Altus Suite is a multi-part assessment that gives each applicant the opportunity for programs to get to know them better, earlier on in the admissions process to stand out from the crowd, by demonstrating their unique competencies and attributes that showcase who they are, beyond their grades.

Altus Suite is comprised of:

• Casper – an open-response, situational judgment test that evaluates aspects of applicants’ social intelligence and professionalism such as ethics, empathy, problem-solving and collaboration
• Snapshot – a short, one-way video interview that further probes applicants’ communication skills, self reflection and motivation for the profession
• Duet – a value-alignment assessment that compares what applicants value most in a program to what the programs have to offer (only applies to applicants to US undergraduate and graduate medical programs).

Together, these standardized selection tools paint a more complete picture of who you are so that programs consider more than just your grades.

Programs are looking to make sure that students are not only academically capable but also possess suitable personal and professional qualities that make them more likely to succeed on the job.

It depends on the type of program(s) you’re applying to. Paramedics, applicants to programs in the UK, applicants to Canadian and US business schools and applicants to Canadian post-graduate medical programs are only taking Casper at this time. Altus Suite (Casper, Snapshot, and Duet), is only applicable to undergraduate and graduate medical programs, while Casper and Snapshot may be applicable to all other programs. To know the specifics about your programs’ Altus Suite requirements, please check our Dates and Fees page and your individual program’s website(s) for information on whether Snapshot and/or Duet is an admissions requirement or not. 

Our recommendation is to complete all parts of Altus Suite within 14 days of taking the Casper test. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Snapshot and/or Duet at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page.

We recommend that you check which components of Altus Suite are required by your program for their admissions process by visiting our Dates and Fees page and also on the program’s individual website(s). Please be informed that Snapshot and Duet are included in Altus Suite at no extra cost and do not require reservations. Snapshot and Duet take approximately 15 minutes each to complete.

No. While you have to take the Casper test at a specific time, Snapshot and Duet can be completed anytime after booking your Casper test and no later than 14 days after taking the Casper test. Please note that Duet is only applicable to US undergraduate and graduate medical programs. Also, please check our Dates and Fees page and your program website(s) for information on whether Snapshot is an admissions requirement or not. 

You must take the Casper test on one of the dates indicated for the program(s) you wish to apply to, as shown on the Dates and Fees page. All test dates and distribution deadlines are pre-arranged with academic programs and tests are processed as a group to ensure timely delivery of scores. Be sure to reserve your Casper test at least 3 days in advance of your desired test date to allow for identity verification and payment processing timelines. Last-minute bookings are not recommended. If you require testing accommodations, you must submit all necessary forms and supporting documentation 3 weeks prior to the time of your scheduled test.

Our recommendation is to complete all additional parts of Altus Suite, such as Snapshot and Duet, within 14 days of taking the Casper test. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Snapshot and/or Duet at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page.

If you choose not to, or are unable to, complete Snapshot and/or Duet, your Casper score will still be sent to the program(s) on your distribution list, though your Snapshot response and/or Duet scores will be empty. Keep in mind that Casper scores are distributed approximately 2-3 weeks after the test date. 

Important: Check the time zone carefully to ensure you have the correct date and time for your test. Test times are in the North American Eastern time zone EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) or EST (Eastern Savings Time), unless indicated otherwise. To avoid time zone scheduling issues, check the countdown timer on your test page in your Altus Suite account.

Altus Suite is new for the 2021/22 admissions cycle, and as such, some programs may still list only Casper as a requirement on their websites. 

If a particular program has indicated that they will not be considering Snapshot (or Duet, for applicants to US Medicine and GME programs) for their admissions decisions, it is still recommended that you complete them within 14 days of taking Casper. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Snapshot and/or Duet at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page. 

Casper results will be sent to programs 2-3 weeks after your test, regardless of whether Snapshot and Duet have been completed, though your Snapshot response and/or Duet scores will be empty. 

Snapshot allows you to demonstrate your communication skills, motivation, and ability to self-reflect, giving programs a preview of who you are as an individual. Duet gives you a chance to highlight your application to programs where there is strong alignment between what you value in a program and what the program can offer to you. 

Snapshot and Duet are included in Altus Suite at no extra cost and do not require reservations. Snapshot and Duet take approximately 10 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively, to complete.

Each part of Altus Suite is evaluated differently, but together they aim to highlight different aspects of your personal and professional qualities. 

• Casper is scored by a diverse group of human raters. Each section of a test is scored by a different rater. The group of raters reflects the diversity of the population. All raters are extensively trained, vetted and invested in the future of the profession.
• Snapshot is rated by the programs. Like our Casper raters, those who rate Snapshot responses go through extensive training, including implicit bias, and they’re provided rubrics to guide their reviews.
• Duet scores are automatically generated based on the alignment between your rankings and those of the programs to which you’re applying (programs complete the Duet assessment first).

