The early-phase MMI at Ottawa and Queen’s

Two Ontario schools now ask applicants to complete a recorded MMI early in the cycle, before any live interview. At Ottawa it takes the place of Casper. At Queen’s it comes on top of Casper.

Who uses it

Ottawa lists Casper as not required for 2027 entry, and the AFMC guide says it “will be replaced by a new asynchronous MMI in collaboration with other Ontario schools.”¹ Queen’s still requires Casper,¹ and Acuity notes that its early-phase MMI fee for Queen’s was negotiated “taking into consideration that applicants to Queen’s must also take Casper.”²

The format

Stations

8, with a rest station in the middle

Length

About 1 hour 15 minutes

2026 sittings

October 16, 18 and 19

Fee

$18 CAD for Ottawa, $14 CAD for Queen’s

Language

Ottawa: your application’s language stream. Queen’s: English only.

All details are from Acuity Insights, which runs the assessment.² Acuity calls the format tentative and subject to change.

The rules that trip people up

The language rule at Ottawa. Acuity says: “Failure to complete the early phase MMI in the correct language will result in disqualification of your application.” If you apply to both a French and an English program, you can’t complete both on the same day.²

No make-up dates. “Exceptions will not be provided for applicants who are unable to take the early-phase MMI during one of the available test dates.”² Put the dates in your calendar as soon as they’re posted.

How to prepare

Treat it like an MMI with no one across the table. At each station, read the prompt, take a moment to decide your position, then answer out loud: name the issue, say who’s affected, give a specific course of action, and explain the principle behind it.

Practice the way you’ll be assessed: on camera, on a timer, without stopping to restart. Then watch a few answers back. Recorded formats reward a clear structure, because there’s no interviewer to ask a follow-up question if you lose the thread.