If you're applying to medical school in Australia, there's a good chance CASPer is already on your radar — but knowing when to sit it is just as important as knowing how to prepare for it.
CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics) is an online situational judgement test used by select Australian medical schools to evaluate the non-academic qualities that matter in medicine: empathy, ethical reasoning, communication, professionalism, and sound decision-making under pressure. Unlike the GAMSAT or UCAT, which test academic and cognitive ability, CASPer is designed to assess the kind of person you are — and how you respond when things get complicated.
This guide is written for all prospective medical applicants in Australia, including:
- GEMSAS graduate-entry applicants applying to postgraduate medicine programs
- Undergraduate medicine applicants applying directly from secondary school or early university
- Direct-entry pathway students at universities with their own independent admissions processes
Why does timing matter so much? Because CASPer test dates are limited throughout the year, results take time to process, and each Australian university that uses CASPer has its own strict deadlines for receiving scores. Book too late, and you risk your results not arriving in time — or worse, missing out on a sitting entirely.
What Is the CASPer Test and Why Does Timing Matter?
The CASPer Format
CASPer is delivered entirely online through the Altus Assessments platform. The test consists of 11 scenarios and 22 questions in total, presented as a mix of video-based and text-based situations. For each scenario, you have a limited window to type your responses — so clear, structured thinking under time pressure is essential.
The scenarios are designed to be ambiguous. There's rarely a single "right" answer. What assessors are looking for is your reasoning process, your awareness of competing values, and your ability to communicate thoughtfully and professionally.
How Your CASPer Results Are Distributed
Once you complete CASPer, your results are processed by Altus Assessments and sent directly to the institutions you selected during registration. You don't need to manually forward your scores. Each university receives your section scores, typically presented as standardised or percentile rankings, which are then weighed alongside your academic record, GAMSAT/UCAT scores, and other admissions components.
It's worth noting that you select your recipient institutions at the time of booking, so you need to have your list of target universities confirmed before you sit.
Why Early Timing Matters when Sitting the CASPer Test
Sitting CASPer early — rather than scrambling to fit it in before a deadline — gives you several important advantages:
- More flexibility in choosing your preferred date and time slot
- A buffer if you encounter technical issues on test day (internet drops, platform errors, etc.)
- Reduced stress during the peak application period
- Adequate preparation time, so you're not cramming for CASPer while also finalising your GEMSAS application
Results typically take 2–3 weeks to be processed and distributed. If you sit CASPer the week before a university's deadline, you're cutting it very fine.
Key Application Timelines in Australia for CASPer
GEMSAS Timeline (2026 Entry — Courses Starting 2027)
For most graduate-entry medicine applicants, GEMSAS (Graduate Entry Medical School Admissions System) is the central application portal. The approximate timeline for 2026 entry is:
- Applications open: Early May 2026
- Applications close: 29 May 2026 (5:00 PM AEST)
- Supporting documents deadline: 15 June 2026 (e.g. academic transcripts, supporting statements)
- Interview offers released: Late 2026
- Final offers: Late October / early November 2026
Important: CASPer results need to be received by universities before their individual deadlines — which may differ from the GEMSAS closing date. Always check each university's specific requirements.
Non-GEMSAS and Undergraduate Pathways for CASPer
Not all Australian medical schools operate through GEMSAS. Some undergraduate programs — particularly those at universities offering 4–5 year direct-entry graduate medicine — run their own admissions processes with separate timelines.
For undergraduate medicine, the UCAT ANZ is typically the primary cognitive assessment (sitting mid-year, around July), while CASPer requirements vary. Some universities use it; others don't. Always confirm requirements directly with the institutions you're targeting.
Which Australian Medical Schools Require CASPer?
As of the most recent admissions cycles, the following Australian universities require CASPer as part of their medical admissions process:
- University of Notre Dame Sydney (UNDS)
- University of Notre Dame Fremantle (UNDF)
- University of Wollongong (UoW)
Note: Requirements can change year to year. Always verify directly with the university and check the Altus Assessments website for the most current list of participating institutions in Australia.
When Should You Sit CASPer?
