What Is a Good CASPer Score? Quartiles and Low Scores Explained

Waiting for your CASPer quartile can be surprisingly stressful. You may have finished the test feeling confident about some scenarios, uncertain about others, and completely unsure how your responses compared with everyone else’s. When the result finally arrives, seeing “first quartile” or “second quartile” can immediately make you wonder whether you have damaged your chances of getting into medical school.

The reassuring answer is that CASPer does not have an official passing score, and one quartile does not determine the outcome of your entire application. Acuity Insights states that most programs consider applicants from every quartile and use CASPer as one piece of a much larger admissions review. Each medical school decides independently how much weight to give the score, so there is no universal rule stating that a particular quartile guarantees either an interview or a rejection.

In general, a fourth-quartile CASPer score is excellent, a third-quartile score is good, a second-quartile score is broadly around the middle of the applicant pool, and a first-quartile score is less competitive but not an automatic rejection. My personal goal when I took CASPer was simply to score at least around average so that the result would not stand out negatively compared with the stronger and more important parts of my application.

This guide explains what every CASPer quartile means, whether a first- or second-quartile result is truly bad, what medical schools receive, how much CASPer matters in admissions, and what you should do after receiving a lower score than you hoped for.

For a complete introduction to the assessment, start with my guide explaining what the CASPer test is, how it is scored, and which medical schools require it. You can also work through my free CASPer practice questions and sample answers and compare the test with the AAMC PREview exam and Duet assessment.

What Is a Good CASPer Score for Medical School?

A fourth-quartile CASPer score is the strongest result you can receive as an applicant because it places your performance within the highest quarter of your comparison group. A third-quartile score is also a good result and is unlikely to raise concerns at most medical schools.

A second-quartile score is not an impressive result, but it is also not necessarily a bad one. It means your performance was within the second quarter of the comparison group rather than at the very bottom. In practical terms, I would consider it a relatively neutral score that is unlikely to become the defining feature of an otherwise competitive medical school application.

A first-quartile score is the least favorable result because it means your responses were rated as less strong than those of most applicants in your testing cohort. However, Acuity Insights explicitly states that a first-quartile result does not mean you failed and should not automatically dissuade you from applying to any program. Most programs consider applicants across all four quartiles.

CASPer quartile	Approximate relative position	General interpretation
Fourth quartile	Highest 25%	Excellent CASPer performance
Third quartile	Above the middle	Good and generally reassuring
Second quartile	Below the middle but not the bottom	Less competitive, but often relatively neutral
First quartile	Lowest 25%	A potential weakness, but not an automatic rejection

There is no publicly established CASPer quartile that every U.S. medical school considers acceptable. One school may barely use the score, while another may incorporate it more meaningfully when deciding whom to interview. Acuity Insights confirms that every participating program determines how and when it will use CASPer and that the role of the score varies among programs.

What Do the CASPer Score Quartiles Mean?

Quartiles separate a comparison group into four similarly sized portions. They describe your relative position among other applicants rather than the percentage of questions you answered correctly.

If you receive a fourth-quartile result, your performance was within the highest quarter of the relevant comparison group. If you receive a first-quartile result, your performance was within the lowest quarter.

Acuity describes the comparison as being made among applicants completing the same test type, with the strength of your responses evaluated relative to other people who answered the same scenarios. This is more precise than saying you are compared only with everyone who happened to sit for CASPer on the same calendar day.

The comparison group also consists largely of students applying to competitive professional programs. A first-quartile score does not necessarily mean your judgment or communication would appear weak compared with the general population. It means your responses were rated less strongly than those of many other motivated applicants completing the same type of assessment.

A CASPer Quartile Is Not Your Percentage of Correct Answers

A common misunderstanding is that a second-quartile result means you answered only 25% to 49% of the questions correctly. That is not how CASPer works.

