exam was passed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exam was passed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone successfully completed an exam. Example: "After weeks of studying, I was relieved to hear that the exam was passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When the exam was passed out, she had a choice of questions & picked one on which she had been tutored.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If the exam is passed, that person receives a number result of his academic record during university and test result.

European Psychiatry

This course and a qualifying exam were passed by about 3,000 doctors, mainly from the public health service and from occupational medicine.

Environmental Health Perspectives

When the exams were passed out, he worked on his for a while & then decided he could not pass.

The New Yorker

I was a successful (ie pupils and parents said nice things and exams were passed) teacher for many years.

Independent

However, a full pass is only granted after all four exams are passed with an average mark of 60%.

Science Magazine

Also, many companies which employ actuaries have automatic pay raises or promotions when exams are passed.

Wikipedia

*As the sampling periods for the PLAB and college exams differed, the distribution of the dates the PLAB exams were passed was examined against whether the college exams were attempted.

British Medical Journal

ECFMG certification - Once the above exams are passed, you will be certified by the ECFMG and a very impressive certificate will be awarded to you for the same.

WikiHow

This finding could be because candidates who should have passed the first time but failed to do so because of bias in the examination, are passing the exam at subsequent attempts.

British Medical Journal

Yep, that's right he failed an integrity exam that was passed by people who believe in compulsory abortion for fetuses with Down's syndrome and have publicly dismissed all Muslims as "sandal-wearing, bomb-making, camel-riding, goat-fucking ragheads".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "exam was passed", ensure the context clearly indicates who passed the exam. If not self-evident, specify the person or group: "The student's exam was passed".

Common error

Avoid using "exam was passed" in contexts where the agent (the person who passed the exam) is unclear. Instead of saying "The exam was passed", specify who passed it: "The candidate passed the exam".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exam was passed" functions as a passive construction indicating the successful completion of an examination. This construction highlights the action (passing) rather than the actor. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exam was passed" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate the successful completion of an examination. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English, though it's relatively rare. It's often found in news, scientific and wiki contexts, and its neutral register makes it suitable for various settings. While understandable and valid, remember to clearly indicate who passed the exam and consider using the active voice ("passed the exam") for a more direct and less ambiguous statement. Remember to avoid ambiguity and favour active form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exam was successfully completed

Emphasizes the successful aspect of completing the exam.

exam was cleared

Implies overcoming a hurdle or satisfying a requirement.

exam was aced

Suggests the exam was done very well, with a high score.

exam was conquered

Conveys a sense of overcoming a difficult challenge.

exam was passed with flying colors

Highlights an exceptional performance on the exam.

exam was handled

Suggests the exam was dealt with efficiently and successfully.

exam was sailed through

Indicates that the exam was easy and presented no problems.

exam was gotten through

Implies the exam was not particularly enjoyable but it was overcome.

exam was authorized

Refers to the act of granting validation to the exam.

exam was ratified

Points to a confirmation of approval regarding the exam.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "exam was passed" to sound more active?

You can use active voice constructions like "The student "passed the exam"" or "I "passed the exam"" to make the sentence more direct.

What does it mean when someone says the "exam was passed"?

It means that the person or group in question successfully completed the exam and met the required passing score. It indicates successful completion of an assessment.

Is it better to say "exam was passed" or "passed the exam"?

Saying ""passed the exam"" (active voice) is generally more direct and preferred, but "exam was passed" (passive voice) is grammatically correct and can be used when the actor is less important than the action itself.

Are there formal synonyms for "exam was passed"?

Yes, formal synonyms include "exam was successfully completed", "exam was cleared", or "achieved a passing grade on the exam".