exam

exam — noun

1. a formal test of what a person knows or can do in a subject, usually taken at th

1.nounA2
Definition

a formal test of what a person knows or can do in a subject, usually taken at the end of a course in school or college

Example

The final exam for the biology course is next Friday at 9 AM.

collocation: final exam

Priya spent all weekend studying for her maths exam.

collocation: study for an exam

Common collocations
  • take an exam
  • pass an exam
  • fail an exam
  • study for an exam
  • exam results
  • exam paper
  • final exam
  • entrance exam
Synonyms
  • test

    more general term; a test can be shorter or less formal than an exam

  • examination

    the full form of exam, used in official or academic writing

  • quiz

    a short informal test covering a small amount of material, often without a grade

Grammar Patterns

exam + in + [subject]

exam + on + [topic]

Usage Note

Also commonly called 'examination' in formal writing. 'Exam' is the more frequent form in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

I wrote an exam yesterday.
I took an exam yesterday.
Students 'take' or 'sit' an exam; only teachers 'write' (or 'set') an exam.
I passed from the exam.
I passed the exam.
The verb 'pass' takes a direct object with no preposition when meaning to succeed in a test.

2. a careful look at part of a person's body by a doctor or nurse to find out if it

2.nounB1
Definition

a careful look at part of a person's body by a doctor or nurse to find out if it is healthy or to discover what is wrong

Example

The doctor gave me a full eye exam to check my vision.

collocation: eye exam

Yusuf went to the clinic for a routine physical exam before starting his new job.

collocation: physical exam

Common collocations
  • physical exam
  • eye exam
  • medical exam
  • dental exam
  • have an exam
  • routine exam
  • full exam
Synonyms
  • examination

    formal term used in medical contexts, e.g. 'physical examination'

  • check-up

    a routine visit to a doctor to make sure you are generally healthy

Grammar Patterns

exam + of + [body part]

[adjective] + exam

Usage Note

Often combined with a body part or type: 'eye exam', 'physical exam', 'dental exam'. The full form 'examination' is common in formal medical writing.

Common Mistakes

I need to make an exam with my doctor.
I need to have an exam by my doctor.
Doctors 'do' or 'perform' exams; patients 'have' or 'get' them.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Test is the broadest word and can refer to anything from a quick classroom exercise to a formal measure of ability — a driving test or a blood test. Exam (short for examination) is used specifically for formal, often high-stakes academic assessments such as final exams or entrance exams. Examination is the full form and sounds more official; it appears in academic writing and formal titles ('the bar examination'). Quiz describes a short, informal test covering a small amount of recent material, often used by teachers to check understanding without the pressure of a full exam. In everyday conversation, exam and test are the most frequent choices.

test ↗quiz ↗examination ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • exam paper
  • exam results
  • exam board
  • exam room
  • exam date

Phrases

  • sit an exam
  • take an exam
  • pass an exam
  • fail an exam
  • study for an exam
  • revise for an exam

Prepositions

  • exam in [subject]
  • exam on [topic]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Shortened form of 'examination', which comes via French from Latin 'examinare' meaning 'to weigh, to test, to consider carefully'. The Latin root 'examen' originally referred to the pointer of a balance scale — the act of weighing something to find its true nature. This idea of careful evaluation runs through both the academic and medical meanings of the word today.