Altus Suite is flexible and can be used in different ways by programs at multiple points in their process so that they’re considering an applicant’s personal and professional attributes the whole way through. Results can be used early on in the process, aid in selecting candidates to interview or prioritize applicants in the ranking/offer process.

No. While you have to book a specific date to take the Casper test, you are only making one payment to take all applicable parts of Altus Suite.

After completing the registration process for your Altus Suite account, you will be able to reserve your Casper test and pay for the suite of assessments.

All payments must be made with a valid credit card. We accept major credit cards, including, but not limited to, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Debit cards are not accepted.

Please ensure to provide the exact email address, telephone number and the billing address your credit card bank has on file for you.

Since we are a Canadian company, some banks in other countries may block your payment in order to prevent fraud. If you reside outside of Canada, please contact your bank to ensure that your payment is authorized.

Please Note:

• The charge on your credit card will be displayed as TAKEALTUS.COM TORONTO CAN.
• Incorrect program selection or change of mind is not grounds for a refund.
• All payments are valid for the current admissions cycle.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Program Fee Waivers or coupons are used by a small subset of programs that have requested to absorb the assessment fee for their applicants. Programs providing Program Fee Waivers will communicate this directly to their applicants via email. 

Altus Assessments does not provide Program Fee Waiver codes to applicants. 

Program Fee Waiver codes will only cover the base fee + distribution fee to that particular program. Codes are associated with applicant email addresses and can only be used one time. All other distribution fees are the responsibility of the applicant.

All fees are non-refundable and only valid for the then-current admissions cycle. 

You can find information regarding this policy in our Terms of Use (Section 6: Fees and Payments) and on the Dates and Fees page.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to reserve a test only once they are certain that they need to take it. Selecting an incorrect program, test language, or admissions cycle as well as having a change of mind, or no longer needing a test is not grounds for a refund.

No. Altus Assessments Inc., the company behind the Altus Suite of assessments, is in no way affiliated with test preparation companies offering Altus Suite preparation or coaching services. Any claims of a quantitative improvement in scores from these third-party companies are not valid. We do not offer any paid test prep or coaching services outside the practice sessions and scenarios available on your official Altus Suite user account or on the takealtus.com website.

We strongly encourage all students and their parents (or guardians) to proceed with caution when reviewing the services offered by such third parties, as none of them have been verified nor are they supported by Altus Assessments. We have seen advice given by these companies that can be detrimental to an applicant’s score, so we advise you to be careful. We recommend you use the resources we have provided on the takealtus.com website to prepare for the assessments.

Altus Assessments does not offer phone support.

We offer online support via our messaging system. To access this, click on the orange chat bubble located on the bottom right of your screen when on the website or in your Altus Suite account. 

You can also email support@altus.as with your questions. Our support team typically replies within one business day.

For all Casper tests, our support team is available for live-chat via our online messaging system one hour before the start times and for the duration of the tests.

Please note: We do not call applicants. If you receive a phone call from anyone claiming to be an Altus Assessments or Casper representative, please hang up and contact us immediately.

Casper is used by academic programs to obtain a more reliable and meaningful assessment of applicants’ personal competencies. It is meant to be a way for programs to get a better sense of their applicant pool.

For programs, this means not only selecting applicants with the highest potential for success, but also ensuring that they are selecting a diverse group of students to reflect the increasing diversity of the patient population.

Academic programs incorporate Casper in different ways to guide their admissions process. Most programs use Casper alongside other metrics like GPA and MCAT scores as a prescreening tool to decide who they would like to invite to the interview process. Some programs use Casper in a more impressionistic approach, to help facilitate decisions on candidates who are on the cusp of whether they are admitted to the program. Some programs implement a conservative cut-off score for Casper to screen out applicants, while others take a closer look at candidates who have exceptionally high Casper scores.

Please contact your academic program(s) for the most up to date information regarding the admission process, requirements, and deadlines.

Casper is designed to measure personal and professional skills and situational judgment. So far, our research has shown that Casper predicts outcomes like medical licensure exam scores, remediation issues, and OSCE performance, and that Casper scores are a better predictor of these outcomes than traditional screening tools like GPA or standardized academic test scores (e.g., MCAT). Our research team is currently engaged in a number of ongoing studies looking at the predictive relationship between Casper and other in-program and in-practice personal and professional skills.

Webcams are a strict requirement for your Casper test as part of our identity assertion and proctoring methods. Your webcam must be active, uncovered, and facing towards you throughout the duration of your test.

During your Casper test, Altus may, at any time and from time to time, remotely monitor your access to the service to ensure compliance with the Terms of Use.

Please ensure you have access to a working computer with a webcam to use for your account registration and test.

After you have completed the registration for your Altus Suite account, you’ll be able to reserve a test.

1. Click ‘+ Reserve new test’.
2. Select the country which the program(s) you are applying to reside in.
3. Select the language you would like to use when taking the Casper test, if applicable.
4. Select the admission cycle for your program(s).
5. Select the program type(s) you are applying to.
6. Select the school(s) you are applying to (more can be added later).
7. If prompted, type the application/student ID number(s) into the text field(s).
8. Select your desired test date.
9. Review your test reservation details.
10. Input your payment information.
11. Confirm and submit your test reservation payment.

