University of CambridgeUCAS D100
Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (VetMB, D100): ESAT Requirements and Preparation
Applicants to Veterinary Medicine (VetMB, UCAS code D100) at the University of Cambridge for 2027 entry must sit the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) before interview. Cambridge is explicit that you must register in advance for the test: Colleges use the result first to help decide interview shortlisting, then alongside the rest of your application when deciding offers. This page brings together the official module requirements, the key dates for 2027 entry (including the fixed sittings for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau), and a practical preparation route built on the FrontierVue question bank.
- 57
- Papers
- 2392
- Questions
- 2
- Free to try
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01 Official Cambridge Requirements and Module Choice
Cambridge's official position (cam.ac.uk admission tests page, 2027 entry): the ESAT is compulsory for Veterinary Medicine applicants, and the official wording stresses that "You must register in advance for this test". The score is used in two stages: Colleges use the result to help decide interview shortlisting, then consider it alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers.
| Course | UCAS code | ESAT modules | How the score is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| VetMB Veterinary Medicine | D100 | Mathematics 1, plus any two of Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 | Compulsory, taken pre-interview; used for interview shortlisting, then alongside the rest of the application for offers |
Format: three modules in 120 minutes, each with 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, scored per module on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale. The ESAT is run by UAT-UK and delivered by Pearson VUE, and it replaced the NSAA and ENGAA from 2024.
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02 Key Dates and Registration for 2027 Entry
The timeline for Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100), 2027 entry (per cam.ac.uk, 2027 entry):
- Test window: 12 to 16 October 2026. Applicants in the October-deadline round must take this sitting; there is no alternative date for them.
- Booking deadline: 28 September 2026. You must register for the ESAT yourself, in advance. Missing the deadline means missing the cycle.
- Candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sit on 12 or 13 October 2026, the fixed dates for this region within the window.
- The January sitting (4 to 8 January 2027) applies only to mature applicants in the January round, not to standard October-deadline applicants. Under UAT-UK's arrangements for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the fixed date for this region in that cycle is 6 January 2027.
For what to expect at the test centre, see the ESAT test day guide.
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03 How to Prepare with FrontierVue
UAT-UK does not release past ESAT papers, so the best preparation material comes from the test's predecessors. For the ESAT, FrontierVue offers (production figures as of August 2026):
- 31 archive papers from the predecessor tests NSAA and ENGAA (2015 to 2023), reorganised into the current ESAT module structure;
- 26 mock papers, including Frontier Original sets built to the full ESAT format;
- 2,345 questions in total, each with a worked explanation and a Chinese translation;
- The two most recent archive papers are free to try, with the full computer-based test interface.
Start at the ESAT practice hub or the ESAT exam overview.
For the D100 module combination, work through the guides module by module: the compulsory Mathematics 1, then your picks from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. If you have not settled on your two optional modules yet, read the module selection guide first. For pacing, use the revision plan and the time management guide, which drills the 27-questions-in-40-minutes rhythm.
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04 Cambridge-Specific Points to Note
Your score works before interview. Cambridge's official line is that Colleges use the ESAT result first to help decide interview shortlisting, then alongside everything else at the offer stage. The ESAT is therefore not a pass-fail hurdle: how well prepared you are by mid-October directly affects whether you reach interview. Each module is scored on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale; see the scoring guide for how to read results, and the Cambridge college scores guide for how Colleges tend to view them.
Use the two-from-four freedom well. D100 fixes only Mathematics 1; the other two modules are your choice from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. Pick the subjects you are strongest in at A-level or IB, weighed against the scientific foundations of the veterinary course itself; the module selection guide walks through the decision.
Registration is entirely on you. The official wording stresses that "You must register in advance for this test": the ESAT is not booked automatically with your UCAS application. Book your own place before 28 September 2026, ideally at the same time as you submit your UCAS form.
SAME UNIVERSITY
Other University of Cambridge pages for the ESAT
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which ESAT modules does Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100) require?
Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100) requires Mathematics 1 plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2, three modules in total. Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, 120 minutes overall, scored per module on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale.
When do candidates in mainland China sit the ESAT for Cambridge Veterinary Medicine?
For 2027 entry, October-deadline applicants must take the 12 to 16 October 2026 sitting, and candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sit on the fixed dates of 12 or 13 October. The booking deadline is 28 September 2026, and you must register yourself in advance.
Are there official ESAT past papers, and what should D100 applicants practise with?
UAT-UK does not publish official ESAT past papers. FrontierVue offers 31 archive papers from the predecessor tests NSAA and ENGAA (2015 to 2023), reorganised into the current module structure, plus 26 mock papers including Frontier Original full-format sets: 2,345 questions in all, each with explanations and Chinese translations, and the two most recent archive papers are free to try.
How much does the ESAT matter for Cambridge Veterinary Medicine admissions?
Per Cambridge's official guidance for 2027 entry, the ESAT is compulsory for Veterinary Medicine (D100) and is taken pre-interview: Colleges use the result first to help decide interview shortlisting, then alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers. Results are reported per module on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale.
FrontierVUE is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson, OCR, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, or any official admissions-test owner.
FrontierVUE 是独立的备考练习平台，与 UAT-UK、Pearson、OCR、剑桥大学、 帝国理工学院或任何官方入学考试主办方均无隶属或背书关系。
Start preparing for the ESAT for Veterinary Medicine
57 ESAT papers and 2392 questions on FrontierVUE, every one with a worked solution. The 2 most recent papers are free to try.