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CASPer and Snapshot for Australian medical schools

2027 Entry · Scenarios · Quartiles · Ethical frameworks

CASPer and Snapshot are Acuity Insights situational judgement assessments increasingly used by Australian medical schools to test the non-cognitive qualities that ATAR, UCAT-ANZ and GAMSAT can't capture — professional judgement, empathy, ethical reasoning, and communication under pressure. Monash (undergraduate) and Curtin lead the Australian adoption of CASPer. This guide walks through both tests in detail — format, scoring, the schools that use them, the ethical frameworks examiners reward, and the preparation approach that actually shifts your quartile.

What is CASPer?

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an online situational judgement test developed at McMaster University in 2010 and now owned by Acuity Insights. It is used by over 500 healthcare programmes worldwide. Within Australia, CASPer was first introduced as a medical-school selection tool by Monash for undergraduate entry, with Curtin following.

The test is built to measure ten specific competencies — collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem-solving, professionalism, resilience and self-awareness. These aren't abstract — each scenario is scored by trained raters against rubrics that look for behavioural evidence of these competencies in your typed response.

Crucially, CASPer rejects the idea of a "right answer". Raters score the reasoning process — whether you considered multiple stakeholders, recognised competing values, named the relevant principles, and committed to an actionable response. Two opposite conclusions can both score well if both are reasoned through.

Australian schools using CASPer or Snapshot (2027 entry)

3 Australian programmes currently use CASPer or Snapshot as part of selection.

Monash undergraduate and Curtin are the established Australian medical school users of CASPer. Several schools are evaluating adoption for 2028-2029 entry — check the current selection criteria on each school's how-to-get-in page before assuming CASPer is or isn't required.

CASPer test format

CASPer is a 90-minute online assessment delivered through your browser. It consists of two sections — a video section and a word-based section — totalling 12 scenarios. Each scenario is followed by either three open-ended questions (typed responses) or a single questionnaire-style response, depending on the version.

Section 1 — Video stimulus. You watch a short video (typically 30-90 seconds) depicting a workplace, school, or clinical scenario involving conflict or judgement. You then have 5 minutes total to type responses to three open-ended questions about the scenario.

Section 2 — Word-based stimulus. You read a short paragraph describing a similar scenario, then have 5 minutes to type responses to three open-ended questions.

Per-scenario timing. 5 minutes per scenario, across three questions, means roughly 90 seconds per typed response. Most candidates' instinct is to write long; CASPer rewards concise reasoning that names principles and demonstrates judgement, not essays.

One-minute reflection break between scenarios. You cannot return to a previous scenario. Mid-test, there is an optional short break.

Snapshot — the one-way video interview

Snapshot is the video counterpart to CASPer — a one-way video interview where you record yourself answering three set questions on camera, with no live interviewer present.

Format. Three questions delivered one at a time via the Acuity Insights browser interface. Each question gives you 30 seconds of preparation and 2 minutes of recording time. You cannot re-record — the first take is your submission.

Question style. Personal motivation, ethical reasoning, reflective practice. Examples include "Describe a time you worked in a team where things weren't going well — what did you do?" and "Tell us about a value that's important to you and why." They are deliberately broad to allow candidates from different backgrounds to draw on different experiences.

Equipment. Webcam, microphone, browser. Acuity strongly recommends doing the system check at least 48 hours before submission, in a room with good lighting and no background noise. Wear what you would wear to a real interview (smart-casual, no logos).

Timing. Snapshot is taken at home, on your own schedule, within a 1-2 week submission window assigned by the school. Slots are usually offered alongside CASPer scheduling.

Scoring — quartiles 1 to 4

Both CASPer and Snapshot are reported on a quartile scale. The applicant pool for each Australian school's sitting window is divided into four equal-sized quartiles, with Quartile 4 the strongest and Quartile 1 the weakest. You receive no scenario-by-scenario score and no overall numerical score — only the quartile.

Schools use quartiles in different ways:

  • Threshold use. Some schools (Monash undergraduate is the standard example) require Quartile 3 or Quartile 4 as a minimum to progress to interview ranking.
  • Composite weighting. Some schools fold the quartile into a composite alongside ATAR and UCAT-ANZ, with each quartile worth a fixed number of composite points.
  • Tiebreaker use. Some schools use CASPer only to differentiate between candidates at the same ATAR/UCAT-ANZ composite — Quartile 4 wins the tie over Quartile 3.

Quartile 4 is competitive. Quartile 3 is acceptable at most schools. Quartile 2 is risky — feasible at some schools but eliminates you at others. Quartile 1 almost always eliminates you from CASPer-using programmes.

Critically: you don't learn your quartile until after the application cycle. Most schools don't publish your individual result; you learn how you did indirectly via whether you receive an offer.

Preparation approach

CASPer and Snapshot can't be cheated — but they can be prepared for. The candidates who score in Quartile 4 are not the most experienced or the most clinically exposed. They're the ones who have practised four specific habits.

1. Internalise the ethical frameworks

The four classic principles of biomedical ethics — autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice (the Beauchamp and Childress framework) — give you a vocabulary that examiners recognise. Reading the AHPRA Code of Conduct (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and the Medical Board of Australia's Good Medical Practice gives you the Australia-specific professional standards CASPer raters are trained against. Don't name-drop "autonomy" mechanically; demonstrate that you can see how it applies to the scenario.

2. Anchor in lived experience

The strongest CASPer responses include a specific, brief anecdote from the candidate's own life that illustrates the value or principle. "In my volunteering at the local nursing home, I once saw a colleague…" reads infinitely better than "In general, one should respect autonomy." Build a library of 20-30 short anecdotes (each 30 seconds of typing) covering teamwork, conflict, ethical dilemmas, resilience, lived disadvantage, work experience, school responsibility.

