exam

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'exam' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a noun to refer to a test or an assessment, as in "I have an exam this afternoon". It can also be used as a verb, as in "We need to exam the evidence before making a decision".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It supports them in exam stress and [instead of panicking] it allows them to put space between themselves and a difficult question".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But there was a problem: the compulsory oral exam, worth 20% of his overall marks.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Miranda Larbi, an MA newspaper journalism student at City University, says: "I'm nervous that in a couple of weeks I won't have my watch in my law exam – and that might cause problems.

The Guardian

Hay fever can be horrible for children (runny noses aren't fun, and a blocked nose disrupts sleep), especially at exam time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They are people who have been chosen among lakhs [hundreds of thousands] of people, they have taken a variety of subjects to get through this exam.

The Guardian

To pass the easiest maths entrance exam, children need to be level 5 mathematicians at the start of year 6, which puts crushing pressure on them.

The Guardian

At school, teachers organise revision sessions leading up to the exam, at university you have to work out your own timetable.

The Guardian

You take the promotional exam, become a supervisor, so it goes on and on".

The Guardian

The school's exam results have been slightly below average in recent years: last year 71% of pupils at KS2 managed to achieve Level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths, compared with 75% across England as a whole.

The Guardian

Whether the mafia has kidnapped you and made you kill a man with a gun to win your freedom or if you've done quite badly in an exam, someone will say: "Let me get you a nice cup of tea".

The Guardian - Opinion

The educational achievement gap between richer and poorer pupils has widened for the first time in recent years, as exam results showed just one in three disadvantaged students hit the government's GCSE pass target, compared with more than 60% of their better-off peers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about formal assessments, use "examination" for greater formality and "exam" for general or informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "exam" as a verb. The correct verb form is "examine". For instance, say "examine the data" instead of "exam the data".

Linguistic Context

The word "exam" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a formal assessment of knowledge or skills. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which demonstrate its use in contexts like "law exam" or "entrance exam".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "exam" is a very common noun used to refer to a formal assessment or test. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, it's important to distinguish its usage from the verb "examine". According to Ludwig AI, "exam" functions primarily as a noun and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The Guardian, The New York Times and BBC. While "examination" is a more formal alternative, "exam" is suitable for most contexts, maintaining a neutral register. Usage patterns show its frequent occurrence in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

test

A shorter, more informal synonym for "exam".

examination

A more formal and comprehensive term for "exam".

assessment

A broader term that encompasses various methods of evaluation.

evaluation

Similar to assessment, focusing on judging the value or quality.

quiz

A shorter, less formal assessment of knowledge.

final

Refers to the concluding exam in a course.

midterm

An exam given in the middle of an academic term.

written test

Specifies that the exam is in written form.

oral exam

Specifies that the exam is conducted orally.

competency test

An exam designed to measure specific skills or abilities.

FAQs

How to use "exam" in a sentence?

You can use "exam" as a noun to refer to a test or assessment, as in "I have an exam this afternoon". It's also used in compound nouns like "exam stress" or "entrance exam".

What can I say instead of "exam"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "test", "examination", or "assessment".

Is it correct to use "exam" as a verb?

While colloquially understood, it's grammatically preferable to use "examine" as the verb form. Ludwig AI says that the word "exam" is correct and usable in written English as a noun but advises using “examine” as the verb.

What's the difference between "exam" and "examination"?

"Examination" is a more formal and comprehensive term for "exam". Use "examination" in official or academic contexts, and "exam" in general or informal situations.