Health ProfessionsTest + Skills

Veterinary Science

A 50-question test on large and small animal care, then instrument and breed identification plus surgical prep, fecal flotation, restraint and feline handling skills on stuffed animals for the top scorers.

The AI judge does not score skill stations. Use the practice test for Round One.

About this event

Veterinary Science is a solo two-round event for the Secondary and Postsecondary/Collegiate divisions, sponsored by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. Round One is a 50-question multiple-choice test in 60 minutes covering both large and small animals, written from Introduction to Veterinary Science (Lawhead and Baker) and the American Red Cross Pet First Aid app. Anatomy and physiology is the largest section at 24 percent, followed by diseases and prevention, emergency care and first aid, principles of surgery, nutrients, clinical practice, animal behavior, zoonoses, and ethics, law and safety. Top scorers advance to Round Two, a secret scenario drawn from seven skills, with no live animals used: identifying 15 instruments by name and purpose (15 minutes) and 15 dog or cat breeds from the AKC and CFA lists with spelling counting (8 minutes), both of which may be given with the written test; preparing an operative site (7); a simple fecal flotation (5); lifting and restraining a dog for cephalic venipuncture (4); wrapping a surgical pack (3); and preparing a cat to have its temperature taken using low-stress handling (6). Bring non-latex exam gloves. A 70 percent score on the hands-on skills (excluding the test and the two identification skills) is required to place; test and skill scores are added and ties go to the higher test score.

Test day

What to expect

Round One test, then skill stations

Round One is a 50-question test in 60 minutes; the top scorers advance to Round Two, the skill stations. Official format: 50-question test, 60 minutes, then Round Two skill scenarios of 3 to 15 minutes each for top scorers.

Written from the test plan

Questions follow the event's published test plan, section by section, and are written from the listed reference texts. Practice questions here are drawn in the same proportions.

How you advance

How many advance from regionals to states and on to the International Leadership Conference (ILC) depends on your association's rules. Study the official test plan: it lists each section and its share of the test.

What judges score

Skill I: Identify Instruments/Equipment, name and purpose of 15 items (15 minutes)Skill II: Identification of Companion Animal Breeds/Species, 15 dogs or cats (8 minutes)Skill III: Preparation of the Operative Site (7 minutes)Skill IV: Simple Fecal Flotation (5 minutes)Skill V: Lifting and Restraining a Dog (4 minutes)Skill VI: Wrapping a Surgical Pack (3 minutes)Skill VII: Preparing a Feline to Obtain a Temperature (6 minutes)

What's on the test

Anatomy and Physiology · 24%Basic Nutrients · 10%Animal Behavior · 6%Diseases/Disease Prevention · 14%Zoonoses · 6%Clinical Practice · 10%Emergency Care/First Aid · 12%Principles of Surgery · 12%Ethical, Legal, and Safety · 6%

Study resources

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