholders, consider multiple perspectives, propose thoughtful actions, and communicate clearly. They are not looking for a single correct answer.

Practice ethical frameworks

Familiarize yourself with basic ethical principles: autonomy (respecting individual choice), beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), and justice (fairness). You do not need to name these explicitly, but reasoning through scenarios using these lenses helps structure your responses.

Do timed practice scenarios

Acuity Insights offers a free practice test on their website. Use it. The 5-minute time limit per section is tight, and practicing under timed conditions builds comfort. Several free YouTube channels also post sample CASPer scenarios with discussion.

Reflect on your own experiences

Many CASPer questions ask how you would handle a situation or ask you to reflect on a time you faced a similar challenge. Having a few genuine personal experiences in mind (conflicts with teammates, ethical dilemmas, times you made mistakes) helps you respond authentically rather than generically.

Type efficiently

Your responses are typed, and you have limited time. Practice typing your thoughts clearly and concisely. You do not need to write essays; 3 to 5 sentences per question is usually sufficient.

Common mistakes

Warning
Do not try to give the “right” answer. CASPer raters are trained to identify responses that sound rehearsed, overly idealistic, or one-sided. The strongest responses acknowledge complexity, consider different viewpoints, and show genuine reasoning.

Other common mistakes include: writing too little (one-sentence answers do not demonstrate your thinking), being judgmental about characters in scenarios (avoid moralizing), and focusing only on what you would do without explaining why.

What about the AAMC PREview exam?

PREview is a separate situational judgment test developed by the AAMC. While CASPer is third-party, PREview is integrated into the AMCAS application. A smaller but growing number of schools use PREview scores. See our AAMC PREview Exam Guide for specific preparation strategies.

Next steps

Check whether your target schools require CASPer or PREview (or both). Register early, take the free practice test, and spend 2 to 3 weeks practicing scenario responses before your test date. This is not a test that rewards extensive preparation, but going in blind is a mistake.

Related pages

AAMC PREview Exam Guide
Traditional Interview Preparation
MMI Preparation

Last verified: March 2026