Understanding your score
Casper quartile scores: what Q1-Q4 actually means.
Casper doesn't give you a percentage or a letter grade. You receive a quartile for each section of the test; programs receive a standardized z-score and percentile. Those are not the same thing, and the gap between them matters more than most applicants expect.
What each quartile means
You receive one quartile for the video response section and one for the typed response section, about 4-5 weeks after your test. Each quartile reflects your position relative to other test-takers. Scoring is relative, so the same performance can land in different quartiles on different test dates.
Strong performance across most scenarios. Answers are specific, grounded, and show clear perspective-taking. These responses feel like they're from someone who has thought carefully about how other people experience difficult situations.
Solid but uneven. Some scenarios land well; others are too vague or stay too close to one side of the situation. Generally competitive for most programs. Many applicants aim for at least Q3.
Answers follow a reasonable structure but often miss the interpersonal complexity of the scenario. May read as generic, rushed, or overly black-and-white. Usually below competitive range for selective programs.
Significant weaknesses across multiple scenarios: answers too short, off the point, or too extreme. Targeted practice makes a real difference here.
What programs actually receive: z-scores, not quartiles
You see the quartile; programs never do. Since the 2024-25 cycle, Acuity Insights sends programs a single standardized z-score (how far your result sits from the average of your test-taker cohort) along with a percentile rank. Your quartile and the program-facing z-score describe the same underlying performance at different levels of detail.
This matters for how you interpret cutoffs. A program screening on Casper sees a continuous score, not a quartile band. Two applicants who both received Q3 can look meaningfully different to a program if one sits at the 55th percentile and the other at the 74th.
How programs use your Casper score
Programs receive your z-score and percentile directly from Acuity Insights. What they do with it varies:
01
Some programs screen on the score
A number of competitive medical and health professions programs use Casper as a screen before the next stage of evaluation. Because they see a continuous percentile rather than a quartile band, the threshold is theirs to set. Some publish guidance; many don't.
02
Some programs use it as one factor among several
Other programs weigh Casper alongside your GPA, reference letters, personal statement, and other materials. In these cases, a weaker Casper result might be offset by an otherwise strong application, but the higher your percentile, the stronger your position.
03
Check each program's published requirements
Programs vary significantly in how they use Casper. The specific programs you're applying to are the best source of information about their current requirements and cutoffs.
What separates a Q3 from a Q4
The difference between Q3 and Q4 isn't knowing more or writing more. It's usually one of these:
Specificity over intention
Q3 answers often describe what you would do. Q4 answers show it. Instead of "I'd speak to the person respectfully," a Q4 response writes out what that conversation actually sounds like.
Holding the tension
Most scenarios are designed to have competing legitimate concerns rather than a clear villain and a clear victim. Q3 answers often take one side and defend it. Q4 answers acknowledge both sides genuinely before settling on a response. This doesn't mean being wishy-washy; it means you noticed the tension and made a thoughtful call anyway.
Proportionate next steps
Q4 answers propose realistic next steps, without dramatic escalation or naive minimising. They sound like something a reasonable adult would do rather than a textbook ideal.
How to improve your quartile
The most common reasons for a lower quartile are predictable, which means they're fixable with the right kind of practice:
Common issue
Generic answers
Fix
Write out what you would literally say, not just what you would do. Specificity is what separates Q3 from Q4.
Common issue
Running out of time
Fix
Practice completing both answers inside the 3.5-minute clock under actual time pressure. Most people write much less when the clock is real.
Common issue
Taking one side too quickly
Fix
Before you respond, ask: who else is affected here? What are their reasons? Acknowledge both before committing.
Common issue
Proposing unrealistic steps
Fix
Before writing your next step, ask: would a sensible person actually do this? If not, what would they do?
Fixing these takes practice under time pressure and feedback on where your answers fall short, not more reading about what good answers look like.
Full preparation guide →See where you land
Get a practice score and band with your free sample.
Casper Prep Test scores every answer and gives you a practice band alongside the feedback, and once enough sittings are on the site you also see how yours ranks against the completed sittings recorded here, calibration sittings included. The sample is free and doesn't need a card.
Practice scores, bands, and rankings are practice measures, not official Acuity Insights scores.
Questions about Casper quartiles
What is a good CASPER quartile?
Q3 (50th-75th percentile) is generally considered competitive for most programs. Q4 (top 25%) is excellent. Keep in mind that programs see a continuous z-score and percentile rather than your quartile band, so the higher within a quartile you land, the better. Check the requirements for each specific program you're applying to.
Do programs see my CASPER quartile?
No. Applicants see quartiles, one for the video response section and one for the typed response section. Programs receive a standardized z-score and percentile from Acuity Insights instead. Both describe the same underlying performance.
How is the CASPER quartile calculated?
Your quartile is based on your score relative to other test-takers. Q4 is the top 25%, Q3 is the 50th-75th percentile, Q2 is the 25th-50th percentile, and Q1 is the bottom 25%. Because scoring is relative, the same performance can land in different quartiles on different test dates.
How long until I get my CASPER results?
Applicants typically receive their quartile scores about 4-5 weeks after the test date. Check the Acuity Insights website or your registration confirmation for the specific schedule for your test date.
Can I improve my CASPER quartile with practice?
Yes. The most common reasons for a lower quartile are generic answers, poor time management, and failing to show concrete perspective-taking. Focused timed practice with feedback on these specific weaknesses can lead to meaningful improvement.
Can I retake CASPER to get a better quartile?
Generally, you cannot retake Casper within the same application cycle. It can be taken again in a subsequent cycle. Check with Acuity Insights and the specific programs you're applying to for current policies.
Is the practice quartile in Casper Prep Test accurate?
Casper Prep Test gives each answer a practice score and band from an AI grader, and once enough full sittings have been recorded on the site, your report also shows a percentile and quartile against the other completed sittings here, including calibration sittings the site generates and grades itself to seed the comparison. Both are practice indicators, not official Acuity Insights scores or predictions of your actual result.