If you don’t know which test to select, please browse the programs on the Dates and Fees page.

Please note that all fees are non-refundable.

You can reschedule a test at any point prior to the viewing of actual test content free of charge, so long as test times and dates are available for the same admissions cycle. You are also able to reschedule a test if you missed your scheduled test time, again, as long as you have not seen any Casper test content.

To reschedule your test:

1. Log in to your Altus Suite account
2. Click Reschedule under the Test Date on the Test Reservations page.  [If you cannot see this option please zoom out on your screen by selecting the command/ctrl button and the – (minus) button]
3. Under Available test date(s), select your preferred month, date and time 
4. Press Reschedule

​If there are no other test dates available for this admissions cycle it means that the final testing opportunity has passed for one or more of the programs on your distribution list.

These programs will have to be removed by a support person in order for you to reschedule your test. You can contact our support team using the orange chat bubble located on your Altus Suite account or takealtus.com.

You can browse the final test dates for individual programs on the Dates and Fees page.

The Casper test takes approximately 90 minutes, which includes the introduction, about 75 minutes of questions, and an optional 10-minute break at the halfway point (after six sections).

Please aim to log in to your Altus Suite account approximately thirty minutes before your scheduled test time and ensure your computer, webcam, and internet connection are in working order for your test.

Altus Assessments does not use testing centers to administer the Casper test. 

You can take the online Casper test on a computer at a location of your choice. Since the test requires your full concentration, we strongly recommend that you take the test in a space that is free from distractions and noise. You may use headphones to help you concentrate and/or eliminate background noise.

For your test, you will need access to a computer, webcam, and reliable internet connection that passes the ‘Casper System Requirements Check’ found on the Reservations page.

For tips on how to prepare for the Casper test, visit our test prep page.

Please remember that you must take your test alone.

We are unable to accommodate individual schedules. All test dates and distribution deadlines are pre-arranged with academic programs and tests are processed as a group to ensure timely delivery of scores. Each test instance uses unique content and a team is on hand to support test takers.

When traveling, please arrange to have access to a computer, webcam, and reliable internet connection that passes the System Requirements Check (found on your Casper page).

If you are unable to take the test due to school/work, please speak with your supervisor/professor explaining the high stakes nature of the Casper test so that you can be available.

You can browse program test dates on the Dates and Fees page.

Casper raters are trained to disregard spelling mistakes when evaluating responses.

We strongly encourage you to focus on the content of your responses and to use all of the time provided to complete the questions in each answer section.

Keep in mind that raters will accept any typed answer, whether it be in point form/bullet points or complete sentences.

Each section of the test is scored by a unique rater, making the Casper score a robust measure made up of many independent impressions of you.

Raters are assigned to a particular scenario from a Casper test and provided with relevant instructions and background knowledge about the topic at hand. Once prepared, raters are served responses from one scenario and multiple different applicants to rate. It’s important to note that no rater will ever score an applicant more than once.

As such, an applicant’s final score is always comprised of 12 unique rater impressions. This allows us to dilute any bias that one rater’s subjectivity may bring to the table. Your responses are also completely anonymized, meaning they only receive your typed reply and are not provided with any personal information (i.e. your name, age, photo, etc).

Raters are trained to disregard spelling mistakes when evaluating responses.

Each rater completes a training session and accreditation before they are permitted to score Casper responses. Your responses are anonymized, so a rater does not know who you are, or how well you’ve done on any other section of the test.

It is up to the individual programs to determine how they will incorporate the Casper score into their application decisions, meaning every school may use the scores differently.

That means that the same Casper score may be competitive for one program but less competitive for another. The influence of the score also depends on the competitiveness of the applicant pool for each individual program.

Further information on the program-specific use of Casper scores may be available on the individual program websites.

Additionally, depersonalized (anonymized) data may be used for research purposes about a program(s) applicants, while strictly adhering to legal and ethical research standards.

You should prepare for the Casper test by familiarizing yourself with the test format and technical requirements. The general literature suggests that situational judgment tests (SJTs), like the Casper test, are relatively immune to test preparation (i.e., that coaching is unlikely to provide benefit).

We strongly encourage you to focus on the content of your responses and to use all of the time provided to complete the questions in each answer section.

To view our blog post about how to maximize your chances of success when taking Casper, click here.

**Note that any example questions or tests that may exist outside of the takealtus.com site are in no way associated with the official Casper test and are not recommended resources.

A practice Casper test is available. To access this practice test, please log-in to your Altus Suite account, go to Casper, and complete Step 1: System requirements check before proceeding to Step 2: Practice Casper.

Please visit the ‘Test Prep’ page to familiarize yourself with the standard Casper test format in order to reduce test-day anxiety and to ensure no technical issues prevent you from having a smooth test.

