Casper Test Guide: 2026–2027

Reviewed August 31, 2026. This guide uses current Acuity Insights instructions and named university pages. Recheck the official date finder and your program portal before reserving or distributing a result.

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test used by some admissions programs. It asks how you would think and act in difficult interpersonal situations. The standard 2026–2027 test has 11 scenarios: four video-response scenarios and seven typed-response scenarios. It normally takes 65–85 minutes, including two optional breaks.

First, confirm whether your exact program, country, language, and admissions cycle requires Casper. Open the official Dates and Fees finder and select the exact program. Confirm the test type, available dates, fee, required applicant ID, and distribution deadline. Do not copy another applicant's reservation details.

Quick answer: use the official full practice assessment, learn the timing, and build a repeatable reasoning process. Strong preparation helps you notice people, facts, options, consequences, communication, and follow-up. It does not require a memorized script. There is no universal good Casper quartile and no honest service can guarantee one.

What Casper measures—and what it is not

Acuity describes Casper as a situational judgment test for personal and professional qualities. The prompts are not asking for a biology fact, a calculus solution, or a rule recalled from a textbook. They ask you to respond to a situation involving people, uncertainty, competing duties, or limited time. Your task is to show a clear thought process through video or typed responses.

Casper is not the McMaster Health Sciences supplementary application, the UBC Personal Profile, a Kira Talent interview, a live admissions interview, or an academic knowledge exam. Those components may test different skills and use different platforms. A university can require more than one component. Never prepare for one by assuming it replaces the others.

The test is also not a universal gate for every health, nursing, teaching, engineering, or medical program. Requirements change by program and cycle. One Nursing program can require Casper while another does not. A medical school can use Casper while another uses an application review and interview instead. The program's official admission page and your assigned Acuity test type control.

Casper is not pass/fail in the usual sense. Programs decide whether to require it, how much weight to give it, and how to combine it with grades or other evidence. UNB Nursing, for example, currently publishes a 60% academic and 40% Casper split. That local rule does not become a national formula.

The 2026–2027 Casper test format

For the standard 2026–2027 assessment, Acuity publishes this order:

After the four video-response scenarios, there is an optional 10-minute break. After the first four typed-response scenarios, there is an optional five-minute break. A scenario can be presented through a short video or written prompt. Acuity also provides an optional 30-second reflection period before the response page.

The prompt presentation and answer method are separate. A word-based situation can still lead to a video answer. A video situation can lead to a typed answer. Follow the label and on-screen instruction rather than guessing from how the situation appears. You cannot switch the assigned response method.

The standard format is not universal. Acuity currently publishes a shorter format for Australian Teacher's Education: eight scenarios, consisting of two video and six typed scenarios, with one optional 10-minute break and an estimated 45–65 minutes. Other program types can change. Confirm the instructions attached to your own reservation.

During the video section, the questions arrive sequentially. You have one minute for each response. During the typed section, both questions are visible together and share three and a half minutes. Practise deciding how to divide that shared time. A complete shorter answer to both questions is usually more useful than one polished answer and one blank box.

Find the right test type, date, deadline, and fee

Do not search for one “Casper test date Canada.” Open the Acuity Dates and Fees finder and select the country first. Then choose language, admissions cycle, program type, and school. The results show the assigned test type, available test dates, distribution deadlines, fees, applicant ID requirements, and program notes.

A test date is when you sit the assessment. A distribution deadline is the last day a compatible result can be sent to a program. A university's application deadline belongs to its own admission process. Those dates can differ. Put each one in the same tracker and label it clearly.

Acuity recommends reserving at least three days before the preferred date so identity and payment steps can be completed. Earlier is safer because sessions can fill and some programs have a final opportunity. If one date does not cover all compatible programs, Acuity says an applicant can reserve an eligible date and add other programs later, before their distribution deadlines.

One reservation can serve multiple programs only when they use the same test type. The 2026–2027 naming depends on country, language, and program category. Canada Casper 1 and Canada Casper 2 are not interchangeable. A Canadian English test cannot automatically serve a French requirement. A test selected for another country may be a different type.

Before payment, confirm:

1. the admissions cycle in which you intend to start the program;
2. the country and language required by the program;
3. the exact program category and test type;
4. the program's application and distribution deadlines;
5. the applicant number or other ID needed for the reservation;
6. the displayed fee and any distribution cost;
7. the time zone shown in your account.

Do not rely on a fee or date copied into an article. The finder is dynamic. It changes with the selected program and cycle, which is why this guide links to the tool instead of publishing one universal amount.

Equipment, room, identity, and accommodations

Use a desktop or laptop computer. Acuity recommends Windows or macOS with a current Chrome or Firefox browser. Phones and tablets are not supported. You need a working webcam and microphone for the assessment, plus a reliable connection. The official preparation page gives a minimum of 1.5 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload.

