Altus Suite 2026-27: CASPer and Duet Explained

What is the Altus Suite?

The Altus Suite is a set of admissions assessments from Acuity Insights (formerly Altus Assessments) that evaluate non-academic qualities traditional metrics cannot capture, such as communication, ethical reasoning, and professional judgment. In the current 2026-27 cycle the suite consists of CASPer and Duet.

It used to include a third component, Snapshot, a one-way video interview. Acuity retired Snapshot after the 2022/23 cycle, so any resource that still presents it as a live requirement is out of date. We keep a short explanation of Snapshot below for applicants who come across older references to it.

Component 1: CASPer Test

What is CASPer?

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test that presents realistic scenarios and asks how you would respond. It evaluates professional competencies, including:

• Communication and collaboration
• Ethics and professionalism
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Resilience and adaptability

CASPer Test Structure

The current standard CASPer test has 11 scenarios: four video-response scenarios and seven typed-response scenarios. Each scenario shows two questions. In the typed section you get one shared 3.5-minute timer for both questions; in the video section you answer each question in about one minute. There are optional breaks, and Acuity estimates the whole test at roughly 65 to 85 minutes. For a full walkthrough, see our current CASPer format guide.

Strong CASPer responses demonstrate both ethical reasoning and practical problem-solving. Your answer should balance the people affected, name what you do not yet know, take a proportionate first step, and explain your reasoning, all under the clock. It is the one part of the suite where deliberate practice clearly helps.

Component 2: Duet Assessment

What is Duet?

Duet is a values-alignment assessment that compares what you value in a program against what programs offer, so schools can gauge fit. It is not a graded test like CASPer, and there are no right or wrong answers.

Duet Test Structure

Acuity says Duet is untimed, takes about 15 minutes, and presents 21 comparison pairs. You choose which of two program characteristics matters more to you, then weigh the broader categories. You complete it once per cycle, there is no practice version, and it appears in your Acuity account only if a selected program requires it. Results are sent to those programs about 24 hours after you finish. For a deeper walkthrough, see our full Altus Duet guide.

Because Duet measures your genuine preferences, the honest answer is the right answer. Answer authentically rather than trying to guess what a program wants to hear.

Retired component: Snapshot

Snapshot was a short one-way video interview of three questions, each with about two minutes to respond after a brief preparation window. It focused on motivation and communication rather than the situational judgment CASPer measures. Acuity Insights retired it after the 2022/23 cycle, and it is no longer part of any admissions process.

If a school page or older blog still mentions Snapshot, treat it as outdated and confirm the current requirement on the school's admissions page and in your Acuity account. The skill Snapshot used to test, delivering a concise spoken answer on camera, still matters for the CASPer video section and for live interviews, which you can build with video-response practice.

How Medical Schools Use the Altus Suite

Schools use the two current components differently depending on their admissions philosophy:

• CASPer: Widely used for pre-interview screening and evaluating professional competencies. Most CASPer schools require this component.
• Duet: Used by a smaller set of programs for values alignment and program matching, in addition to CASPer.

Some programs require both CASPer and Duet, but most require only CASPer, and requirements change by cycle. Check each school's specific requirements when planning your timeline, and confirm what your own Acuity account asks you to complete.

Scoring and Results

CASPer Scoring

CASPer results are reported in quartiles from 1 to 4, with the 4th quartile being the highest, based on how trained raters score your responses relative to your cohort. Schools receive your quartile rather than a raw score. Our CASPer scoring guide explains how quartiles are produced.

Duet Scoring

Duet is not scored like CASPer. There is no quartile and no right answer. Your ranked preferences are compared against each participating program's profile to produce an alignment measure, so you cannot pass or fail it.

Preparation Strategies

CASPer Preparation

Effective CASPer preparation means practicing timed scenarios and building a repeatable response structure. Focus on:

• Understanding the professional competencies raters look for
• Developing clear ethical reasoning
• Practicing typed and video responses under the real timers
• Learning to balance multiple perspectives quickly

Duet Preparation

Duet needs honest self-reflection rather than strategic preparation, and there is no practice version. Take time to:

• Reflect on your core values and motivations
• Consider your learning preferences and work style
• Think about your long-term goals
• Answer honestly rather than guessing what a program wants

In short, put your real study time into CASPer, where preparation changes your results, and answer Duet sincerely.