**Please note that any example questions or tests that may exist outside of the takealtus.com site are in no way associated with the official Casper test and are not recommended resources.

The test is composed of 12 sections (8 video-based scenarios and 4 word-based scenarios) that are presented in a randomized order. Each scenario is followed by an answer section (set of 3 questions). You have 5 minutes to type your responses for each scenario before you are automatically directed to the next scenario.

Please note: Your typed responses are automatically saved even if you don’t press the
“Submit” button before you proceed to the next section.

Please complete the system requirements check found on your Casper page to ensure that everything is working properly. It is important to complete this check using the same computer, webcam, and internet connection that you intend to use on test day.

Important: Check the time zone carefully to ensure you have the correct date and time for your test. Test times are in the North American Eastern time zone EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) or EST (Eastern Savings Time), unless indicated otherwise. To avoid time zone scheduling issues, check the countdown timer on your test page in your Altus Suite account.

On the day of your test, please take the ‘Casper System Requirements Check’ found on your Reservations page in your intended test environment. This is to ensure that your webcam, browser and internet connection are adequate and working properly.

• Download an updated version of both Chrome and Firefox here.
• Restart your computer
• Close all other applications (e.g., Skype)
• Use incognito/Private browser
• Disable any Firewall or pop-up blocker
• Disable all plug-ins and extensions (e.g., Grammarly)
• Deactivate your Virtual Private Network (VPN) for Chrome or Firefox
• Log-in to your Altus Suite account approximately thirty-minutes before your scheduled test time.

Please note that webcams are a strict requirement for your Casper test as part of our identity assertion methods. Your webcam must be active, uncovered, and facing towards you throughout the duration of your test.

Please log-in to your Altus Suite account approximately thirty minutes before your scheduled test time.

Then, go to the testing page and wait for the countdown timer to expire. Once expired, click the ‘Start’ button that will appear. This will enable you to start your test.

Please note that you will only have 15 minutes to click the ‘Start’ button, after which you will have to reschedule to a future test date (if available).

You are entitled to an optional 10-minute break at the halfway point (after six sections) of your Casper test.

During your break, you can take this time to stretch and relax. As well, please feel free to step out of the view of your webcam to go to the washroom, grab a quick snack/refreshment, and get ready for the second half of your Casper test.

After the break, your Casper test will automatically resume, so please ensure that you have returned to your computer before your break time has expired.

If you would like to proceed directly to the remainder of your test before the break has passed, you can click the ‘next’ button at any point.

Please ensure to familiarize yourself with the standard Casper test format in order to reduce test-day anxiety and to ensure no technical issues prevent you from having a smooth test. A Casper practice test is available. To access this practice test, please log-in to your Altus Suite account, go to Casper, and complete Step 1: System requirements check before proceeding to Step 2: Practice Casper.

If you experience technical issues during a test, simply refresh the browser page by clicking the refresh icon. If refreshing your browser does not resolve the issue, we recommend switching to your back-up browser (Chrome or Firefox). You can download the latest versions here.

Please note that all other browsers (e.g., Safari, Explorer, Edge, etc.), as well as Smartphones and Tablets, do not support the Casper test.

If the issue persists please reach out to the Altus Support Team via the live chat (the orange button at the bottom right of your test screen). We suggest reaching out to the support team during a video/word-based scenario of your test, rather than during an answer section.

Avoid refreshing the page during an answer section to avoid disconnection. Responses are automatically saved every second as long as your internet connection is stable.

While we aim to maximize your chance of finishing your test when scheduled, some things are outside of our control. Computer malfunctions, slow/intermittent internet connections, and undetected viruses/malware on your computer/browser may affect your test experience. In all cases, our applicant support team will do their best to help you.

If you experience any technical issues during your test, please contact us via the chat (the orange button at the bottom right of your test screen) and we will help you as best as possible.

If you are unable to contact us during the time of your test, please make sure to reach out to support@altus.as within 24 hours of your scheduled test date (we do not have a phone number where you can reach us).

Casper scores are highly reliable, meaning that applicants would likely receive a similar score if they took a different Casper test made up of different scenarios, or had their test evaluated by a different group of raters. The average internal consistency in the 2020-21 test cycle was 0.88, and the average overall inter-rater reliability was 0.86, with 1.00 indicating perfect reliability.

All test scores are processed and distributed directly to academic programs as a group. Your Casper score will be made available to the programs on your distribution list 2-3 weeks after taking your test.

You will not receive an email stating that your score has been delivered. However, in the Reservations section of your Altus Suite account, you will see “Completed – Results delivered” to indicate that the score has been delivered. If you see “Completed – Results pending,” your Casper score has not yet been distributed.

It may take some extra time for individual programs to update the status of your Casper score in their system. Please allow programs ample time to update their system.

Your Casper score will be made available only to the programs on your distribution list approximately 2-3 weeks after taking your test.

