Complete guide · Updated 27 May 2026
The Casper test in Australia (2026 guide)
The Casper test is Australia's standard situational judgement test for medical, general practice, teaching, nursing, and psychology selection. Here is the format, cost, 2026 sitting dates, who needs to take it, and how to prepare — for every Australian program that uses it.
Quick facts: 65–85 minutes total, 11 scenarios (4 video + 7 typed), assesses 9 competencies, does not test clinical knowledge, costs from $55 AUD per sitting depending on program ($190 for RACGP AGPT).
What is the Casper test in Australia?
The Casper test in Australia is an online, open-response situational judgement test (SJT) delivered by Acuity Insights. It measures how you reason about interpersonal and ethical dilemmas — empathy, communication, fairness, ethics, self-awareness, and judgement — through 11 scenarios answered as a mix of video and typed responses.
Casper is used in Australia by the RACGP as the National Entry Assessment for the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program, and as a selection criterion by several Australian medical schools, teaching programs, nursing courses, and psychology degrees. It does not assess clinical or subject-matter knowledge — every scenario is solvable from general life experience and professional judgement.
From 2025, the RACGP adopted Casper as its National Entry Assessment in place of the previous in-house SJT. Acuity Insights still develops and delivers the test; the RACGP uses your equated raw score as one input into AGPT and FSP selection rankings.
Who needs to take the Casper test in Australia?
Casper is mandatory or strongly weighted in admissions for these Australian programs in 2026:
General practice training (AGPT)
All doctors applying to AGPT 2027 through the RACGP must complete the National Entry Assessment (Casper) as a selection requirement. Applicants to ACRRM use the same sitting. See our full RACGP Casper test guide for AGPT-specific format, dates, and prep.
Medical schools
University of Wollongong (graduate-entry MD), University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney and Fremantle, graduate-entry MD), and Curtin University all use Casper as part of graduate-entry medical school admissions. Some allied health and paramedic programs at these universities also use Casper.
Teaching and education
Deakin University, Monash University, and Victoria University require Casper for initial teacher education courses (primary, secondary, early childhood). Casper forms part of the non-academic component of selection set by Victorian legislation.
Nursing and psychology
Selected nursing programs and graduate psychology courses (including Deakin psychology) use Casper as a holistic admissions criterion. Always confirm the current requirement on the official program page before booking.
Casper test 2026 dates in Australia
Australian sittings vary by program. For RACGP AGPT 2027, three windows run in 2026:
Sun 22 March 11am AEDT or Wed 25 March 7pm AEDT. Booking 12–18 March. (Closed.)
Sun 24 May 11am, Wed 27 May 7pm, or Sat 30 May 11am AEST. Booking 13–20 May.
Sat 22 August 11am or Wed 26 August 7pm AEST. Booking 12–19 August.
Medical schools (UoW, Notre Dame, Curtin) and teaching courses (Deakin, Monash, VU) run their own Casper sittings on dates set by Acuity Insights for each institution. Once you nominate a program in your Acuity account, the available sitting windows for that program are shown to you. See our AGPT 2027 key dates guide for the full RACGP timeline including application deadlines.
How much does the Casper test cost in Australia?
Casper test cost in Australia depends on the program you are applying to. You pay Acuity Insights directly at registration; the fee is non-refundable.
| Program | Casper fee (AUD) | Per extra institution |
|---|---|---|
| RACGP AGPT (National Entry Assessment) | $190 | N/A (single college) |
| Medical schools (UoW, Notre Dame, Curtin) | Confirm at registration | ~$30 per extra |
| Teaching — Monash | $55 | ~$30 per extra |
| Teaching — Deakin, VU | Confirm at registration | ~$30 per extra |
| Nursing / psychology programs | Confirm at registration | ~$30 per extra |
Acuity Insights occasionally adjusts pricing — always confirm the exact fee on the registration page before paying. There is no group discount; each candidate pays individually. The fee includes the test sitting itself, one distribution to your primary institution, and access to the official practice test in your Acuity account.
Casper test format and structure
The Casper test is a single online sitting lasting 65–85 minutes including optional breaks. It is remotely proctored via webcam and cannot be paused once started.
Section 1: 4 video-response scenarios
You watch a short video scenario, then answer 2 questions presented one at a time. You have 1 minute to record each video response via your webcam. 8 video answers total.
Section 2: 7 typed-response scenarios
You read a written scenario with 2 questions presented together. You have 3 minutes 30 seconds to type your responses to both questions. 14 typed answers total. Speech-to-text and dictation software are not permitted.
Scoring
Each of the 22 answers is scored holistically on a Q1–Q4 quartile band by an independent human rater. Approximately 4–5 weeks after sitting you receive your quartile scores via Acuity Insights, and your raw equated score is shared with the institutions you nominated.
For a deeper breakdown of the typed-response section and how to use the 3.5-minute window effectively, see our typed response strategy guide.
What does the Casper test assess?
The 9 RACGP competencies measured by Casper for AGPT — and overlapping closely with what Acuity Insights uses for medical and teaching Casper sittings — are:
Collaboration
Communication
Empathy
Fairness
Ethics
Self-awareness
Resilience
Problem-solving
Motivation
Each answer is scored holistically against a subset of these competencies — no single answer is expected to demonstrate all 9. Your job is to show as many relevant competencies as you can per response without sounding rehearsed.
How to prepare for the Casper test
Most successful candidates prepare over 6–8 weeks. A typical structure:
- Weeks 1–2: read official materials, understand the 9 competencies and what each looks like in practice.
- Weeks 2–3: complete free practice scenarios to identify your weakest competencies.
- Weeks 3–6: focused practice on weak areas, with Q4 model answers to compare against.
- Weeks 6–8: full timed mock sittings simulating the real test — including the 3.5-minute typed window. Review every response against model answers.
