October 15-16, 2025 CASPer scores are now out, and once again, we are seeing how unpredictable, unreliable, and unfair this test can be. Many applicants who scored in the 3rd or 4th quartiles in previous cycles, even just last year, have now dropped to the 1st or 2nd quartiles.

Years of undergraduate study, countless extracurriculars, and strong performance on standardized exams like the MCAT, DAT, or OAT can all be overshadowed by a single test that offers no transparency or accountability. Unlike every exam we take in university, where students have the right to request a re-mark, review their graded work, or receive feedback on what went wrong, CASPer provides no such option. Even standardized tests allow for appeals or reviews, but CASPer does not.

If professional schools truly need a tool to help filter applicants, they must choose one that is both reliable and just. How can an applicant’s “personal qualities” shift so drastically from one year to the next? Not many become a completely different person, let alone a “worse” one, in twelve months.

To make matters worse, there were reports circulating among applicants that an earlier CASPer test session this year experienced technical issues, and that some test-takers were allegedly allowed to retake the exam on either the October 15-16, 2025 dates. While this information has not been officially confirmed by Acuity Insights, if true, it would raise serious fairness concerns, as those applicants would have had prior exposure to the test format and pressure conditions.

Acuity

It is also worth noting that CASPer is not administered by an independent academic institution. It is owned and operated by Acuity Insights Inc., a for-profit company that markets admissions assessments commercially and has been recognized among Canada’s Top Growing Companies for its revenue growth (click). The test was originally developed at McMaster University, and Acuity Insights began as a McMaster-affiliated startup. However, there is no publicly available evidence that McMaster currently holds an ownership stake or is a shareholder of the company. What is clear is that CASPer has evolved from a university research initiative into a commercial product that profits from applicants while refusing to disclose its scoring criteria or accountability standards.

When applicants reach out to CASPer with concerns, the typical response is that “schools consider other aspects of your application too” or that “CASPer is not weighted heavily.” Yet, this only highlights the inconsistency, as even the company itself minimizes its importance.

Relative Scoring and Cutoffs

CASPer results are reportedly compared only among the test-takers within the same cohort. This means that performance is not measured against an objective standard but rather ranked relative to others who took the test on the same date, or are considered in the same cohort. If an institution sets a CASPer cutoff, this system creates an inherent unfairness. Two applicants with nearly identical skills and performance could receive different quartiles and outcomes simply because they took the test on different dates, where the composition of the cohort was different. As a result, one candidate could receive an interview invitation while another, equally capable candidate, might not.

Program Differences

It has also been reported that some schools not only require CASPer but may use cutoffs in their selection process. Schools often mentioned in this context include Western University, the University of Toronto, and McMaster University. This list is not exhaustive.

By contrast, some programs handle CASPer differently. For example, the University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry requires applicants to complete the CASPer test but does not use it as part of their selection criteria (click). Meanwhile, the University of British Columbia DMD program explicitly states that CASPer is not required (click).

It is time for change. Admissions offices should reconsider using a for-profit test that lacks transparency and accountability. At the very least, there should be no hard cutoffs tied to CASPer scores.

However, we see that change is already beginning. The University of Alberta MD Program has officially announced that CASPer will no longer be required starting July 2025 (click). Similarly, Université de Montréal’s Doctorate in Optometry states that “Il n’est plus nécessaire de faire l’examen CASPer,” meaning it is no longer necessary to take the CASPer exam (click).

Several programs have already stepped away from CASPer, and others should do the same. No applicant’s future should depend on a test that offers neither fairness nor clarity.

If you care about the many students whose academic and professional futures are being assessed and judged by such a test, please sign and share this petition to raise awareness. Every signature and share helps push for a fairer, more transparent admissions process for all applicants.

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