CASPer does not use a traditional answer key in which responses are marked correct or incorrect. Trained human raters evaluate your answers based on the strength of your reasoning, judgment, communication, and consideration of the situation. Each question is scored independently, and those ratings are eventually combined and standardized relative to the applicant pool.

You could therefore provide a reasonable response to every scenario and still receive a lower quartile if other applicants consistently gave more developed, balanced, or clearly communicated answers. Conversely, receiving a fourth-quartile result does not mean that every decision you described was objectively perfect.

The quartile only tells you where your overall performance fell relative to other test takers. It does not tell you how many points you earned, which questions were strongest, which competencies were weakest, or how close you were to the boundary between two quartiles.

How Is the CASPer Test Scored?

CASPer is scored by trained human raters rather than an automated artificial intelligence system. Your responses are anonymized before they are evaluated, meaning raters do not see identifying details such as your name, age, or photograph.

The two questions associated with a scenario are viewed by the same rater, although each question is scored independently. Raters are assigned to particular scenarios, and no individual rater evaluates the same applicant more than once across the complete test. Acuity states that raters are instructed to focus on the substance and quality of your response rather than minor spelling or grammatical mistakes.

After all responses have been evaluated, the individual ratings are combined into a single overall CASPer score. That result is then standardized to represent your relative position within the relevant applicant pool.

This scoring system is one reason your typing speed and ability to communicate efficiently can matter, even though CASPer is not officially a typing test. The rater cannot give you credit for a thoughtful perspective that you never managed to type or say before time expired.

Do Medical Schools See More Than Your CASPer Quartile?

Yes. Applicants receive a quartile, but medical schools receive the CASPer score distributed by Acuity Insights.

Acuity does not provide applicants with the underlying combined numerical score or a breakdown showing how they performed on individual scenarios or competencies. The quartile is intended to give applicants a general sense of how their performance compared with others, while participating programs receive the result intended for use in admissions.

Medical schools do not necessarily interpret the score in the same way. A school could use CASPer as supplemental information during holistic review, incorporate it into an interview-screening process, or place relatively little weight on it compared with other application components. Acuity does not set one admissions policy for all participating programs.

This distinction is important because a third-quartile applicant and fourth-quartile applicant could have underlying scores that are relatively close together. Likewise, someone near the top of the second quartile may be only slightly below someone near the bottom of the third quartile. Acuity gives an example in which performances at the 74th and 76th percentiles would fall into different quartiles even though the underlying difference is small.

Is a Fourth-Quartile CASPer Score Good?

A fourth-quartile score is the best CASPer result an applicant can receive. It indicates that your responses were rated within the strongest quarter of the comparison group.

This result can provide positive supplemental evidence that you communicated professional and interpersonal reasoning effectively under pressure. Acuity notes that higher-performing applicants may more consistently explain their positions, consider different perspectives, communicate clearly, demonstrate empathy, and use the available response time productively.

However, a fourth-quartile score will not compensate for every other weakness in an application. It does not erase a substantially low GPA, weak MCAT performance, minimal clinical exposure, poorly written essays, or concerning recommendation letters.

You should be pleased with a fourth-quartile result, but you still need to submit a complete, balanced application. Medical schools evaluate academics, experiences, personal attributes, essays, recommendation letters, service, judgment, and alignment with the school’s mission rather than admitting applicants based on one situational judgment score.

Is a Third-Quartile CASPer Score Good?

A third-quartile CASPer score is a good result. It places you above the middle of the comparison group and should generally reassure you that CASPer is unlikely to become a significant weakness in your application.

Many applicants become disappointed when they see third quartile because they had hoped to receive the highest possible result. Try to keep the score in perspective. You performed better than a substantial portion of other applicants, and medical schools still have far more information to consider.

I would not spend time worrying about a third-quartile score or attempt to adjust a well-researched medical school list because you did not receive fourth quartile. Continue focusing on submitting thoughtful secondary essays, preparing for interviews, and completing the rest of your application promptly.

Is a Second-Quartile CASPer Score Bad?