You will not receive an email stating that your score has been delivered. However, in the Reservations section of your Altus Suite account, you will see “Completed – Results delivered” to indicate that the score has been delivered. If you see “Completed – Results pending,” your Casper score has not yet been distributed.

You can add programs to your distribution list even after taking your test, as long as they are still accepting scores.

• On the Reservations page of your Altus Suite account, under Test Information, click on View/Add beside Distribution(s) 
• Select ‘Add a New Distribution’ [If you cannot see this option please zoom out on your screen by selecting the command/ctrl button and the – (minus) button]
• Select the program(s) and school(s) you wish to send your score to
• Provide additional ID requirements, if applicable
• Review and submit your payment 

If you are not able to select ‘Add a New Distribution,’ the distribution deadline for one or more of the programs selected may have passed. You can browse all of the program distribution deadlines on the ‘Dates and Fees’ page.

1. What program(s) you would like to remove
2. If necessary, identify the school(s) and program(s) (eg. University of Colorado Denver, Physician Assistant) you would like to replace the removed program(s).

Please note: You must have at least one program on your distribution list at all times.

Casper scores are only valid for a single admissions cycle and for the test type (e.g., American Professional Health Sciences, etc.) for which you have taken the test.

You will need to take a separate Casper test for future admissions cycles or different test categories, including for programs offered in different countries or in different languages.

One reason why scores are valid for only one admissions cycle is because the tests evolve each year and answers must be assessed against the new pool of candidates. A Casper score for one type of program or admissions cycle cannot be used for other types of programs or future admissions cycles.

Quartiles divide a set of scores into four equal parts, meaning that a quarter of scores place in each quartile. Specifically:

• 25% of applicants score in the first quartile (0-24 percentile)
• 25% of applicants score in the second quartile (25-49 percentile)
• 25% of applicants score in the third quartile (50-74 percentile)
• 25% of applicants score in the fourth quartile (75-100 percentile)

Quartiles tell you how you scored relative to your peers. For example, applicants who scored in the fourth quartile scored higher than applicants in the first, second and third quartiles, meaning they scored higher than at least 75% of all applicants. Applicants who scored in the second quartile scored higher than applicants in the first quartile, but lower than applicants in the third and fourth quartile. Specifically, this means that they scored higher than at least 25% of all applicants, but lower than at least 50% of all applicants. 

Remember that quartiles represent what percentage of other applicants you scored higher than, not what percentage of questions you got right or wrong.

We do not share Casper scores directly with applicants for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to:

• Ensuring a level playing field for all applicants
• Maintaining test integrity in order to get a genuine assessment of all applicants by minimizing chances of “faking good”
• Respecting all our partner programs’ unique admissions process strategies

Altus shares quartiles as a way of balancing the needs of the applicants with the needs of the program. This will help applicants understand where they place in terms of their performance on Casper, relative to other applicants. Regardless of what quartile an applicant’s Casper score places in, it should not dissuade them from applying to a program. Many programs consider all quartiles and use Casper as an additional piece of information among many metrics to make admissions decisions.

Quartile scores will be sent to applicants who complete Casper for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle and beyond. Applicants will not be able to receive their Casper quartile score for tests completed in previous admissions cycles.

A Casper response is scored relative to other responses to the same scenario, meaning your score is the strength of your response relative to other responses to the same scenario. Placing in the first quartile means that other applicants had a stronger performance. It does not mean you failed, it just means that compared to other applicants, your responses were not as strong. The Casper test pool is full of high-calibre applicants. 

Applicants who placed in higher quartiles may have done so for a number of reasons, based on the competencies Casper is designed to measure. These might include:

• Effort: they may have tried harder to respond to questions (for instance, they may have explained their position fully, or used the full amount of time before moving on to the next question, compared to applicants who place in the first quartile) 
• Empathy: they considered all perspectives in a meaningful way
• Equity: they show the same high degree of respect for the experiences and needs of others 
• Communication: they demonstrated above-average ability to effectively articulate their ideas
• Familiarity with the medium: they familiarized themselves with the format of the test (video, typed response, etc.) and were able to successfully navigate these aspects of the test.

Whichever quartile your Casper score is placed, it should not dissuade you from applying to any program. Many programs consider all quartiles and use Casper as an additional piece of information among many metrics to make admissions decisions.

Sharing Casper quartiles with applicants will not affect or change the application processes put in place by programs. Each program that uses Casper for admissions will review Casper scores and incorporate them into their admissions process per their usual processes.

Altus Suite results are shared directly with the programs on your distribution list 2-3 weeks following your Casper test. Applicants will receive a quartile score one (1) month following the completion of their Casper test, except for applicants to US GME programs who will receive their quartile on October 29, 2021.

Applicants are not permitted to take a Casper test for the same test type (e.g., Canadian Professional Health Sciences, US Medicine, Australian Postgraduate Education, etc.) more than once per admissions cycle.

