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.
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Cambridge Vet Med (D100): ESAT at a Glance
Is the ESAT required for Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100)?
Compulsory, taken before interview
Which modules
Mathematics 1, plus any two of Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2
Test window, 2027 entry
12 to 16 October 2026; candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sit on 12 or 13 October
Booking deadline
28 September 2026; you must register yourself, in advance
Who the January sitting is for
4 to 8 January 2027, for mature applicants in the January round only, not standard October-deadline applicants

Every fact in this card follows the University of Cambridge's cam.ac.uk pages for 2027 entry.

4 sections871 words5 min read1 official sources
01

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 (VetMB, D100) applicants, and the official wording stresses that "You must register in advance for this test". The ESAT is run by UAT-UK and delivered by Pearson VUE, and it replaced the NSAA and ENGAA from 2024.

Course and UCAS code

D100

VetMB Veterinary Medicine

Test requirement

Compulsory

Taken pre-interview

Registration

You register, in advance

Official wording: "You must register in advance for this test"

Format

3 modules / 120 minutes

27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes per module; scored per module on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale

Cambridge Vet Med (D100)

Per cam.ac.uk, 2027 entry

Compulsory moduleMathematics 1
  • Every applicant to Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100) must sit Mathematics 1
Optional modulesAny two of four
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics 2
How the score is usedTwo stages
  • Colleges use the result to help decide interview shortlisting
  • Then consider it alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers

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02

02 Key Dates and Registration for 2027 Entry

The timeline for Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100), 2027 entry (per cam.ac.uk, 2027 entry). Applicants in the October-deadline round must take the October sitting; there is no alternative date for them. You must register for the ESAT yourself, in advance: your school will not do it for you, and missing the deadline means missing the cycle.
2026 – 2027Timeline
Sep 26
Oct 26
Nov 26
Dec 26
Jan 27
Booking deadline
28 Sep 2026
You must register for the ESAT yourself, in advance; your school will not do it for you, and missing the deadline means missing the cycle.
October test window
12 to 16 Oct 2026
Applicants in the October-deadline round must take this sitting; there is no alternative date for them.
Mainland China/HK/Macau
12 or 13 Oct 2026
Candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau sit on 12 or 13 October 2026, the fixed dates for this region within the window.
January sitting
4 to 8 Jan 2027
This sitting 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.
Hard deadline Event WindowDates above follow cam.ac.uk for 2027 entry; the fixed January date for this region (mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) follows UAT-UK's arrangements.
For what to expect at the test centre, see the ESAT test day guide.
03

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 the following (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

2 free

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, our suggested route works through the guides module by module, in four steps.
01Step 1

Fix your module combination

Mathematics 1 is compulsory, so start by settling your two picks from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2; if you have not decided, read the module selection guide first.
02Step 2

Work through the module guides

Follow the guides for the compulsory Mathematics 1 and for the two optional modules you picked.
03Step 3

Practise on archive and mock papers

Work through archive and mock papers in the ESAT practice hub, where every question carries a worked explanation and a Chinese translation, and the two most recent archive papers are free to try.
04Step 4

Drill the timing

Use the revision plan guide for overall pacing, and the time management guide, which drills the 27-questions-in-40-minutes rhythm.
Guide index:
04

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
Cambridge Veterinary Medicine (D100) fixes only Mathematics 1; the other two modules are your choice from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. Our advice: 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.
SOURCES

Official sources

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.

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