A second-quartile CASPer score is below the midpoint of the comparison group, but I would not automatically describe it as a bad medical school application result.

It is not as favorable as third or fourth quartile, and it may be less competitive at a school that places considerable weight on CASPer. However, it is also not within the lowest quarter of applicants. Your result may be close to the middle, and the quartile does not reveal whether you barely missed third quartile or were closer to the first-quartile boundary.

This is where I think it is helpful to distinguish between a score that actively strengthens your application and one that simply does not stand out. A second-quartile score probably will not become a major selling point, but it also may not become a memorable concern when your GPA, MCAT, experiences, personal statement, secondary essays, and recommendation letters are strong.

The AAMC explains that schools use holistic review to consider academic preparation alongside personal qualities, experiences, essays, recommendation letters, service, leadership, and other evidence of an applicant’s readiness for medical school. Each school has its own method for weighing these components.

My practical advice after a second-quartile result would be to leave your school list alone unless you already had other reasons to change it. Continue applying to CASPer-requiring schools that otherwise fit your academic profile, experiences, mission, and geographic preferences.

Is a First-Quartile CASPer Score Bad?

A first-quartile CASPer score is the least competitive result, and I do not want to pretend that it is ideal. If a medical school places meaningful weight on CASPer, a first-quartile result could become one weakness within your application.

However, a first-quartile score is not an official failure, and it does not automatically end your application cycle. Acuity Insights specifically advises applicants not to let any quartile prevent them from applying and states that most programs consider applicants from all quartiles.

Medical schools also know that situational judgment tests measure applicants under highly specific conditions. You are responding to unfamiliar scenarios while typing or speaking under significant time pressure, and the score is relative to a competitive applicant pool.

A school may also find strong evidence of your empathy, professionalism, communication, and judgment elsewhere in your application. Recommendation letters may describe how you treated patients and coworkers. Your activities may demonstrate years of service and teamwork. Your personal statement and secondary essays may show reflection and maturity, while an interview allows you to communicate with admissions committee members more directly.

None of this guarantees that a first-quartile score will be ignored. It simply means the result is one data point rather than a complete evaluation of your character or potential as a physician.

Should You Remove CASPer Schools After a First-Quartile Score?

I would not remove schools from your list solely because you received a first-quartile CASPer result.

You already paid for the primary application, secondary application, and score distribution in many cases. Withdrawing from every CASPer school guarantees that none of those programs can admit you, while continuing your application at least gives each school the opportunity to consider your complete file.

Acuity’s current guidance states that applicants should not be dissuaded from applying to any program based on their quartile and that most programs consider applicants from all four quartiles.

There may be separate reasons to shorten your school list, such as a major mission mismatch, residency restriction, missed deadline, or academic profile far outside the school’s typical range. A low CASPer quartile alone would not be enough for me to remove an otherwise reasonable school.

You can use my medical school SJT requirements database to confirm which of your schools require CASPer, PREview, or Duet. You should also verify requirements through each school’s admissions website because SJT policies can change between application cycles.

How Much Does CASPer Matter for Medical School Admissions?

No one can provide one accurate percentage showing how much CASPer matters at every medical school. Each participating program decides how and when to use the score, and the weight can vary considerably.

Some schools may use CASPer as a supplemental part of holistic review. Others may incorporate it when deciding which academically qualified applicants should receive interviews. A program could also use the score alongside essays, recommendation letters, and interview impressions when evaluating interpersonal and professional qualities.

Acuity describes CASPer as providing additional insight beyond grades, knowledge-based examinations, personal statements, and recommendation letters. That wording supports viewing the score as a supplement rather than a universal replacement for the traditional parts of an application.

The AAMC similarly explains that medical schools consider academic proficiency, experiences, attributes, goals, service, essays, recommendation letters, and fit with the institution’s mission. Strong grades and MCAT scores do not guarantee an interview, but academic readiness remains a central part of the admissions process.