Some programs use the same Casper test score multiple times throughout a single admissions cycle. For example, if an applicant took the Canadian Post Graduate Medical Education test for the CaRMS Round 1 match, the same Casper score will be considered for the Round 2 match. This also applies to programs using Casper for their initial application decisions as well as instead of a Multi Mini Interview (MMI) or in-person interview. In these cases, applicants do not need to take two Casper tests for the same test type; the results from their initial Casper test will be applicable for all admissions considerations for the duration of that admissions cycle, so long as the programs are added to their score distribution list.

Please note that Casper results are only valid for a single admissions cycle, and only for the test type and test language for which you have taken the test. You will need to take a separate Casper test for future admissions cycles or programs requiring different test types, including for programs offered in different countries or languages.

Note: Requests to retake Casper will be considered only in the event of a severe technical issue, at the discretion of Altus Assessments. In the event of a severe disruption to your test, you must report it to Altus Assessments within 7 days of your Casper test date via the orange chat bubble at bottom right or support@altus.as.

There are ways that you can help yourself be better prepared for the test, or to truly develop the skills Casper assesses for, which may help you improve for the next application cycle on the test and in many aspects of your professional career and life. 

Tips: 

• Familiarity with test format: Research has shown that applicants who review the applicant resources on the TakeAltus website, go through the system requirements check, and take the 12-section sample test in their Altus Suite account, on average score slightly higher than applicants who do not. This is because these applicants are familiar with the test platform and know what to expect on test day, so they’re prepared to perform to the best of their ability. Being confident that you can get your ideas across within the 5-minute time limit may help reduce test anxiety – so we encourage you to take the sample test as many times as you need to feel comfortable. You can also apply for accommodations if required.
• Skill development: While Casper scores tend to be fairly stable over time, this doesn’t mean that people can’t change. What it does mean is that surface-level coaching strategies (i.e., learning how to game the test, be “test-wise” or “fake good”) will not improve your Casper score. The 5-minute time limit for responses to a scenario was partly designed to elicit authentic responses, so in order to truly improve, you will need to be dedicated to doing the personal work involved so that responding with empathy and self-awareness becomes natural. We encourage you to focus on self-reflection and skill development, not on test-taking tricks and strategies. 

Casper tests cannot be re-scored. Each of the 12 sections of your test is rated by a different rater, so no rater sees more than one set of your responses. This approach helps ensure that each applicant’s test is evaluated using a balance of different perspectives, to ensure that each scenario is considered equally when determining your overall score (as opposed to any one rater’s first impression influencing your score on the other 11 sections), and to eliminate the effects of bias. Each rater only sees your typed responses to the Casper test. Any identifying information (such as your name, your survey responses, or the programs you’re applying to) has been removed, meaning that they cannot consider any of this information when assigning a score. Casper has been shown to have high overall inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.86 across the 2020-21 test cycle). This means that you would receive the same score, or a very similar score, if your Casper test was rated by a different group of 12 raters.

No, applicants who have completed Casper in admissions cycles prior to 2021-2022 will not receive their quartile score.

Starting in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, applicants who have completed their Casper test will receive their Casper quartile score approximately 1 month following their test date.

Because Casper has relatively high test-retest reliability, applicants can expect to score similarly if they are required to take more than one Casper test (e.g., to apply to programs requiring different test types, or to apply to programs in subsequent years). However, in some cases applicants will score in a different quartile from one test to the next. Here are a few possible reasons why this might happen:

• Your scores on the two tests were close to the edge of a quartile range (e.g., 74th and 76th percentiles) meaning a small change in score led to being placed in an entirely different quartile. 
• The calibre of the applicants in the two tests was different, and since Casper is rated and z-scored relative to the strength of your peers’ responses, your demonstrated abilities were more competitive in one test than another. 
• You were able to improve your skills between the first and second test, or better demonstrate your skills by being more familiar with the Casper test format (e.g., by taking the practice test in your TakeAltus Account or having been exposed to a real Casper test once before), leading to an improvement in test performance.

Your Casper test is evaluated by our team of Casper raters, who are a group of independent contractors employed by Altus Assessments. The rater pool is designed to be representative of the population of the country where your program resides – this includes individuals from a wide range of professions, including but not limited to the profession to which you’re applying (e.g., healthcare, teacher education). 

Each of the 12 sections of your test is rated by a different rater, so no rater will see more than one set of your responses. This is to help ensure that each applicant’s test is evaluated using a balance of different perspectives, to ensure that each scenario is considered equally when determining your overall score (as opposed to any one rater’s first impression influencing your score on the other 11 sections), and to eliminate the effects of bias. Each rater only sees your typed responses to the Casper test – any identifying information (such as your name, your survey responses, or the programs you’re applying to) has been removed – meaning that they cannot consider any of this information when assigning a score. 

Casper has been shown to have high overall inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.86 across the 2020-21 test cycle), meaning that you would likely receive the same score, or a very similar score, if your Casper test was rated by a different group of 12 raters.

