Meaning & use
practical test
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Meanings
nouncountable
An exam in which you must perform a task or show a skill rather than answer questions on paper.
Grammar: Countable: use a/a with the singular and -s with the plural, as in 'two practical tests'.
Patterns
- take a practical test
- pass/fail a practical test
- a practical test in something
She passed the written exam easily, but the practical test in the kitchen was much harder.
Learner drivers in Britain must pass a practical test before they can drive alone.
The course ends with a practical test where you repair a real engine.
nouncountable
A trial of how well something works when it is used in real conditions.
Grammar: Often used for products or systems; contrast with a 'theoretical test' done only on paper.
Patterns
- put something through a practical test
- a practical test of something
The new tent survived a practical test in heavy rain and strong wind.
Prototypes go through a practical test before they are sold to the public.
Word forms
| plural | practical tests |
|---|
Common combinations
- take a practical test
- You must take a practical test before you get your license.
- pass a practical test
- He passed his practical test on the second try.
- fail a practical test
- She failed the practical test because she forgot to check the mirrors.
- a practical test in something
- There is a practical test in first aid at the end of the term.
- sit a practical test
- British students sit a practical test as part of the science course.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hands-on exam
- More informal and stresses doing things with your hands; 'practical test' is the standard term in schools and driving offices.
- performance test
- Used more in technical or job contexts for measuring how well someone or something performs; it sounds more formal than 'practical test'.
Opposites
Word family
- practically adverb
- Almost, or in a real and sensible way.
- practicality noun
- The quality of being useful and sensible in real situations.
Commonly confused: practical test or practice test?
practical test vs practice test
A practice test is one you do for training before the real exam; a practical test is the official exam of your skill. The spelling 'practice' is the noun, 'practise' the British verb.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'practical test' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A practical test checks a skill you perform, so cooking a meal fits. The other options describe written or paper tests, which are not practical tests.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “practical test”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.