What Is a Good CASPer Score?

A good CASPer score is not a single number applicants can look up. Applicants receive a quartile, while programs receive the official program-facing CASPer result from Acuity Insights. That means “good” has to be interpreted as a practical admissions signal, not as a public score cutoff.

For applicants who want structured support alongside this article, CASPer prep with AI feedback connects ethical reasoning, timed practice, and AI feedback in one CASPer prep routine.

For most applicants, a 3rd or 4th quartile result is reassuring. A 2nd quartile result is usable but less distinctive. A 1st quartile result deserves reflection, but it does not mean you failed CASPer or that your application is automatically over.

If you need the broader test context first, start with the Ultimate Guide to CASPer.

Quick Answer

A good CASPer result is one that supports your application’s evidence of judgment, communication, empathy, fairness, accountability, collaboration, and self-awareness. Since applicants only see quartiles, the cleanest applicant-facing interpretation is:

Applicant quartile	What it generally means	How to treat it
1st quartile	Other applicants in your comparison group generally had stronger responses	Reflect on response habits, but do not treat it as a failed test
2nd quartile	Lower-middle applicant-facing band	Keep it in context and strengthen related evidence elsewhere
3rd quartile	Above the lower half of the cohort	Treat it as a positive supporting signal
4th quartile	Highest applicant-facing band	Treat it as a strong result, not an admissions guarantee

There is no public, universal CASPer score that is “good enough” for every medical school or health professions program. Programs decide how they use CASPer in their own processes, and applicants are not shown the full score programs receive.

For a deeper explanation of the applicant-facing bands, read CASPer Quartiles Explained.

Why “Good” Is Different for CASPer

CASPer is an open-response situational judgment test. In the 2026-2027 format for most applicants, it includes video-response and typed-response scenarios, and the typed and video sections are combined into one overall result for programs.

Each scenario is evaluated by a different trained human rater, and responses are anonymized before evaluation. Your quartile is not a detailed score report. It is a comparison band showing how your performance fell relative to other test takers in the same test type and cohort.

That creates three limits:

What applicants can see	What applicants cannot see
Their quartile band	The exact program-facing score
Relative standing within the cohort	How close they were to another quartile
A broad signal of response strength	Each program’s internal weighting or interpretation

So a “good CASPer score” should be judged by function. Did it reinforce the rest of your file? Did it reach the right programs on time? Does it fit the professionalism story your essays, activities, letters, and interviews are trying to tell?

Is 4th Quartile Always Good?

Yes, from the applicant perspective, 4th quartile is a strong CASPer result. It places you in the highest applicant-facing band among comparable test takers. It suggests your responses were relatively strong in the competencies CASPer is designed to assess.

But it is still only one part of an application. A 4th quartile result does not erase weak academics, vague motivation, limited clinical exposure, or generic writing. It is most helpful when it matches the rest of the file: concrete examples of ethical reasoning, listening, accountability, teamwork, and reflection.

Is 3rd Quartile a Good CASPer Score?

A 3rd quartile result is generally good and should be reassuring. It means your applicant-facing result was above the lower half of the comparison group. For most applicants, that should not trigger a major strategy change.

The better next step is consistency. If CASPer suggests solid interpersonal judgment, make sure your written application does the same. Activities and essays should show how you handled disagreement, corrected mistakes, supported others, communicated under pressure, or made fair decisions when there was no perfect answer.

What If Your Score Is 2nd Quartile?

A 2nd quartile result is not ideal, but it is not a disaster. It means your quartile fell in the lower-middle band for your test type and cohort. Since applicants do not see the full program-facing result, you should avoid overinterpreting it as an exact weakness.

Use it as a signal to strengthen the rest of your application. Look for places where you can show mature judgment more concretely: how you responded to feedback, handled conflict, communicated with patients or teammates, recognized a limitation, or changed your behavior after reflection.

If this is your result, read What Does 2nd Quartile Mean? for a more focused interpretation.

What If Your Score Is 1st Quartile?

A 1st quartile result means other applicants generally had stronger responses. It does not mean you lack empathy, professionalism, or ethics. It also does not prove that a school will reject you because of CASPer.

Still, it is worth taking seriously. Common issues include answers that are too brief, overly absolute, missing stakeholder perspectives, light on explanation, or focused only on what the applicant would do without explaining why. If you are applying broadly, your remaining materials should make your interpersonal and professional judgment more visible.

For a careful breakdown, use What Does 1st Quartile Mean?.

Timing Can Matter as Much as the Quartile

A strong CASPer result only helps if it is sent to the right programs while they are still accepting scores. Results are usually sent directly to programs about 2-3 weeks after the test. Applicants usually receive their quartile about 4-5 weeks after the test, so programs may receive the official result before you see your quartile.

Timing issue	What to know
Program distribution	Usually occurs about 2-3 weeks after the test
Applicant quartile	Usually available about 4-5 weeks after the test
Adding programs later	Possible if the program still accepts scores and uses the same test type
Retaking CASPer	Same test type can usually be taken only once per admissions cycle

Do not wait for your quartile to confirm your program list. Before testing, verify the test type, dates, and distribution deadlines through Acuity’s Dates and Fees page, the program page, and the school admissions page.

How To Respond to Your Result

Your result	Best next move
4th quartile	Keep building interview examples; do not assume CASPer carries the file
3rd quartile	Treat it as supportive and keep your application evidence consistent
2nd quartile	Make communication, judgment, and reflection more concrete elsewhere
1st quartile	Avoid panic, review response habits, and strengthen the rest of the file
Quartile pending	Focus on delivery status, program list accuracy, and deadlines

The key is not to treat CASPer like a standalone ranking. A good result helps most when it lines up with the rest of your application. A lower result is something to contextualize, not something to catastrophize.

Related CASPer Resources

Final Takeaway

A good CASPer score is usually a 3rd or 4th quartile applicant result, but the better definition is broader: it supports your application, fits the rest of your evidence, and reaches the correct programs on time. Lower quartiles deserve thoughtful follow-up, not panic. Higher quartiles are helpful, not guarantees.