How Is the Casper Test Scored? Quartiles, Z-Scores, and What Admissions Committees Actually See

One of the most stressful aspects of preparing for Casper is the uncertainty around its grading system. Unlike the MCAT, where you can check your percentile on the same day, Casper has a different approach to scoring. Gaining insight into how it works can actually enhance your performance.

This article will clarify how Casper is scored, what your quartile signifies, what information schools access, and how you can leverage this understanding to your benefit.

There Are No Right or Wrong Answers

The key point to grasp about Casper scoring is that it's not a test of knowledge. There’s no set answer key. Raters aren’t searching for a single correct response; instead, they’re assessing the quality of your reasoning, empathy, professionalism, and how well you can articulate a thoughtful stance under pressure.

Two different candidates might approach the same scenario in unique ways, and both can score well, provided their answers exhibit sound ethical reasoning, genuine consideration for everyone involved, and effective communication.

This realization can feel freeing. You’re not looking for the "right" answer. Instead, you’re showing who you are when confronted with a challenging situation.

Who Actually Grades Your Responses?

Every scenario on your Casper test is evaluated by a different trained human rater. It’s important to note that this is not done by an algorithm, nor is the same person reviewing your entire test. Additionally, none of the raters are affiliated with the schools to which you’re applying.

• Diverse Representation: Acuity Insights deliberately selects raters from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. This approach ensures that your answers are assessed through the lens of a broad spectrum of professionals, rather than being influenced by the biases of a single evaluator with a specific perspective.
• Standardized Certification: Before they begin scoring, all raters undergo a comprehensive training and certification program. They are educated on the standardized evaluation criteria, practice with sample responses, and must show consistent scoring ability before they can assess real applicants.
• Anonymized Evaluations: It’s crucial to understand that each rater sees only one of your responses. They do not have access to how you responded to any other scenario, cannot compare your answers against yourself, and don’t possess any identifying information — no name, no school affiliation, and no country of origin. Each evaluation is conducted in a blind and independent manner.

The 1–9 Scoring Scale

Raters assess each response using a Likert scale from 1 to 9, with 1 indicating a poor response and 9 indicating an excellent one. In their evaluations, they concentrate on several distinct components:

• Ethical reasoning: Does the applicant recognize the ethical dimensions of the situation?
• Empathy: Does the response show genuine understanding of how others are affected?
• Professionalism: Is the tone and approach appropriate for a health professional?
• Communication: Is the response clear, coherent, and well-structured within the time limit?
• Multiple perspectives: Does the applicant consider the needs of all stakeholders, not just the most obvious party?
• Self-awareness: Does the applicant reflect honestly on their own role and limitations?

Raters are instructed to focus on the ideas you present rather than on spelling, grammar, or how quickly you type. The essence of your reasoning is what counts, not the polish of your writing. A response that may be incomplete but offers solid reasoning in the early part will outperform a well-written response that lacks depth or originality.

How Your Score Is Calculated: From Raw Scores to Z-Scores

Once all your responses have been evaluated, Acuity Insights compiles the ratings from each reviewer and determines your overall performance score. This score is then converted into a z-score, which is a statistical measure.

A z-score indicates how far, in terms of standard deviations, your score is from the average score of all participants who completed the same test on the same date. This process of standardization helps to level the playing field by adjusting for variations in test sessions—so if one session had particularly strong candidates, the z-score ensures that your score can still be fairly compared with those from other test sessions.

What Schools Receive

Admissions committees receive your z-score, which offers a clear numerical indication of your performance. This means schools have a much more detailed view of your achievements compared to what you might perceive. For example, a 3rd-quartile result could stem from a variety of scores within a broad spectrum, but the school knows precisely where you fall in that spectrum relative to every other applicant.

This detail is crucial because two candidates who both end up in the 3rd quartile may be evaluated quite differently by the same admissions committee, based on their exact z-scores.

What You Receive: The Quartile Ranking

Approximately 4–6 weeks after your test date, you will receive your quartile ranking — the only score you can see as an applicant. The four quartiles are defined as follows:

Your quartile is determined by looking at your z-score in relation to all other applicants who took the same Casper test type on the same day and time as you. This means that your score is always relative, rather than absolute. There isn't a specific score that will ensure you end up in the 4th quartile; it all comes down to how your performance stacks up against the other applicants who were with you (virtually) during that testing session.

When Do Schools See Your Score vs. When Do You?

The Casper timeline is undeniably one of the most crucial — and often nerve-racking — elements of your application journey. Typically, schools get your z-score before you even see your quartile. This means that admissions committees might be deciding on interview invitations while you're still waiting to learn about your performance.

If you're applying to schools with Casper deadlines in the fall, your score could impact your interview offer well before December, all while you won't see your quartile for several weeks.

The key takeaway here is clear: don’t wait for your score to start thinking about your preparation. Every test date should be treated as a high-stakes chance, so prepare diligently. By the time you find out how you did, the decisions may have already been finalized.

What Is a "Good" Casper Score?

Most programs don’t openly disclose a minimum Casper score required for interview offers. Instead, schools incorporate Casper as part of a comprehensive review process, considering it alongside GPA, MCAT or GAMSAT scores, reference letters, and other application materials.

That said, the consensus among admissions consultants and data from competitive applicants is:

• 4th Quartile is the target for competitive programs, particularly top Canadian and Australian medical schools.
• 3rd Quartile is generally considered acceptable at many programs and will not disqualify an otherwise strong application.
• 2nd Quartile may be workable at some programs but is a liability at highly competitive schools.
• 1st Quartile is widely considered a significant red flag and can result in rejection regardless of other application strengths.

Some programs have set Casper scores as a clear benchmark. Take the University of Notre Dame Australia, for example: during the 2026/27 cycle, a strong Casper result plays a significant role in determining interview rankings. Essentially, excelling in Casper can enhance your likelihood of being invited for an MMI.

Can You Retake Casper?

Yes, but keep in mind that Casper retakes aren’t limitless—they’re based on the admissions cycle and the specific programs you’re targeting. Generally, you can’t just retake the test multiple times within the same application cycle, and different schools have their own policies that can vary quite a bit.

Here’s a quick rundown of standard constraints:

• Most candidates are allowed just one Casper attempt per admissions cycle.
• Some programs only look at your latest score, while others let you choose between your valid scores.
• The availability for retakes really depends on the rules of the individual program; there’s no one-size-fits-all Casper guideline.
• There’s usually a strict cancellation window, often around 48 hours before the test, after which you can’t get a refund or dynamic rescheduling.