Run the official system check on the computer and network you will actually use. Acuity's preparation page advises doing an early check at least three days ahead so there is time to resolve a problem. Acuity's current test-day guidance says you must run the System Requirements Check within six hours before your scheduled test time. Use the same device, internet connection, browser, webcam, microphone, and setup for that mandatory final check.

Choose a quiet, private, well-lit room. Put the camera near eye level and check that your face is visible. Close bandwidth-heavy software, connect power, silence notifications, and ask others not to interrupt. Keep only materials allowed by the current test rules. Do not assume a tool is allowed because it helps in school.

Speech-to-text is not permitted unless Acuity has approved it as an accommodation. Accommodation requests need the required forms and supporting documentation. Submit them at least four weeks before the scheduled test. Acuity reviews requests case by case and says the status is confidential from academic programs.

Common accommodations can include added time, a reader, a scribe, text-to-speech, or speech-to-text. The approved plan controls. If you make a new reservation after approval, follow Acuity's current instructions for applying the measures to that booking. Do not assume approval appears automatically on every later reservation.

Make the name, date of birth, email, and applicant IDs in Acuity match the university application. A mismatch can slow result matching. Use one Acuity account, keep the confirmation, and check the reservation page for status updates.

A realistic Casper practice plan

The best starting point is the full official practice assessment in your Acuity account. It mirrors the current 11-scenario standard format and can be repeated. Acuity says practice answers are not saved for later review and feedback. Set up your own review method before starting: note which questions you left incomplete, where your reasoning jumped, and which video answers lacked structure.

Acuity Insights does not endorse third-party preparation. The official guidance warns that over-coached or formulaic responses can hinder an applicant. Use outside material to understand timing or generate unfamiliar situations, not to memorize a moral script or pretend there is a hidden answer key.

Seven-day familiarization plan

More study time is not automatically better. The aim is familiarity, not exhaustion. If you have several weeks, repeat the cycle with new original prompts. Space the full practice runs. Use the remaining time for concise reflection and technical readiness.

When reviewing an answer, ask six questions:

• Did I answer the exact question rather than retell the scenario?
• Did I acknowledge each person who could be affected?
• Did I separate known facts from assumptions?
• Did I gather missing information before an irreversible action?
• Was the action proportionate, safe, and respectful?
• Did I explain communication and follow-up?

Grammar and specialist jargon are not the centre of scoring. Acuity tells raters to focus on substance, judgment, thought process, and communication. Bullets can be useful in typed answers. Clear ordinary language is safer than an elaborate phrase you cannot finish.

A transparent response framework

Use a framework as a checklist, not a script. A useful sequence is P-A-C-E-R:

1. People: identify who is directly and indirectly affected.
2. Assumptions: say what you do not yet know and how you would check it.
3. Choices: name more than one reasonable option and the trade-offs.
4. Execution: choose a proportionate next step and explain how you would communicate it.
5. Review: describe follow-up, documentation, escalation, or learning when relevant.

The order can change. A safety emergency may require immediate action before gathering every detail. A low-stakes disagreement may call for a private conversation first. Proportionality matters. The framework should help you adapt, not force every prompt into the same speech.

For a typed pair, spend a few seconds identifying the two different tasks. Draft a complete core answer to each. Then add one concrete detail or condition. For video, use the first sentence to answer directly. Use the middle for reasoning and affected perspectives. End with the next step or condition that would change your choice.

Avoid empty balance language. “I would hear both sides” is only a start. Say where, when, and why you would speak, what you would ask, what information would change your action, and when you would involve someone with responsibility. Avoid declaring guilt from an incomplete prompt.

Avoid heroic promises. You cannot guarantee that everyone will agree or that one conversation will repair a serious problem. You can promise a process you control: listen, check facts, protect safety, explain a decision, document when appropriate, and follow up.

Original Casper practice questions and examples

The following material is original. It does not reproduce Acuity's sample scenario text and does not claim to be an official scoring rubric. Use each original practice scenario to rehearse perspective-taking, information gathering, proportional action, communication, and reflection.

Original scenario 1: the shared project file

Your class team is submitting a project tonight. One member replaces a section written by another member without telling them. The replacement is clearer, but the original writer discovers the change and says they will remove their name from the submission.

Question A: What would you do now?

A grounded answer could pause further edits, acknowledge the writer's concern, and ask both people to explain their intent privately. It could propose a rapid comparison against the agreed standard. The team can keep the clearer elements while restoring attribution or co-editing the section. If time is too short, document the decision and arrange a post-submission process review.

Question B: What if the replaced section contained a serious factual error?