My impression from applying was that my GPA, MCAT score, personal statement, experiences, recommendation letters, secondary essays, and interviews mattered considerably more than any single situational judgment score. I still wanted to perform reasonably well on CASPer, but I did not treat it as though it carried the same weight as the MCAT.

My Personal Experience With My CASPer Score

When I applied to medical school in 2023, my goal was to score at least around average on CASPer so the result would not stand out negatively. I did not expect the test to become the strongest part of my application, but I wanted to avoid landing in the lowest quartile if I reasonably could.

At the time, many applicants debated how much CASPer, PREview, and Duet actually influenced admissions decisions. Some people believed that the assessments rewarded applicants for learning to say what evaluators wanted to hear rather than revealing what they genuinely thought. Others believed the tests were still new enough that schools had not completely worked out how to incorporate them consistently.

CASPer had been used in medical school admissions for much longer than PREview. McMaster officially introduced CASPer into its medical school admissions process in 2010, while the AAMC first administered the assessment that eventually became PREview in 2020.

Because CASPer had been around longer, I thought schools were probably more likely to have experience interpreting and using it than they had with PREview during my application cycle. That is a reasonable inference, but it does not prove that every school gave CASPer more weight. Individual schools generally do not publish an exact formula explaining how many admissions points a particular CASPer score contributes.

My own CASPer performance was much stronger than my PREview performance. In some ways, the results felt almost opposite, even though both assessments were intended to evaluate professional or situational judgment.

I have spoken with other applicants who had similar experiences, with some performing well on CASPer and poorly on PREview or vice versa. These conversations are anecdotal and do not prove that the tests are inversely related. However, the inconsistency makes more sense when you consider how differently the assessments work.

CASPer asks you to create and explain your own response through typed and video answers. PREview presents predefined actions and asks you to judge how effective or ineffective each action would be. The AAMC describes PREview as evaluating an applicant’s ability to recognize effective and ineffective professional behavior, while CASPer evaluates open-ended responses through human raters.

Someone who excels at quickly explaining nuanced reasoning may naturally perform better on CASPer. Someone who is skilled at recognizing the AAMC’s preferred evaluation of predetermined actions may perform better on PREview.

I am still not sure whether my CASPer or PREview score meaningfully helped or hurt my final admissions results. My overall impression was that schools focused much more heavily on the traditional core of my application. That included my academic performance, MCAT score, personal statement, activities, recommendation letters, secondary essays, and interview performance.

You can read more about these differences in my complete guide to CASPer vs. AAMC PREview vs. Duet and my separate AAMC PREview exam guide.

Why Can CASPer Scores Feel Inconsistent?

CASPer is a relative assessment, meaning your quartile depends partly on the strength of the other applicants in your comparison group. Acuity states that an applicant’s standardized performance may vary when the strength of the applicant pool changes.

Small differences around quartile boundaries can also produce results that appear much more different than the underlying scores really are. Someone at approximately the 74th percentile and someone at approximately the 76th percentile would fall into different quartiles even though their performance may have been very similar.

Familiarity with the format can influence how well you demonstrate your reasoning. An applicant may understand the ethical issue but struggle to organize a video response in one minute. Another may think of several useful perspectives but type too slowly to communicate them.

This does not mean CASPer measures only test-taking ability. It does mean the score reflects your ability to demonstrate interpersonal and professional reasoning within CASPer’s specific format and time limits.

A broader review of CASPer research concluded that the assessment has shown evidence of feasibility, reliability, and moderate predictive validity, while also identifying continuing questions about implementation, equity, and the exact contribution the test makes to admissions decisions.

Can You Fail the CASPer Test?

CASPer is not officially a pass-or-fail assessment. Acuity states that the score is relative to the applicant pool and that applicants do not receive a traditional passing score or numerical cutoff.

That does not mean every result is equally competitive. A fourth-quartile score is more favorable than a first-quartile score. However, describing first quartile as a formal failure would be inaccurate unless an individual school established and disclosed its own minimum requirement.

