examination was given

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "examination was given" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing an assessment or test that was administered to individuals or a group. Example: "The examination was given to all students on Friday to assess their understanding of the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

One cow which collapsed during the examination was given calcium and magnesium chloride intravenously.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Information about the oral examination was given to children and their parents.

Clinical Oral Investigations

Each male participant who presented for clinical examination was given PGK20 (USD10) to assist with transport to and from the hospital and a meal while off campus.

Health Research Policy and Systems

'Mixed' indicates courses in which the comprehensive final examination was given in the traditional format in year one and two, but then changed to the on-line format in the third year of the study.

BMC Medical Education

In Ireland, the invitation to take part in the health examination was given by the interviewer who located the address (Table  2).> -wrap-foot> Bpressurepressure The recruitment processes after the initial contact with the survey invitees varied between countries.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

A complete physical examination was given to each study participant upon enrollment, and included body mass index (BMI, calculated as kg weight/m height), waist circumference (W, measured at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the superior border of the iliac crest on the midaxillary line), and blood pressure (measured by conventional sleeve mercury sphygmomanometer).

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A qualifying examination is given during the second year of study.

Yale University

The examination is given in one day (3 questions, each an hour and a half long, open book and notes).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This examination period must be available for students, but not necessarily in its entirety, if an in-class examination is given.

Stanford University

A final public oral examination is given after each candidate's dissertation has been read and approved by their dissertation faculty advisers and readers.

Princeton University

The admission to candidacy examination is given to determine if the student is "ready to begin work on a thesis". The content and methods of examination are agreed on by the student and his/her committee before the examination.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing formal assessments, use "examination was given" to maintain a professional tone. This phrasing is suitable for academic reports, official announcements, and formal correspondence.

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive "examination was given" with an active voice construction like "the professor gave the examination" if the focus should be on the examination itself, not the actor. The passive voice is often preferable when the subject performing the action is less important than the action itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "examination was given" functions as a passive construction, emphasizing the action of administering an examination rather than the actor. As Ludwig AI explains, this construction is useful when the focus is on the examination itself.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

Academia

30%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "examination was given" is a grammatically correct passive construction that is used to emphasize the administration of an examination, typically in formal contexts. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is common in science, academia, and news media. While less frequent than active voice alternatives, it maintains a level of professionalism suitable for official announcements and reports. When using this phrase, consider whether the focus should be on the examination itself or the person administering it to determine the most appropriate voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the exam was administered

Replaces "given" with "administered", a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of managing the examination.

the test was conducted

Substitutes "examination" with "test" and "given" with "conducted", focusing on the execution of the assessment.

the assessment was provided

Uses "assessment" instead of "examination", and "provided" in place of "given", highlighting the act of making the evaluation available.

students took the examination

Changes the focus to the students and their action of taking the exam, rather than the exam being given.

an exam was held

Replaces "given" with "held", indicating the examination took place at a specific time.

the paper was set

This alternative is mostly used in British English, and implies that the exam has been created and is ready to be taken.

the inspection was carried out

It swaps the examination with "inspection", but applies where the process is an evaluation of condition.

the evaluation was performed

Replaces "examination" with "evaluation", highlighting the act of assessing something and providing a judgment.

the board was tested

This alternative is not interchangeable with "examination", because it depends if the object in analysis is suitable for the context.

the investigation was launched

The test implies that the process has been initiated.

FAQs

How can I use "examination was given" in a sentence?

Use "examination was given" when you want to emphasize that an assessment took place, without necessarily highlighting who administered it. For example: "The final "examination" was given under strict supervision".

What is a more formal way to say "examination was given"?

A more formal alternative to "examination was given" is "the "exam was administered"". This phrasing is often preferred in official documents and academic writing.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing an examination?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. If the focus is on the administrator, use active voice (e.g., "The teacher gave the exam"). If the focus is on the "examination" itself, use passive voice (e.g., "The examination was given").

What's the difference between "examination was given" and "examination was taken"?

"Examination was given" focuses on the act of administering the assessment, while "examination was taken" emphasizes the students' action of participating in the assessment. The choice depends on what aspect you want to highlight.