Meaning & use
exam
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Meanings
nouncountable
A formal test of knowledge or skill, especially one taken at school or for a qualification.
Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'take', 'pass', 'fail', etc.
Patterns
- take an exam
- pass an exam
- fail an exam
- an exam in something
I have to take a math exam tomorrow.
She passed her final exams with high marks.
He failed the driving exam twice.
nouncountablemedical
A medical test that examines part of the body.
Grammar: Countable; often used in medical contexts.
Patterns
- a medical exam
- a physical exam
- an eye exam
The doctor gave him a thorough physical exam.
She scheduled an eye exam for next week.
The exam showed no signs of injury.
Word forms
| plural | exams |
|---|
Common combinations
- take an exam
- Students must take an exam at the end of the course.
- pass an exam
- He was relieved to pass the exam.
- fail an exam
- If you fail the exam, you can retake it.
- final exam
- The final exam covers all the material.
- entrance exam
- She studied hard for the entrance exam.
Synonyms and how they differ
- test
- More general; can be short or informal, while 'exam' is usually longer and more formal.
- examination
- The full, formal word; 'exam' is the shortened, everyday form.
- assessment
- A broader term for judging ability, often not a single test.
Word family
- examination noun
- The formal word for an exam or a medical check.
- examine verb
- To test or look at something carefully.
- examiner noun
- A person who sets or marks an exam.
Commonly confused: exam or examine?
exam vs examine
A verb meaning 'to look at or test'; 'exam' is the noun.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
We usually say 'take an exam' when we are the student. 'Make' and 'do' are not used this way; 'give an exam' means the teacher creates or administers it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “exam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.