Key Takeaways
- Some US nursing programs require Casper to screen applicants for empathy, communication and judgement
- It is the same situational judgement test other health applicants sit: open-response scenarios, no clinical or nursing knowledge tested
- Nursing programs often collect Casper alongside a centralised application such as NursingCAS, with their own deadline and test group
- You receive your Casper result as a quartile, and a 3rd or 4th quartile keeps a nursing application competitive
- You cannot revise facts for it, but you can prepare: learn the format, lead with empathy, and practise under the timed clock
Do nursing schools require the Casper test?
A rising number of nursing programs in the United States require the Casper test as part of admissions, particularly for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), accelerated (ABSN) and direct-entry programs. Schools use it because nursing is one of the most interpersonal professions there is, and grades alone do not show how an applicant communicates, handles pressure or treats people. Casper gives admissions teams a standardised read on those qualities.
Not every nursing program uses Casper, and those that do may require it only for certain entry routes. Many programs collect your result through a centralised application service such as NursingCAS, while others ask you to send it directly. The requirement and the deadline can change each cycle, so confirm on the official admissions page for the exact nursing program you are applying to before you book a sitting. Programs we've checked that require it include California State University, Fullerton and California State University, Long Beach in the US. Our list of nursing programs that require Casper names every one we've confirmed.
Casper does not test nursing knowledge
You will not be asked anything about anatomy, pharmacology or clinical care. Casper measures empathy, ethics, communication and judgement through everyday scenarios, so a strong science GPA gives you no advantage and a non-traditional background is no disadvantage.
11 scenarios across two sections: a typed-response section and a video-response section.
- Typed scenarios 7
- Video scenarios 4
What the Casper test looks like for nursing applicants
The nursing Casper test uses the standard format: two sections in about 65 to 85 minutes, with nothing specific to nursing. You respond to short, realistic dilemmas about people, fairness and difficult decisions. They're the kind of situations a nurse meets every day, framed so anyone can answer them.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Section | Scenarios | Questions each | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video response | 4 | 2 (one at a time) | 1 minute per question to record |
| Typed response | 7 | 2 (shown together) | 3.5 minutes for both answers |
Each scenario is scored by a different trained rater, so no single marker sees your whole test. You are ranked as a quartile against everyone who sat the same test type in your cycle, from the 1st (lowest) to the 4th (highest). There is no pass or fail; each nursing program decides how to use your quartile within its own process. For the full breakdown of format and scoring, see our complete Casper test guide.
A nursing-style scenario
A classmate on your group placement keeps arriving late and leaving early, and the rest of the team is quietly covering for them. One member wants to report it; another says to stay out of it. What do you do, and why? A strong answer acknowledges everyone’s feelings, gathers context before judging, and balances fairness to the team with care for the struggling classmate, rather than jumping straight to punishment.
What is a good Casper score for nursing?
There is no universal Casper cut-off for nursing. Programs receive your score, while you see only your quartile. Programs that use it generally favour applicants in the 3rd and 4th quartiles, and some treat it as one screen among many while others weigh it more heavily. The practical goal is the same everywhere: land in the top half, and ideally the top quartile, so your Casper result strengthens rather than weakens your file. The gap between an average and a strong answer is real and learnable, as our Q4 vs Q2 answer comparison shows side by side. For how quartiles work, see what your Casper score means.
How to prepare for the nursing Casper test
Preparation is what separates nursing applicants who finish calm and on time from those who run out of clock. You cannot cram content, but you can build the habits that produce a high-quartile answer under pressure.
- Learn the format cold so nothing surprises you on the day, not the timer, not the recording window, not the question structure
- Lead with empathy in every answer, acknowledging the people in the scenario before you move to a solution
- Rehearse the typed clock, practising both answers in 3.5 minutes until it feels normal, and lift your typing speed with a free typing speed test
- Practise speaking to camera for the video section, then watch it back to fix pacing and eye contact
- Do full, timed mock scenarios with honest feedback, which moves you further than any amount of reading
The single biggest differentiator is showing empathy rather than naming it, and our breakdown of the 9 Casper competencies explains exactly what raters reward. For the typed section specifically, the 3.5-minute typed response strategy shows how to structure an answer that lands a high quartile without rushing.
Your Casper timeline, step by step
- 1Step 1
Check your programs
Confirm which of your programs require Casper and the deadline for your result.
- 2Step 2
Register early
Book your Casper sitting through Acuity Insights, well before your earliest deadline.
- 3Step 3
Practise under the clock
Rehearse timed scenarios across both sections until the format feels routine.
- 4Step 4
Sit the test
Complete the video and typed sections in a single sitting.
- 5Step 5
Send your results
Distribute your Casper result to every program before its application deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all nursing schools require the Casper test?
No. Some US nursing programs require Casper, but many do not, and some require it only for specific tracks. Always confirm on the official admissions page for the exact nursing program and intake year you are applying to.
What is a good Casper score for nursing?
You receive your Casper result as a quartile from the 1st (lowest) to the 4th (highest), relative to others in your cycle. There is no fixed pass mark for nursing, but the 3rd and 4th quartiles keep your application competitive. Aim to land in the top half and ideally the top quartile.
Is the Casper test hard for nursing applicants?
It is challenging in a different way to an academic exam. There is nothing to memorise, but you have to think clearly and write with genuine empathy under a tight clock. Most nursing applicants find it much more manageable once they have practised the format and timing a few times.
When should I take Casper for nursing?
Book a sitting early enough that your result reaches your programs before their deadline, which often means testing weeks ahead of the application cut-off. Check your nursing program and any centralised service such as NursingCAS for the exact date your Casper result must be received.
Can you prepare for the nursing Casper test?
Yes. You cannot cram facts, but you can learn the format, build the habit of leading with empathy, improve your typing speed, rehearse the video section, and practise full timed runs with feedback. Preparation lets the best version of your judgement come through under pressure.