ace a test

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'ace a test' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a slang phrase which means to do exceptionally well on a test or exam. For example, "Sean happily aced his math test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Most people can study these pairs for about 20 minutes and ace a test on them, even a day later.

The New York Times - Health

Our brightest students get the message that if you can write in a formulaic manner and ace a test, you have fulfilled an important goal.

The New York Times

InstaEDU built Cardinal Scholars at Stanford as a way to connect top-tier university students who need jobs with K-12 kids who need a leg up to ace a test or get into a good school.

TechCrunch

You can't expect to ace a test if you didn't study for it.

Huffington Post

For training and corporate learning, you don't want employees who know how to ace a test but don't necessarily know what they've been taught.

HuffPost

I would imagine that the same would be true with other specialized professions, so that a cardiologist would ace a test on the cardiovascular system.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Nicole wore the look that she always wore just before she aced a test.

The New Yorker

If kids are told that they aced a test because of their innate intelligence, that creates a "fixed" mindset.

Independent

I hung on to the every word of friends' dads who told them they did a great job on the soccer field or after acing a test.

The Washington Post

As the physicist Erwin Schrödinger remarked, in 1935, one would hardly be surprised that "a schoolboy under examination" had aced a test if he had the list of questions in advance.

The New Yorker

Twenty-three yeago ago, a bonobo named Kanzi (above) aced a test in understanding human language.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to communicate success in a formal context, consider using "excel on a test" instead of "ace a test" for a more professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "ace a test" in academic papers or formal reports. Opt for more professional alternatives like "perform well" or "achieve a high score".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ace a test" functions as a verb phrase, indicating successful completion of a test. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a slang phrase meaning to do exceptionally well. The examples show its use in various contexts, mostly informal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ace a test" is a widely recognized expression that conveys the idea of performing exceptionally well on an exam or assessment. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a slang term. While grammatically sound and commonly used, it is more suited for informal communication. More formal contexts may benefit from alternatives such as "excel on a test" or "perform well". The sources provided by Ludwig reveal its prevalence across news and media outlets, wikis, and science-related articles, indicating a broad understanding of the phrase among various audiences. When opting for this phrase, consider the audience and purpose of your writing to ensure that the tone aligns with the overall message. It's a straightforward way to communicate that someone didn't just pass a test, they truly mastered it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nail a test

Uses a slang term, "nail", to convey the idea of doing something perfectly.

excel on a test

Replaces "ace" with a more formal synonym, "excel".

do brilliantly on a test

Replaces "ace" with the adverb "brilliantly", indicating a high level of performance.

get a perfect score on a test

Specifies the outcome as achieving a perfect score.

score highly on a test

Focuses on the high score achieved on the test.

pass a test with flying colors

Uses an idiomatic expression to emphasize a successful outcome.

achieve a top grade on a test

Highlights the achievement of a top grade.

dominate a test

Emphasizes a very strong and superior performance on the test.

breeze through a test

Indicates that the test was completed easily and successfully.

triumph on a test

Uses a more formal and emphatic verb to express success.

FAQs

How can I use "ace a test" in a sentence?

You can use "ace a test" to describe doing very well on an exam, like "She studied hard and managed to "ace the test"".

What does it mean to "ace a test"?

To "ace a test" means to get a very high score, essentially performing exceptionally well on the exam.

Are there more formal alternatives to "ace a test"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "excel on a test" or "perform well on a test".

Is "ace a test" appropriate for all types of writing?

While "ace a test" is widely understood, it's more suitable for informal or casual communication. In formal writing, consider using more professional phrases.