My personal approach was to think of the goal as avoiding the lowest quartile rather than chasing perfection. I wanted to perform at least around the middle so the result would not become an obvious concern.

How Can You Improve Your CASPer Score?

The most useful preparation is completing realistic sample questions under the actual time limits. Reading about empathy, fairness, and professionalism is helpful, but it does not guarantee that you can organize and communicate your reasoning quickly.

I began working through sample scenarios from websites and YouTube about two weeks before my test, although I probably spent only two or three days seriously preparing. I also practiced typing because I wanted to communicate as many relevant thoughts as possible before time expired.

Through practice, I noticed that stronger CASPer answers generally considered multiple perspectives, avoided making unsupported assumptions, gathered additional information, addressed people privately when appropriate, protected safety, and explained why a particular action was reasonable.

Acuity identifies effort, empathy, impartiality, communication, and familiarity with the test format as possible differences between higher- and lower-quartile responses. It specifically notes that stronger applicants may explain their positions more completely and use the available response time effectively.

My biggest recommendations would be to practice a wide range of prompts, improve your typing comfort, practice the video-response format, and get used to explaining both what you would do and why.

You can start with my free CASPer practice scenarios and answer explanations. My free MMI practice tool and scenario bank can also help you practice ethical reasoning, although the response time and format differ from CASPer.

Does Typing Speed Affect Your CASPer Score?

CASPer does not separately award points for typing a particular number of words per minute. Raters are supposed to focus on the quality and substance of your response rather than minor spelling or grammatical errors.

However, typing speed can indirectly affect your result because you cannot receive credit for thoughts you never communicate. If you recognize five important considerations but only type one before time expires, the rater can only evaluate the one consideration that appears on the screen.

During my preparation, I tried to improve my typing speed so I could provide more detailed responses than I otherwise would have. My thinking was that if another applicant and I had similarly thoughtful ideas, communicating more of those relevant ideas might provide the rater with stronger evidence of my reasoning.

That does not mean you should fill the response box with repetitive sentences or unnecessary wording. A longer answer is not automatically better. The goal is to communicate more useful information, including the perspectives you considered, the information you would gather, the action you would take, and why you believe that response is appropriate.

Free websites such as Typing.com, TypingClub, Keybr, and Monkeytype can help you improve your comfort and accuracy. However, I would also spend time typing answers to actual CASPer-style prompts because that more closely resembles the vocabulary and reasoning you will use on test day.

What Should You Do After Receiving a Low CASPer Score?

First, take a breath before changing your entire application strategy. A first- or second-quartile result may be disappointing, but it does not tell you how every medical school will interpret the score.

Continue submitting secondary applications unless you already had another reason to remove a school. Make sure the rest of your application communicates the same qualities CASPer attempts to assess. Your essays, activities, letters, and interviews can all provide evidence of communication, empathy, accountability, integrity, teamwork, and good judgment.

You should not attempt to explain or apologize for your CASPer quartile in an unsolicited email to every admissions office. Schools receive the score and will evaluate it according to their own policies. Calling attention to it is unlikely to help unless a school specifically asks you to discuss the result.

Instead, focus your energy on the application components you can still control. Submit thoughtful secondary essays, prepare thoroughly for interviews, update schools when you have a genuinely meaningful accomplishment, and continue participating in the activities that support your application.

You can also read my guide explaining whether your medical school secondary is complete without CASPer, PREview, or Duet so that a score-distribution delay does not accidentally hold up your application.

Frequently Asked Questions About CASPer Scores

What is the best CASPer score?

Fourth quartile is the highest applicant-facing CASPer result and represents performance within the strongest quarter of the relevant comparison group.

What CASPer score do medical schools want?

Medical schools do not publish one universal required quartile. Each program decides independently how to use CASPer, and Acuity states that most programs consider applicants from all quartiles.

A third- or fourth-quartile score is reassuring, while a first-quartile result may be a weakness at schools that place greater weight on the test.