The Recommended CASPer Window: April to May
For most Australian applicants targeting GEMSAS institutions, the optimal window to sit CASPer is April to May — approximately 1–2 months before application deadlines close. This gives you enough time to:
- Receive your processed results (2–3 weeks after sitting)
- Confirm scores have been distributed to your chosen universities
- Resolve any technical issues or discrepancies before deadlines pass
The Earliest You Can Sit the CASPer Test
CASPer test dates typically open early in the calendar year. Sitting at the earliest available opportunity — particularly in February or March — is a viable strategy for applicants who want maximum flexibility. Benefits include:
- First pick of available time slots
- More breathing room if something goes wrong
- Freedom to focus on other preparation (GAMSAT, UCAT, interviews) as the year progresses
The Latest Safe Date to Sit the CASPer Test
In practical terms, the latest safe date is approximately 4–5 weeks before your university's deadline for receiving scores. Cutting it to 2 weeks or less is genuinely risky because:
- Score processing can take up to 3 weeks
- Technical delays or platform issues are not unheard of
- If your scores don't arrive in time, most universities will not make exceptions
CASPer Test Dates and Booking Strategy
CASPer is offered multiple times throughout the year via the Altus Assessments booking portal. Sittings are available globally, delivered online, which means you can choose times that suit Australian time zones — but popular slots fill up quickly, particularly in March–May when many applicants are booking.
Key booking tips for CASPer:
- Register on the Altus Assessments platform well in advance of when you plan to sit
- Select your recipient institutions carefully at time of booking — you won't be able to add them after the fact without additional fees
- Check that your technology meets the platform's requirements (stable internet, working webcam, quiet environment) well before test day
- Set a calendar reminder for score release so you can confirm receipt with your universities
How CASPer Timing Fits With Other Medical Entry Exams
CASPer and GAMSAT for CASPer
GAMSAT is offered twice per year: March and September. Most GEMSAS applicants sit in March, with September as a backup or resit opportunity.
If you're planning to sit GAMSAT in March, consider sitting CASPer after GAMSAT but within the same preparation period — ideally in April or May. This avoids burning out on two high-stakes assessments simultaneously while still landing well within application deadlines.
For September GAMSAT sitters applying in the same cycle, timing becomes tighter. In this case, sitting CASPer before GAMSAT (e.g. in August) may allow for better sequencing — but check whether your results will still be valid and distributable in time.
Read more about the GAMSAT exam here.
CASPer and UCAT ANZ for CASPer
The UCAT ANZ is primarily used for undergraduate medicine applications and typically runs in July. If you're applying via both undergraduate and graduate pathways, you may be managing UCAT prep (June–July) and CASPer prep concurrently.
The good news is that CASPer and UCAT test very different skills. CASPer is about ethical reasoning and communication; UCAT includes abstract reasoning, verbal reasoning, and decision-making under strict time limits. Preparing for both at once is manageable with structured scheduling, but try to sit CASPer before peak UCAT preparation ramps up — ideally by May.
Read more about the UCAT exam here.
CASPer and ISAT for CASPer
The ISAT (International Student Admissions Test) is used primarily for international students applying to some Australian and New Zealand medical schools. If you're required to sit both ISAT and CASPer, check the specific deadlines for each institution carefully — ISAT and CASPer timelines don't always align neatly, and each has its own booking window.
Read more about the ISAT exam here.
What Happens After You Sit CASPer?
Once you've completed CASPer, the following process unfolds:
- Score processing (2–3 weeks): Altus Assessments grades and standardises your responses. You won't receive a raw score — instead, your performance is expressed as a percentile or section ranking.
- Automatic distribution: Your results are sent directly to the institutions you nominated during registration. You don't need to do anything further in most cases.
- No retakes in the same cycle: In most cases, CASPer can only be sat once per admissions cycle. This makes preparation — and timing — all the more important.
- Validity period: CASPer results are valid for one application cycle only. You cannot carry results from a previous year into a new application.
Common CASPer Timing Mistakes to Avoid
1. Leaving CASPer too lateThe most common mistake. Applicants focus on GAMSAT or UCAT prep and treat CASPer as an afterthought — only to find available slots are scarce and scores won't arrive before deadlines.
2. Not checking university-specific deadlinesGEMSAS has its own timeline, but each university within GEMSAS may have a separate CASPer score receipt deadline. Don't assume the application close date and the CASPer deadline are the same.
3. Assuming all schools accept the same test dateSome universities set earlier internal deadlines for receiving CASPer results. Always confirm directly with the admissions office of each university you're applying to.
4. Booking without preparation timeCASPer isn't something you can meaningfully prepare for in 48 hours. Build in at least 2–4 weeks of genuine practice — using scenarios, timed typing, and reflection on values-based reasoning — before you sit.
5. Forgetting to select recipient universities at bookingYou choose which institutions receive your scores when you register. Adding recipients later incurs fees. Make your university shortlist before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary: CASPer Timing at a Glance
Where To Next?
If you found this article helpful, don’t stop here! Fraser’s Medical has more resources to help students navigate medical school. Explore our other in-depth articles and tools to deepen your understanding, strengthen your preparation, and stay ahead in your medical journey:
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