Individual programs set their Altus Suite requirements for their admissions process. It is recommended that you complete Snapshot within 14 days of taking Casper. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Snapshot at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page.

No. The fee you pay when you reserve your Casper test covers all applicable parts of
Altus Suite.

You can complete Snapshot anytime after logging in to your Altus Suite account to reserve your Casper test date. It is recommended that you complete Snapshot within 14 days of taking Casper to ensure you meet the requirements of the program(s) you are applying to. Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Snapshot at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page.

Although you may need to complete more than one Casper test (i.e., US Professional Health Sciences and US Medicine Casper tests) for the different programs you’re applying to, you’ll usually only need to complete one Snapshot, which will be sent to all the programs on your distribution list. The most common situation in which you’ll need to complete more than one Snapshot is if you’re applying to both English and French programs. In this case you’ll need to take Snapshot for each language. To check if you need to complete more than 1 Snapshot, please refer to the Snapshot section of your Altus Suite account after reserving your Casper tests.

It depends. Some programs are using Snapshot to add information to their existing interview process and/or their application review, and others are using Snapshot to introduce an interview component to their process. The way in which a program decides to use Snapshot responses is at their discretion.

With Snapshot, we hope to help each applicant demonstrate their communication skills and motivation to programs. You can expect questions that you may be asked in any standard admissions interview. These would be questions around the topic of your character and future profession.

Sample questions:

• Tell us about someone you admire and why.
• What is your favorite book?
• What is an obstacle you have faced, and how did you get through it?
• What aspect of your future profession are you most excited about?

Snapshot should take approximately 10 minutes to complete, depending on how much time you spend taking the two practice questions. Overall, there are 3 questions with 2 minutes allotted to read and respond to each question. Although we do not foresee the need to take a break, you can pause between questions for a break if needed. Note: while reading and responding to a question, you will not be able to pause.

No. Once you complete the Snapshot response recording for a question, it is saved automatically and you are moved on to the next question. You will not be able to view any of your video-recorded responses. This is a one-shot opportunity, like in a real interview setting. So ensure you use the practice questions to prepare yourself and get comfortable with the format before starting.

Snapshot responses will only be accessible by programs for review during the admission process.

Our applicant support team will be available to help you through the process of completing Snapshot should you experience any technical issues. If for some reason your responses were corrupted, after our team has reviewed your video responses, we will happily reset your Snapshot so you can try again once any issues have been solved.

Our team is here to help you!  If you reach out to them with a technical issue or concern with Snapshot, they will reply back to you as soon as possible, normally within 24 hours. 

Here are some quick troubleshooting tips for if you run into any technical troubles during Snapshot:

• Restart your computer
• Ensure you are taking Snapshot with a strong internet connection
• Ensure you are taking Snapshot on an updated version of Chrome or Firefox
• Switch from Chrome to Firefox (or vice versa) 
• Double check your browser permissions to ensure you have allowed access to your microphone and webcam

Once you complete your Snapshot you cannot retake it unless you experienced technical problems while completing Snapshot and your responses were not saved correctly. We encourage you to complete the Systems Requirements Check and use the practice questions to prepare and become familiar with the format of Snapshot so you can enter into the formal Snapshot with confidence.

Duet is part of Altus Suite for all applicants to US medical schools and graduate medical programs. It is recommended that you complete Duet within 14 days of taking Casper. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Duet at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page.

US medical schools and graduate medical programs are looking to make sure that students are not only academically capable but also possess suitable personal and professional qualities that make them more likely to succeed in the profession. Part of that includes suitability for the learning and working environment, which Duet helps to measure in a standardized way.

Duet is used to find alignment between what the applicant values in a program and what the program has to offer. Duet can be used by programs at multiple stages in the process, including refining the candidate pool for interviews or during the process of ranking or deciding offers.

You can complete Duet anytime after logging in to your Altus Suite account to reserve your Casper test date. It is recommended that you complete Duet within 14 days of taking Casper. This will ensure that all components of your Altus Suite are available together to be considered by your program(s), if they are an admissions requirement as per the program website(s). Should individual program requirements change, you will still be able to complete Duet at any time before your earliest program distribution deadline, as shown on the Dates and Fees page.

No. The fee you pay when you reserve your Casper test covers all applicable parts of
Altus Suite.

There is no practice component for Duet as it is a measure of your own personal values and preferences. Just make sure to read the instructions carefully, as well as the characteristics and their definitions before proceeding to the comparison pages. Once there, go with your gut: there’s no right or wrong answer.

Currently, we do not provide applicants their results from Duet, however we are
investigating what information would be most helpful to applicants while they are
applying to programs. To provide your input on this, please complete this form to be
contacted.

Altus Suite accommodation requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure equal opportunity for all.

Applicants must submit an accommodations request form, both Parts 1 and 2, as well as any supporting documents at least 3 weeks prior to their scheduled Casper test to allow sufficient time for document review and a decision to be made on the appropriate testing accommodations.