3. Use the STAR structure under time pressure

Situation, Task, Action, Result. 90 seconds of typing is enough for one tight STAR response per question. Practise this structure until it's automatic. Most candidates over-elaborate on Situation and skimp on Action and Result.

4. Practise under timed conditions on parallel simulators

Because Acuity doesn't release official practice scenarios beyond a handful, you need to use third-party CASPer simulators. The ones that mimic the 5-minute-per-scenario, 90-second-per-response timing under live conditions are the most useful. Practise 3-5 simulators over your prep month, with each session followed by a self-review. Time pressure is the part most candidates underestimate.

Snapshot-specific prep

For Snapshot, additionally practise speaking to camera. Record yourself answering past Snapshot-style prompts with a 30-second prep and 2-minute recording. Watch each playback. Most candidates discover they speak too fast, look at the screen edge rather than the camera, or fill the full 2 minutes when 80-90 seconds of focused speaking would have scored higher.

Common pitfalls

  • Template answers. Memorised templates ("I would first consider the four principles of biomedical ethics, then engage with the patient…") score worse than the candidates think. CASPer raters spot templates instantly and discount them. Score the principle by demonstrating it in the specific scenario, not by naming it abstractly.
  • Missing the situational dimension. Each scenario has multiple stakeholders, competing values, and uncertain information. Strong responses name 2-3 of these before committing to an action. Weak responses leap straight to "I would speak to the patient" without showing the candidate noticed the conflict.
  • Over-rehearsed responses. Especially on Snapshot, candidates often pre-write and recite 2-minute monologues. Examiners can tell. Aim for a structured but conversational tone, with natural pauses and unforced delivery.
  • Writing too much, too slowly. 90 seconds per response means roughly 100-130 typed words. Many candidates start ambitious essays they can't finish. Practise concise, complete paragraphs over long, half-finished ones.
  • Treating Snapshot like a job interview. Smart-casual is appropriate, but suits-and-ties feel inauthentic for school leavers and graduate-medicine applicants in their early 20s. Dress as you would for a respectful conversation with a hospital consultant on a clinical attachment — clean, neat, professional, not corporate.

Practise CASPer-style scenarios

Browse our free bank of CASPer-style scenarios with model responses scored against the Acuity Insights rubric, or book a one-to-one CASPer coaching session with a tutor who has scored Quartile 4.

Free sample scenarios Book CASPer coaching

Frequently asked questions

How long is a CASPer score valid?
A CASPer score is valid for one application cycle only. If you sit CASPer in August 2026 for 2027 entry, you must re-sit if you apply again the following year. This is different from GAMSAT (two-year validity) and is one of the main complaints applicants have about the test — the cost and effort of re-sitting each cycle.
When is CASPer scheduled and how do I book?
Acuity Insights opens CASPer scheduling in late June for the August-November test window relevant to the next application cycle. You book a 90-minute slot on a specific date via the Acuity Insights portal. Slots fill week by week as schools' deadlines approach — book as early as possible to secure your preferred time of day.
What equipment do I need to sit CASPer?
A modern desktop or laptop (not a tablet or phone), reliable broadband internet, a webcam, a microphone, and a quiet private room. Google Chrome is the supported browser. Acuity runs a system check before each test — do this 48 hours in advance, not on test day, in case you need to switch device. Most candidates type their responses on a physical keyboard; touch-screen typing is permitted but slow.
When are CASPer results released?
Results are released to schools (not directly to you) approximately three weeks after your test date. You will not see your quartile or scenario-by-scenario score. Schools incorporate your CASPer result into their composite ranking — you only learn your relative performance through whether you receive an interview or offer.
How do I prepare for CASPer when I never see my score?
Practice on parallel third-party CASPer simulators that score against the same rubric Acuity uses (consideration of multiple stakeholders, professional reasoning, structured response). Watch yourself back on recorded practice scenarios — most candidates discover their responses are 30% shorter than they thought. Build a library of 20-30 lived-experience anecdotes you can deploy across scenarios.
What is the difference between CASPer and Snapshot?
Both are Acuity Insights products. CASPer is text-and-video stimulus with typed responses to scenarios. Snapshot is a one-way video interview — you record yourself answering three set questions on camera, no live interviewer. Some Australian schools use only CASPer (Monash undergraduate); some use only Snapshot; some use both. Each is scored independently.
Can I retake CASPer if I do badly?
Not in the same cycle. You can only sit CASPer once per application cycle. If your score is poor (Quartile 1 or weak Quartile 2) you cannot re-sit until the next cycle begins. This is why preparation matters — and why prep on parallel simulators is the only meaningful diagnostic available.
Is CASPer fair to international applicants?
CASPer is run in English globally, with the same scenarios across cohorts. Acuity does not provide regional or language adaptations. International applicants can sit CASPer from their home country at the same times as Australian-domiciled candidates. The scenarios occasionally include culturally Western-centric ethical situations; international applicants may want to read AHPRA codes of conduct alongside the GMC equivalents.
Will CASPer be used at more Australian schools in future?
The trend is towards expansion. CASPer was introduced to Australian medicine selection by Monash (undergraduate) and has been added by Curtin, with Snapshot also used at several schools. Universities have publicly stated CASPer adds non-cognitive signal that ATAR and UCAT-ANZ alone don't capture. Expect one or two more Australian medical schools to add CASPer or Snapshot in the next 2-3 cycles.

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Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: 28 May 2026