exam

/ɛgˈzæm/

/ɛgzˈæm/

Other forms: exams

An exam is a test. Many high school and college classes have a midterm exam and a final exam.

The word exam is short for examination, from 19th century student slang. An exam usually takes place in a class and consists of questions that test a student's knowledge. Sometimes the word describes a medical test of some kind, like an eye exam, a dental exam, or a physical exam. Rather than testing knowledge or skill, these exams are procedures meant to diagnose or rule out illnesses.

Definitions of exam

1. noun

   a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge
   synonyms: examination, test

   types:

   bar exam, bar examination

   an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction

   comp, comprehensive, comprehensive examination

   an intensive examination testing a student's proficiency in some special field of knowledge

   entrance exam, entrance examination

   examination to determine a candidate's preparation for a course of studies

   final, final exam, final examination

   an examination administered at the end of an academic term

   litmus test

   a test that relies on a single indicator

   midterm, midterm exam, midterm examination

   an examination administered in the middle of an academic term

   oral, oral exam, oral examination, viva, viva voce

   an examination conducted by spoken communication

   prelim, preliminary exam, preliminary examination

   an examination taken by graduate students to determine their fitness to continue

   quiz

   an examination consisting of a few short questions

   exam paper, examination paper, question sheet, test paper

   a written examination

   tripos

   final honors degree examinations at Cambridge University

   pop quiz

   a quiz given without prior warning

   type of:

   communicating, communication

   the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
2. noun

   a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person
   synonyms: checkup, examination, health check, medical, medical checkup, medical exam, medical examination

   type of:

   examination, scrutiny

   the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)