- Final week: light practice only, focus on test-day setup and managing nerves.
Typing speed matters for the typed-response section: 60+ WPM is a practical minimum, 80+ WPM gives meaningful thinking time. You can check yours on our free typing speed test.
For a structured preparation plan, see our Casper prep resources guide and start with a free timed scenario at /practice.
Casper test Australia vs international Casper: what is different?
The Australian Casper test runs on the same Acuity Insights platform used in Canada and the US, but Australian sittings are separate and use Australian-context scenarios.
- Administrator: the RACGP runs the AGPT sitting since 2025; Acuity Insights handles platform delivery for all Australian sittings.
- Cost: AUD $190 for RACGP AGPT; Australian university sittings are set per-institution on Acuity (Monash teaching is $55 as a confirmed reference). Pricing differs from US/Canadian sittings.
- Format: the Australian Casper is the full typed + video SJT (Casper-21) format, not the shorter Snapshot or Duet variants Acuity offers in some markets.
- Scenarios: Australian sittings use Australian-context scenarios where possible (e.g. AHPRA references, GP context for the RACGP version). North American practice materials transfer in general SJT strategy but not in scenario context.
- Eligibility: for the RACGP AGPT sitting, only doctors with AHPRA registration (or eligibility for it) and PGY2+ experience can sit.
Casper test Australia: frequently asked questions
What is the Casper test in Australia?
The Casper test in Australia is an online, open-response situational judgement test (SJT) delivered by Acuity Insights. It assesses personal and professional attributes — empathy, ethics, communication, fairness, and judgement — through 11 scenario-based questions answered as a mix of video and typed responses. The test does not assess clinical knowledge. In Australia, it is the RACGP National Entry Assessment for general practice training and a selection criterion for several medical, teaching, nursing, and psychology programs.
Who needs to take the Casper test in Australia?
In Australia, the Casper test is required for: (1) doctors applying to the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program via the RACGP or ACRRM, (2) graduate-entry medicine applicants at the University of Wollongong, University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney and Fremantle), and Curtin University, (3) education degrees at Deakin University, Monash University, and Victoria University, and (4) several psychology and nursing programs that use Casper as a holistic admissions criterion.
How much does the Casper test cost in Australia?
Casper test cost in Australia varies by program. The RACGP National Entry Assessment (for AGPT) costs $190 AUD per sitting and is non-refundable. Australian university programs set their own fee on Acuity Insights — Monash teaching is currently $55 AUD; medicine sittings (UoW, Notre Dame, Curtin) are typically higher. Plan on $30 AUD per additional university you distribute your score to. Always confirm the exact fee on the Acuity registration page for your program before paying.
How long is the Casper test?
The Casper test takes approximately 65–85 minutes including optional breaks. It comprises 11 scenarios: 4 video-response scenarios (1 minute to record each answer) and 7 typed-response scenarios (3.5 minutes to answer both questions in each scenario). Most candidates finish in around 75 minutes. Plan for a 90-minute window to allow for setup, ID verification, and tech checks before the timer starts.
When are the 2026 Casper test dates in Australia?
For RACGP AGPT 2027 entry, the 2026 sitting windows are: March (22 & 25 March, booking 12–18 March — now closed), May (24, 27 & 30 May, booking 13–20 May), and August (22 & 26 August, booking 12–19 August). Australian university programs (medicine, teaching) run their own Casper sittings on different dates set by Acuity Insights — check the program admissions page or your Acuity Insights account for program-specific windows.
Is it hard to pass the Casper test?
The Casper test is not pass/fail. It is scored on a Q1–Q4 quartile scale by independent human raters. For the RACGP National Entry Assessment, the RACGP sets a minimum standard each year and candidates below it cannot apply to AGPT or FSP. For other programs, your Casper score is one input alongside academic results and other criteria. The objective difficulty comes from time pressure and unfamiliar scenarios, not from clinical or technical knowledge — preparation across the 9 competencies meaningfully raises most candidates by at least one quartile band.
How do you prepare for the Casper test?
Effective Casper preparation has four stages: (1) read the official Acuity Insights and program-specific materials, (2) complete free practice scenarios to identify your weakest competencies (PRAXIS offers timed AU-context scenarios with AI-scored Q1–Q4 feedback), (3) do focused practice on weak areas with model Q4 answers to compare against, and (4) run full timed mock sittings in the final 1–2 weeks before your test. Typing speed of 60+ WPM is the minimum for the typed-response section; 80+ WPM gives meaningful thinking time. Total preparation typically takes 6–8 weeks.
How long do Casper test results take?
Casper test results are typically released 4–5 weeks after sitting. You receive your quartile bands (Q1–Q4) per scenario via your Acuity Insights account, and your raw equated score is shared directly with the institutions you nominated at registration. For RACGP AGPT, only the equated raw score (not the quartile band) is used as an input into selection ranking.
Is the Casper test in Australia the same as overseas Casper?
It uses the same Acuity Insights platform but is a separate sitting from North American Casper tests. Key Australian-specific differences: the RACGP AGPT version is administered by the RACGP since 2025 (Acuity Insights still handles delivery); costs differ from international markets; and Australian Casper sittings include the full typed + video SJT format (the shorter multiple-choice variant used by some non-medical programs overseas is not used here). Scenarios are generally written in an Australian context for AU sittings.
What competencies does the Casper test assess?
The Casper test assesses 9 competencies for the RACGP National Entry Assessment: collaboration, communication, empathy, fairness, ethics, self-awareness, resilience, problem-solving, and motivation. Each answer is scored holistically against a subset of these by an independent rater. The competencies for medical, teaching, and other programs overlap heavily — Acuity Insights uses the same underlying construct across all Casper sittings.