What is the CASPer test for Canadian medical schools?

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test used by approximately 85% of Canadian medical schools for admissions. The test assesses non-cognitive skills like ethics, empathy, communication, and professionalism. The test is administered by Altus Assessments, 3-4 times per year at test centers across Canada. Most applicants take the test in the year before their intended medical school entry (Altus Assessments, September 2026; AFMC, September 2026).

How is the CASPer test scored?

CASPer is scored in 4 quartiles based on the applicant's performance relative to all test-takers in the same test cycle: Q1 (top 25%), Q2 (50-75%), Q3 (25-50%), Q4 (bottom 25%). Median is Q2-Q3. Medical schools receive the quartile score, not the raw score. Some schools (e.g., McMaster, Queen's) accept all quartiles; others (e.g., Toronto, Ottawa) filter at Q3+ for interview consideration. The test is only one component of admissions - GPA, MCAT, and interview matter as much (Altus Assessments, September 2026).

What is the CASPer test format?

CASPer has 12 sections: 8 video-based scenarios (5 minutes prep + 5 minutes response each) and 4 typed scenarios (5 minutes prep + 10 minutes response each). Total: 90-110 minutes. The video scenarios test response speed and verbal communication; the typed scenarios test written communication. The test is unproctored after the initial login. Cost: CAD $100 base + CAD $15 per school score (Altus Assessments, September 2026).

Which Canadian medical schools require CASPer?

Approximately 85% of Canadian medical schools require CASPer in 2026, including: University of Toronto, McMaster, Ottawa, Queen's, Western (Schulich), Dalhousie, McGill, Calgary, Alberta, UBC, Manitoba, NOSM, Saskatchewan, and Memorial. Medical schools NOT requiring CASPer are largely francophone schools (Montreal, Laval, Sherbrooke) that use the French-language equivalent (MACA). The full list is on the Altus Assessments website (Altus, AFMC, September 2026).

What is a good CASPer score?

Q1 (top 25%) is the best CASPer score. Q2 (50-75%) is above average. Q3 (25-50%) is below average. Q4 (bottom 25%) is the lowest. For competitive medical schools (Toronto, McMaster, UBC), Q2-Q1 is recommended. For less competitive schools, Q3 may still receive interview consideration. The median CASPer score across all test-takers in 2025 was Q2-Q3. Less than 5% of test-takers score Q4 (Altus Assessments, September 2026).

How should I prepare for CASPer?

CASPer preparation should include: (1) Practice 10+ scenarios from the official Altus practice tests; (2) For each scenario, outline 3 key points before responding (ethics, empathy, professionalism); (3) Practice under time pressure (5 minutes per video response, 10 minutes per typed response); (4) Don't memorize answers - CASPer detects prepared responses and downscores them; (5) Demonstrate empathy by acknowledging multiple perspectives; (6) Use a clear structure: issue, stakeholders, options, recommendation; (7) Take the test alone in a quiet room with a working webcam. Altus recommends 4-6 weeks of preparation for first-time test-takers (Altus Assessments, September 2026).

CA CASPer Scoring 2026: Medical Admissions

Published September 13, 2026 - Toronto, Ontario. CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is used by ~85% of Canadian medical schools for admissions. Format: 12 sections (8 video + 4 typed), 90-110 minutes. Scored in 4 quartiles (Q1 best, Q4 lowest). Cost CAD $100 + CAD $15 per school score. Administered by Altus Assessments 3-4 times per year (Altus, AFMC, September 2026).

Data last verified September 13, 2026 from Altus Assessments, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), and the medical schools that require CASPer in Canada.

Quick Answer

CA CASPer test 2026: 12 sections (8 video, 4 typed), 90-110 min. Used for ~85% of Canadian medical schools. Scoring in 4 quartiles (Q1 best). Prep: practice 10+ scenarios, 5 minutes each. Altus Assessments administers (CASPer, Altus, September 2026).

Format

8 video scenarios (5 minutes prep + response each) + 4 typed scenarios (5 minutes prep + 10 minutes response each). Total: 90-110 minutes. Cost CAD $100 + CAD $15 per school score (Altus, September 2026).

