Top Two Reasons Why the VEA is a Useful Testing Tool

Testing is one of the tools schools can use to measure the impact their educational program has on a student’s learning. It can highlight areas where students need remediation, and assist academic departments in monitoring outcomes from curriculum changes and adjusting learning strategies. The Veterinary Educational Assessment (VEA) is an independent assessment tool created by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) to meet these needs for veterinary schools.

Here are two main reasons why the VEA is a useful tool for veterinary schools:

1. Strong Predictor of a Student’s Performance on the NAVLE

In 2011, Dr. Jared Danielson (Iowa State University) led a study exploring the relationship among common student performance measures and how well they predicted a student’s performance on the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), the veterinary licensure exam. The study focused on scores such as the GRE, undergraduate GPA, veterinary college GPA, and the VEA. The study revealed that the VEA (known at the time as the Qualifying Exam) was the strongest predictor of future NAVLE performance. The table below shows the correlations among measures of student performance and the NAVLE scores.

Researchers indicated that there are two reasons why VEA scores are a good predictor of NAVLE performance. First, the VEA measures knowledge and skills in the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and pathology) that are foundational to clinical practice. The NAVLE measures clinical readiness, building off of the basic science knowledge. Second, the VEA is similar in format to the NAVLE, a standardized multiple-choice test. Students can use the results of the VEA as they prepare for the NAVLE.

2. A Benchmarking Performance Measure

Educators looking for an independent, standardized assessment to evaluate their students’ knowledge of basic science can utilize the VEA. ICVA’s recently improved VEA guidelines and score reports provide schools and students with percentage and scaled scores broken down by content areas and guidelines for what scores may need remediation. Both schools and students can evaluate how their performance compares with the hundreds of other students taking the test around the world.

Below is a snapshot of the new VEA guidelines and score reports.

For more information about the VEA, click here or contact the ICVA office.