Is second-quartile CASPer bad?

Second quartile is below the midpoint of the comparison group, so it is not as competitive as third or fourth quartile. However, it is not an automatic rejection or a formal failing score.

I would view it as a relatively neutral result that may not help your application but also may not stand out significantly when the rest of your file is strong.

Is first-quartile CASPer bad?

First quartile is the least favorable CASPer result because your responses were rated within the lowest quarter of the comparison group. However, it does not mean you failed, and Acuity advises applicants not to let the result stop them from applying.

Will a first-quartile CASPer score ruin my application?

A first-quartile score does not automatically ruin a medical school application. Each school determines how much weight to give CASPer, and most schools evaluate many other academic and nonacademic components.

It can be a weakness, but it is only one part of your file.

Should I apply to CASPer schools with a first-quartile score?

Yes, as long as those schools otherwise fit your application and goals. Removing every CASPer school guarantees that those programs cannot consider you, while continuing allows them to review your complete application.

Do medical schools see your exact CASPer score?

Programs receive the CASPer score distributed by Acuity Insights, while applicants receive only a quartile. Applicants do not receive the underlying combined score or a breakdown by scenario or competency.

Is your CASPer quartile a percentile?

The quartile describes a range of relative performance rather than giving you a precise percentile. It tells you which quarter of the comparison group contained your score but does not reveal your exact position within that quarter.

Is CASPer scored against people taking it the same day?

Acuity describes your quartile as comparing you with applicants taking the same test type, with responses evaluated relative to other applicants who answered the same scenarios. It is more accurate to describe this as a relevant testing cohort than as only everyone who tested on the same calendar day.

Can medical schools reject you because of CASPer?

A medical school can consider CASPer when making admissions decisions, and a lower score could contribute to a rejection at a program that values the assessment. However, there is no publicly stated universal rule that a particular quartile produces an automatic rejection at every school.

Does CASPer matter more than PREview?

CASPer has been used in medical school admissions longer than PREview, so some programs may have more experience incorporating it into their review. CASPer entered McMaster’s admissions process in 2010, while the examination that became PREview was first administered in 2020.

However, the relative importance of CASPer and PREview depends on the individual school. A school requiring PREview may place more weight on PREview, while a CASPer-requiring school may rely more heavily on CASPer.

Why did I score well on CASPer but poorly on PREview?

The tests use different response formats. CASPer asks you to generate typed and video responses, while PREview asks you to evaluate the effectiveness of predefined actions. Different applicants may perform better with one style of assessment than the other.

This was my experience. My CASPer score was much better than my PREview score even though both assessments were intended to evaluate aspects of professional judgment.

Can I retake CASPer after receiving a low quartile?

You generally cannot retake the same CASPer test type during the same admissions cycle. CASPer scores are valid for one cycle and one test type, meaning reapplicants normally need to complete a new assessment in a later application cycle.

Final Thoughts on What Makes a Good CASPer Score

A fourth-quartile CASPer score is excellent, while third quartile is a good and reassuring result. Second quartile is below the midpoint but is unlikely to ruin a strong application by itself. First quartile is the least favorable result, but it is not an official failure or an automatic rejection.

My goal when taking CASPer was not necessarily to create the most impressive score in my application. I wanted to perform at least around average so the assessment would not stand out negatively. I practiced sample prompts, worked on my typing speed, and tried to communicate as much relevant reasoning as possible while remaining thoughtful and nonjudgmental.

I believe CASPer may have carried somewhat more established weight than PREview when I applied in 2023 because schools had been using CASPer for longer. Even so, my impression was that my GPA, MCAT score, personal statement, experiences, recommendation letters, secondary essays, and interviews mattered considerably more.

Prepare seriously enough to avoid making CASPer an unnecessary weakness, but do not let one quartile convince you that your application cycle is over. Medical schools are evaluating a complete person through many different parts of the application, and one situational judgment result does not define your character, your judgment, or the kind of physician you can become.