We ask that you send all documentation via email to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you can contact us to request a link where you can upload your documents to a secure encrypted folder. After submitting your accommodations request, the Altus Support Team will message you to confirm receipt of your request within 1 business day.

For a more detailed outline of the accommodation process, please review the Altus Assessments Accommodations Policy.

Part 2 of the accommodations request form provides the opportunity for a suitably qualified professional to provide a recommendation on the measures of accommodation most appropriate for the applicant. The qualified professional must be licensed in the area of disability or impairment for which an applicant is seeking accommodations.

The professional should have comprehensive training and experience in the assessment and diagnosis of the disability or impairment in question in order to be able to provide insight as to what the appropriate and necessary testing accommodations are for the components of Altus Suite. Additionally, the professional cannot be a relative, employee, or employer of the applicant.

The types of accommodations that we offer include, but are not limited to:

• Additional time
• Assistive software (e.g., speech-to-text and/or text-to-speech)
• Assistive personnel (e.g., scribe and/or reader)

If you believe you are in need of an accommodation measure not listed above, this must be specified by the qualified professional completing Part 2 of the accommodations request form. The rationale for each recommended accommodation measure must be included.

Keep in mind that you will only be required to submit one accommodations request, and that the outcome will apply to all Altus Suite components (e.g., Casper, Snapshot, etc.).

Yes, all applicants have access to closed captioning for the videos within the Casper test and the Practice Tests available in their Altus Suite account. No accommodation request is necessary.

You should submit your accommodations request after you have reserved your Altus Suite.

The accommodations request form (Parts 1 and 2) and supporting documents must be submitted at least 3 weeks prior to the time of your scheduled Casper test.

Exceptions to the 3 week submission timeline and document requirements may be made in extreme circumstances (eg. The second iteration of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) Casper Test in early March, medical emergencies, or for cases relating to COVID-19).

Once the Altus Support Team receives your accommodations request, they will contact you to confirm receipt of your request within 1 business day.

The review of accommodation requests can take up to 5 business days. You will receive an email to inform you of the outcome of your request from support@altus.as.

If your accommodation request has been approved, the Altus Support Team will apply the approved accommodation measures to your upcoming Casper test. You can confirm they have been applied by referring to the Casper preparation checklist available in the Casper section of your Altus Suite account.

Additionally, during the intro sections of your assessments, there may be references to the standard time allotment, but the relevant sections of Casper and Snapshot will correctly reflect your approved amount of additional time (if applicable).

If approved for accommodation measures, applicants will be provided with a summary of how their approved accommodations will be applied to each component of Altus Suite. To access this information, please refer to the accommodations approval letter sent by the Altus Support Team.

After receiving the initial decision that their request for accommodations has been denied, applicants will have 7 business days to launch an appeal.

All appeals are handled by the Altus Review Panel. The Altus Review Panel may ask for additional information or documentation from the applicant and it may take up to 10 business days to formulate a decision. All decisions from the Altus Review Panel are final. You can find more information about this in the Altus Assessments Accommodations Policy.

Beginning with the 2021-2022 admission cycle, approved accommodation requests are valid for the duration of two admission cycles (see example below).

Any applicant that received accommodations prior to the 2021-2022 cycle will need to provide an updated request form.

For example: If you are approved for accommodations during the 2021-2022 admission cycle, these accommodations are valid from the time of approval until the end of the 2022-2023 admission cycle (exceptions apply, please review the Altus Assessments Accommodations Policy for details).

Approved accommodations are applied by the Altus Support Team to each individual Altus Suite reservation. If you are required to reserve and complete more than one Altus Suite during your valid approved accommodations period, you are required to contact the Altus Support Team (support@altus.as) to inform us of a new reservation a minimum of 2 weeks prior to this new Casper test reservation date and time.

Yes, all accommodation requests are confidential. The status of an accommodation request is not shared with academic programs or with Casper raters.

If you need to reschedule your Altus Suite, and there are additional Casper test dates available for the program(s) on your distribution list, you must contact the Altus Support Team (support@altus.as) to indicate your intent to reschedule.

You are required to contact the Altus Support Team at least 1 week prior to the new test date and time at which you would like to complete the test.

The rescheduling must be completed by a member of the Altus Support Team as applicants are not able to reschedule their own test from within their Altus Suite account if accommodation measures have been applied.

If you are approved for time-based accommodations for Altus Suite, you will be provided with a link in your accommodations approval letter to a Practice Test that contains the same time allotment as your approved accommodation.

Please note that we also suggest that you complete the appropriate Practice Test available in the Casper section of your Altus Suite account, as this Practice Test will have the same visual format as the actual Casper test. However, please remember that you will only be given the standard time allotment on this Practice Test.

For Snapshot, you will have access to two practice questions within the Snapshot section of your Altus Suite account. Keep in mind that you will only receive the standard time allotment for the Practice Snapshot. This is an opportunity for you to get familiar with the format, as well as for you to test your video and audio quality.