Free Interview Resources
Free practice questions, preparation advice, and expert insights for Veterinary Medicine interviews at Cambridge.
Real Veterinary Medicine interview questions in the style Cambridge asks. Try answering each one aloud before you reveal the hint.
Estimate the number of amino acids in the human body and talk through your assumptions.
Problem-Solving
Hint
Start from body mass, estimate the fraction that is protein, then use an approximate average amino-acid molecular mass.
How could a blindfolded person in a room tell which direction a sound came from?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Compare arrival time, intensity and frequency cues between the two ears before considering head movement.
What percentage of the world's water is contained in cows?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Estimate the number of cattle, average mass, body-water percentage and compare it with the volume of water on Earth.
Design an experiment to distinguish a normal bacterial strain from a multi-resistant strain.
Problem-Solving
Hint
Define the dependent variable first, then compare growth under controlled antibiotic exposures.
How would you tell whether an animal is in pain?
Problem-Solving
Hint
Separate behavioural, physiological and clinical signs, then consider species differences and owner reports.
Supervision-style interviews with problem-solving and academic discussion, often with two interviewers.
Cambridge interviews usually happen at your first-choice college. Most applicants have two interviews, with some subjects requiring a third at the pooled college. Cambridge interviews tend to involve two interviewers and may include a written assessment or pre-interview task sent on the day.
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
What problems do fish face underwater?
midHint
Think about oxygen, osmotic balance, pressure, temperature, pH, light and predation rather than one single answer.
How are cats similar to cows in terms of digestion?
midHint
Look for shared mammalian digestive principles before contrasting carnivore and ruminant specialisations.
What happens to gas in a cow's rumen?
midHint
Consider microbial fermentation, eructation and the consequences if normal gas release is impaired.
Explain how the structure of a horse's hind leg helps it to run.
midHint
Relate limb length, joint range, tendons, muscle placement and energy storage to speed and efficiency.
When cats fall out of trees upside down, how do they manage to land on their feet?
hardHint
Think about vestibular sensing, spinal flexibility and conservation of angular momentum.
Is selective breeding equivalent to genetic modification?
hardHint
Compare mechanism, precision, timescale, welfare consequences and public acceptability.
What can you tell me about a specific part of your veterinary work experience?
entryHint
Move from description to reflection: what you observed, what it taught you and what question it raised.
Would you prefer to work in large-animal practice or small-animal practice?
entryHint
Give a reasoned preference while acknowledging what each setting demands from a vet.
What skills do you think a good vet needs, and when have you shown one of them?
entryHint
Pick one concrete skill, give evidence, then connect it to veterinary work rather than listing traits.
How did your work experience change your view of veterinary medicine?
entryHint
Identify an assumption you had before the experience and explain how observation modified it.
You are shown an unfamiliar term such as 'wings' on a horse foot. How would you work out what the interviewer means?
midHint
Ask clarifying questions, locate the structure anatomically and explain what each clue changes about your interpretation.
Why do dogs behave badly?
midHint
Start by defining 'badly', then consider training, environment, reinforcement, health and species-normal behaviour.
How does a cat know how far away a mouse is when it is about to pounce?
hardHint
Think about binocular vision, motion cues, whiskers and sensory integration before the jump.
Would you put a healthy animal to sleep if its owners no longer wanted it?
midHint
Identify stakeholders, legal/professional obligations, welfare options and the limits of owner preference.
Is badger culling morally acceptable if it reduces bovine TB?
hardHint
Balance evidence, animal welfare, farm livelihoods, disease control and alternative interventions.
How can vets help reduce the health problems associated with brachycephalic breeds?
midHint
Consider client education, breeding advice, professional advocacy, clinical care and welfare trade-offs.
12+ weeks
8-12 weeks
4-6 weeks
1-2 weeks
the week of
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Practice with a Cambridge Veterinary Medicine graduate who's been through it.
Book Mock Interview →Watch & Learn
Useful for seeing the conversational style and how follow-up questions develop.
Official course overview with staff and student perspectives.
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Further Reading
by University of Cambridge
Canonical source for 2027-entry requirements, course length, College availability and application facts.
by University of Cambridge
Canonical Cambridge guidance for ESAT modules, scoring and registration deadlines.
by Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge
Explains what the department looks for and how interviews are used.
by Veterinary Schools Council / FutureLearn partners
Especially useful where in-person work experience is limited.
by Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Grounds ethics answers in the professional duties expected of vets.