The VEA (Veterinary Educational Assessment, formerly known as the Qualifying Examination) is a 240-item exam on foundational basic sciences — anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and pathology — typically given mid-curriculum. Many schools use it to benchmark student performance because research has found it to be the strongest available predictor of a student's eventual NAVLE performance, schools may also use the information to flag students who may need additional support well before they reach the NAVLE.