failed the exam

USAGE SUMMARY

'failed the exam' is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It usually implies that the person attempted to take the exam but did not pass. Example sentence: After studying for weeks, John was disappointed to find out he had failed the exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Sartre had failed the exam the year before.

The New York Times

If a single wheel slipped, they failed the exam.

The New Yorker

"A good friend failed the exam I passed, and a few weeks later he was dead".

The Guardian - Books

One student of the 16 who failed the exam has retaken it and passed.

The New York Times

He had gone drinking with a suicidal friend who had failed the exam.

The New Yorker

He'd failed the exam twice, actually, but you wouldn't have guessed it by the way he acted.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Over half of its students failed the national standardized exam for three years in a row.

Huffington Post

She graduated with no O levels, having failed the exams, twice.

The New Yorker

He failed the exams, and thus wrecked — or so it seemed — his chances of an academic career.

The New Yorker

Elias fails the exam, and sits for it again.

The New Yorker

If the student fails the exam, the committee may vote to allow a second attempt.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing exam results, consider the audience and choose language that is appropriate for the context. "Failed the exam" is generally acceptable, but more formal or informal alternatives might be suitable depending on the situation.

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the exact exam that was failed. For example, say "failed the chemistry exam" instead of just "failed the exam" if the context isn't already clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed the exam" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of not successfully passing an examination. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a common and grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed the exam" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express that someone did not pass an exam. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard phrase in English, commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While generally neutral in register, more formal situations might warrant using alternatives such as "did not pass the exam". When using the phrase, it's best practice to clearly specify which exam was failed to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not pass the exam

Replaces "failed" with a more neutral expression "did not pass".

flunked the exam

Uses a more informal synonym for "failed", "flunked".

did poorly on the exam

Shifts focus to the performance level on the exam rather than a binary pass/fail.

did not succeed on the exam

Employs a more formal and general term, "succeed", in place of "pass".

was unsuccessful in the exam

Uses "unsuccessful" to convey the lack of success on the exam.

didn't make the grade on the exam

Introduces an idiomatic expression to indicate failing.

fell short on the exam

Emphasizes that the performance was not enough to pass.

bombed the exam

Uses an informal term, "bombed", suggesting a significant failure.

came a cropper on the exam

This alternative expression is more common in British English.

was defeated by the exam

Uses a more dramatic term to describe test results.

FAQs

How can I use "failed the exam" in a sentence?

You can use "failed the exam" to describe someone who did not pass a test. For example: "Despite studying, she "failed the exam" and needs to retake it."

What's a more formal way to say "failed the exam"?

A more formal alternative is "did not pass the exam". For example: "The candidate "did not pass the exam" and will need to reapply next year."

Is it grammatically correct to say "failed in the exam"?

While understandable, "failed the exam" is more common and grammatically preferred. "Failed in the exam" is less idiomatic and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What are some reasons why someone might have "failed the exam"?

There are many reasons why someone might have "failed the exam", including lack of preparation, test anxiety, or difficulty understanding the material.