The factual risk makes correction more urgent, but it does not make silent replacement good teamwork. Explain the error with evidence, correct the submission, invite the writer into the revision, and separate the quality problem from blame. After submission, agree on edit notifications and ownership rules.

Original scenario 2: the last volunteer place

You coordinate volunteers for a community event. One place remains. A friend asks you to save it, while another applicant submitted earlier and appears equally qualified.

Question A: How would you decide?

State the published selection rule and apply it consistently. If no rule exists, disclose the conflict to another organizer and use a transparent method, such as submission order or a documented draw. Tell your friend that the relationship cannot create priority. Preserve a wait-list in case another place opens.

Question B: What should the group change next time?

Publish eligibility, tie-breakers, deadlines, decision ownership, and a conflict-of-interest process before applications open. Keep a short decision record. A predictable process protects applicants and organizers even when the outcome disappoints someone.

Original scenario 3: an unsafe shift request

A coworker asks you to cover a task that requires training you have not completed. They say the team is short-staffed and the task is simple.

Question A: What would you say?

Do not perform a safety-sensitive task outside your competence. Acknowledge the staffing pressure, explain the training boundary, and offer safe work you can do. Contact the responsible supervisor for an alternative assignment or qualified coverage. If there is immediate danger, use the site's emergency process.

Question B: What if refusing will delay service for several people?

The delay matters, but an unqualified action can cause larger harm. Help triage safe tasks, communicate the delay honestly, and escalate the staffing problem. Document the limitation if the workplace process requires it. The answer should not invent qualifications under pressure.

Original scenario 4: the private screenshot

A student sends you a screenshot of a classmate's private message and asks you to share it with a group because it proves the classmate is being dishonest.

Question A: How would you respond?

Do not redistribute the screenshot immediately. Ask how it was obtained, what harm is alleged, and whether someone is at risk. Encourage a direct or mediated conversation when safe. If the message suggests harassment, danger, or a serious policy breach, share only with the appropriate responsible person and preserve relevant context.

Question B: What if the sender already posted it publicly?

Public posting does not remove the privacy and context problem. Avoid amplifying it. Encourage removal, check on anyone at risk, and use the relevant reporting route. Focus on limiting harm and investigating fairly rather than winning a public argument.

These examples show process, not model wording. A different action can be reasonable when the assumptions change. Practise naming those conditions. That makes an answer more responsive than a memorized paragraph.

Typed and video response tactics

For typed responses, prioritize coverage. Read both questions before writing. Answer the first in a compact paragraph or bullets, then answer the second. If time remains, add one relevant condition. A half-finished elegant answer does not answer the missing question.

Use concrete verbs: ask, verify, pause, disclose, contact, document, refer, follow up. Replace vague promises such as “handle it professionally” with the action that demonstrates professionalism. If a policy or qualified person would control the decision, say how you would find or involve them.

For video responses, look near the camera and speak at a sustainable pace. Start with the answer. A simple structure is: “First, I would… because… I would also… If I learned…, then….” Do not spend most of the minute restating the prompt. Do not apologize for every pause.

You may not finish every thought. A strong closing sentence can name the immediate next step and the fact that would change it. If you stumble, continue. The assessment is not a broadcast audition. The substance of the response matters more than a flawless performance.

For both modes, avoid labels about a person's character. Describe behaviour and evidence. Avoid false certainty. Mention privacy, safety, fairness, role boundaries, or consent only when the situation makes them relevant. A list of ethical words without action is not reasoning.

How Casper scoring and quartiles work

Acuity says trained, accredited human raters evaluate responses. Responses are anonymized. Each scenario is assigned to a rater, and that rater scores both questions in the scenario while seeing the scenario context. Each question receives an independent rating. No one rater scores the same applicant more than once across the assessment.

The individual ratings are combined and standardized relative to the applicant pool for the same test type. Programs receive the result and decide how to use it. They may use it for screening, ranking, interview selection, or another stage. Acuity does not set one admission weight or national cut-off.

Programs normally receive results about two to three weeks after the test. The reservation status changes to “Completed – Results delivered” when distribution is complete. Acuity does not send a separate delivery email. A program may need more time to match and display the result.

Applicants normally receive a quartile about four to five weeks after the test. A first quartile means other applicants in the comparison cohort had stronger responses; a fourth quartile means the response was in the highest quarter of that cohort. The quartile is broad, not a numerical score or universal admission decision.

There is no universal good Casper quartile because programs use results differently and combine them with different evidence. A published local weight, such as UNB Nursing's current 40%, applies only to that named program. Do not convert one quartile into a promised offer chance.