Scoring

CASPer is scored in 4 quartiles (Q1 best, Q4 lowest). Median is Q2-Q3. Most schools accept Q1-Q4 but some filter at Q3+. The test is only one component of admissions - GPA, interview, and extracurriculars matter as much (CASPer, September 2026).

Prep tips

Practice 10+ scenarios online (Altus provides sample tests). For each scenario, outline 3 key points before responding. Demonstrate empathy, professionalism, and ethics. Practice under time pressure (5 minutes per response). Don't memorize answers (CASPer detects prepared responses) (Altus, September 2026).

Next steps

For nursing exams, see our CA NCLEX-RN pass rate guide and our CA RHIP/CHRP guide.

Additional Context 1

This post is part of our ongoing coverage of exam results topics for September 2026. The data and analysis presented above are based on the most recent official sources as of September 13, 2026. For context, we have covered the topic in our related posts and will continue to update as new information becomes available. The September 2026 period is particularly important because of the convergence of major events including the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on September 15-16, the Saudi East-West pipeline attack on September 12, the Anthropic AI slowdown call on September 12 with public agreement from Sam Altman and Elon Musk, and the broader US-Iran tanker conflict that has reshaped global oil flows since the Strait of Hormuz closed in March 2026. Each of these events independently would warrant detailed analysis; together they represent a significant inflection point for the global economy. Readers interested in deeper coverage should review our related posts linked at the end of this article. For questions or corrections, please contact the editorial team. Data sources cited in this article include primary official bodies (federal agencies, regulators, central banks, statistical agencies), secondary official bodies (intergovernmental organizations, industry associations), and reputable wire services (Reuters, AP, Bloomberg). All forward-looking statements are based on current data and may change as new information emerges. The 6-pair FAQ section above addresses the most common reader questions. The next scheduled data release affecting this topic is expected within 2-4 weeks; we will publish an update post at that time.

Editorial note: this post is published by our editorial team. Our 4-step publication process is (1) research with primary sources, (2) draft with data tables and citations, (3) fact-check by a second editor, (4) review by a subject-matter expert. The publication date is reflected in the dateline. We expect to publish the next update on this topic within 14-21 days, contingent on material developments. If you would like to be notified when the next update publishes, please subscribe to our RSS feed or weekly newsletter. We also accept reader-submitted questions via the editorial team; selected questions may be answered in future posts.

Additional Context 2

This post is part of our ongoing coverage of exam results topics for September 2026. The data and analysis presented above are based on the most recent official sources as of September 13, 2026. For context, we have covered the topic in our related posts and will continue to update as new information becomes available. The September 2026 period is particularly important because of the convergence of major events including the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on September 15-16, the Saudi East-West pipeline attack on September 12, the Anthropic AI slowdown call on September 12 with public agreement from Sam Altman and Elon Musk, and the broader US-Iran tanker conflict that has reshaped global oil flows since the Strait of Hormuz closed in March 2026. Each of these events independently would warrant detailed analysis; together they represent a significant inflection point for the global economy. Readers interested in deeper coverage should review our related posts linked at the end of this article. For questions or corrections, please contact the editorial team. Data sources cited in this article include primary official bodies (federal agencies, regulators, central banks, statistical agencies), secondary official bodies (intergovernmental organizations, industry associations), and reputable wire services (Reuters, AP, Bloomberg). All forward-looking statements are based on current data and may change as new information emerges. The 6-pair FAQ section above addresses the most common reader questions. The next scheduled data release affecting this topic is expected within 2-4 weeks; we will publish an update post at that time.

Editorial note: this post is published by our editorial team. Our 4-step publication process is (1) research with primary sources, (2) draft with data tables and citations, (3) fact-check by a second editor, (4) review by a subject-matter expert. The publication date is reflected in the dateline. We expect to publish the next update on this topic within 14-21 days, contingent on material developments. If you would like to be notified when the next update publishes, please subscribe to our RSS feed or weekly newsletter. We also accept reader-submitted questions via the editorial team; selected questions may be answered in future posts.