exam
High Frequency (A2)Neutral, leaning slightly informal; 'examination' is more formal, especially in official contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill, often determining progress, qualification, or admission.
Can refer to any thorough inspection or analysis, such as a medical exam (short for examination). In informal contexts, also used to describe a challenging or scrutinizing situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'exam' is a clipped form of 'examination'. It strongly connotes formal assessment, often with associated stress or importance. In education, it typically implies a written, oral, or practical test.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. 'Exam' is standard in both. In the UK, 'A-level exams', 'GCSE exams' are specific. In the US, 'finals', 'midterms', 'the SATs' are common exam types.
Connotations
Similar connotations of stress and importance. In UK schooling, 'exams' often refer to high-stakes national tests at key stages.
Frequency
'Exam' is slightly more prevalent in everyday UK speech for school tests. US usage equally common but may use 'test' more frequently for classroom assessments.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
take + [exam] + (in + [subject])pass/fail + [exam]revise for + [exam] (UK) / study for + [exam] (US)sit + [exam] (UK)have + [exam] + (on + [date])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Exam fever”
- “Cram for an exam”
- “Ace an exam”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used for professional certification exams (e.g., 'accountancy exam').
Academic
Primary context. Refers to formal university, college, or school tests.
Everyday
Common in student/parent conversations about school and studying.
Technical
In medicine: 'physical exam', 'eye exam'. In computing: 'system integrity exam' (less common).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The board will exam the company's accounts. (rare, formal for 'examine')
American English
- The doctor will exam the patient. (informal/colloquial for 'examine', non-standard)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form; 'exam-wise' is informal.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- Exam season is always stressful.
- She bought new exam stationery.
American English
- Exam day procedures are strict.
- He felt exam anxiety.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have an English exam tomorrow.
- She passed her maths exam.
- Did you finish the exam?
- We need to revise for the history exam next week.
- Failing that exam was a real setback.
- The final exam covers all the material from this term.
- Despite thorough preparation, she found the exam unexpectedly challenging.
- The university requires candidates to sit a rigorous entrance exam.
- His exam results will determine whether he gets into his first-choice university.
- The bar exam is notoriously difficult, with a pass rate of less than 50%.
- The committee's scrutiny felt like a gruelling oral exam on his research methodology.
- Post-mortem exam of the data revealed several methodological flaws.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EX-AM' -> 'EXtra AMount of stress' because exams often cause stress.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXAM IS A TRIAL / EXAM IS A BATTLE (e.g., 'face an exam', 'struggle through an exam', 'conquer the exam').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'экзамен' for every small classroom test—use 'test' for less formal assessments.
- Do not translate 'sit an exam' literally as 'сидеть экзамен'; use 'сдавать экзамен' (take/pass).
- 'Exam results' are 'результаты экзаменов', not 'экзаменационные результаты' (clumsy calque).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I will give an exam.' (Correct: 'I will take/sit an exam.')
- Incorrect: 'I wrote an exam.' (Correct: 'I took an exam.' or 'I did an exam.')
- Incorrect: 'My exam's date is tomorrow.' (Correct: 'My exam is tomorrow.' or 'The date of my exam is tomorrow.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common informal synonym for 'exam' in an educational context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Exam' is a clipped, more informal version of 'examination'. 'Examination' is preferred in formal, legal, or official documents (e.g., 'Board of Examination', 'medical examination'). In everyday educational talk, 'exam' is standard.
This is common in Indian English and some other varieties, but is generally considered non-standard in British and American English. The standard phrases are 'take an exam' (US/UK), 'sit an exam' (UK), or 'do an exam' (informal).
Standard English uses 'examine' as the verb. Using 'exam' as a verb (e.g., 'The doctor will exam you') is informal, colloquial, and generally considered incorrect in formal writing.
'Exam' is a late 19th-century abbreviation of 'examination', which comes from Latin 'examinare' meaning 'to weigh, test, or consider', from 'examen' meaning 'the tongue of a balance'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Education
A2 · 50 words · School, studying and learning vocabulary.