Canadian undergraduate program examples

This Canadian matrix is deliberately not exhaustive. It is a date-labelled verification sample, not a claim that only these programs use Casper. A requirement is included only when a first-party program page supports it. Use three distinct states. Confirmed records a published requirement for the named cycle. Pending means the page does not yet publish a complete Fall 2027 rule or schedule. Not-required records an explicit current first-party statement that the named program does not require Casper.

Use the matrix to understand status, not to choose a date. TRU is the cleanest Fall 2027 example because the university already publishes seven assessment dates for the 2027 Nursing intake. UPEI is a deliberate warning: its page clearly requires Casper for 2026–2027, but that does not prove the same wording for 2027–2028.

VIU demonstrates another mixed publication state. Its page names a September 7, 2027 Nursing intake and a standing Casper requirement, yet the visible testing schedule belongs to 2025–2026. Carrying those dates into Fall 2027 would be inaccurate. TWU publishes a standing requirement and says registration opens each September, but no Fall 2027 schedule is visible at this review.

TMU Collaborative Nursing is the negative-control example. Its current official page describes admission as Grades-Only and explicitly says Casper is not required. That statement belongs only to this named program; it must not be generalized to every TMU program or every Nursing degree.

For broader program planning, use the Supplementary Applications guide and Health Sciences and Pre-Med guide. The TRU guide, UNB guide, UPEI guide, VIU guide, and TWU guide place the assessment beside the rest of each admission file.

Test day, technical trouble, and result matching

Before the start time, sign in early enough to read the checklist and resolve a last-minute problem. Confirm the countdown in the Acuity account instead of relying on a copied time-zone conversion. Connect power, close unnecessary software, check the camera and microphone, and keep the permitted ID available.

If a technical problem occurs, use the support route in the assessment and record what happened. Do not silently create a second account or new attempt. Acuity says retakes are considered only for verified technical issues reported within its required window. The current retake article says the issue must be reported within one week of the assessment date.

After the test, check the reservation status. “Results pending” means processing is incomplete. “Results delivered” means Acuity has distributed them to the selected programs. If a program is added after the initial two-to-three-week processing period, Acuity says the result is normally sent within one business day.

Keep account details aligned with each application. If a university portal does not show the result immediately, allow for its matching process. Then contact the program with the correct identifiers and the Acuity delivery status. Do not infer that a missing portal checkmark means a score was never sent.

One Casper attempt is allowed per test type per admissions cycle. The result is valid only for that cycle and test type. A new cycle requires a new test. A different country, language, or test type may require another test within the same calendar year.

Official sources and review record

The source list separates dynamic lookup tools, current Acuity policy, cycle-specific format, and program examples. It records what each page supports rather than treating every source as a complete answer.

• What Casper is — Definition, assessment purpose, response modes, and human scoring. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Casper format and length — 2026–2027 scenarios, question timing, optional breaks, and exceptions. Cycle: 2026–2027; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Official Casper preparation — Official practice assessment, equipment, environment, and response guidance. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• How to prepare for Casper test day — Mandatory System Requirements Check within six hours of the scheduled test. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Casper dates and fees finder — Dynamic test type, date, fee, distribution deadline, and program ID lookup. Cycle: Selected by applicant; status: dynamic; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• How to use the dates and fees finder — Date-finder filters and distribution-deadline definition. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Find the right Casper test type — 2026–2027 country, language, and program-category test types. Cycle: 2026–2027; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• How Casper is scored — Human raters, question-level ratings, anonymization, and standardization. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• How applicants receive a Casper quartile — Applicant quartile interpretation and 4–5 week availability window. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• When Casper results reach programs — Program distribution timing and account delivery status. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Casper retake rule — One attempt per test type per cycle and verified technical-issue exception. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Casper score validity — One-cycle and one-test-type validity boundary. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• Requesting Casper accommodations — Required forms, documentation, confidentiality, and four-week submission timing. Cycle: Current; status: current; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• TRU Nursing admission and 2027 Casper dates — Confirmed Fall 2027 undergraduate program example. Cycle: Fall 2027; status: confirmed; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• UNB Nursing program requirements — Current undergraduate Casper requirement and published selection weight. Cycle: Current; status: confirmed; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• UPEI Nursing admission and Casper requirements — Latest available 2026–2027 requirement and pending Fall 2027 boundary. Cycle: 2026–2027; status: pending; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• VIU Nursing admission and Casper requirements — Standing requirement with Fall 2027 date and prior-cycle testing schedule. Cycle: Fall 2027 pending schedule; status: pending; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• TWU Nursing admission and Casper requirements — Standing requirement with next-cycle dates not yet published. Cycle: Fall 2027 pending schedule; status: pending; retrieved August 31, 2026.
• TMU Collaborative Nursing admission requirements — Current Grades-Only admission model and explicit statement that Casper is not required. Cycle: Current; status: confirmed; retrieved August 31, 2026.