sit exams

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sit exams" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in British English to refer to the act of taking or participating in examinations. Example: "Students will sit exams at the end of the term to assess their knowledge and skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

As an undergrad student, you attend classes, hand in coursework, sit exams and gain feedback throughout the academic year.

The Guardian

He believes pupils do not learn properly if they are coached to sit exams every term, which they can retake.

The Guardian

Many home-educators would like to be able to use school facilities occasionally in science lessons, say, or to sit exams.

The Economist

Others, such as Massachusetts, have long expected 16-year-olds to sit exams in science, maths, English and history.British education is shallow as well as narrow.

The Economist

If they do move to urban areas with their parents, they may not sit exams for senior high school in the city where they live.

The Economist

Coalition plans to force teenagers to sit exams at the end of their courses, rather than throughout the year, could discriminate against girls, teachers have warned.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Did not sit exam.

Independent

In 2005, a member of the British Army sat exams in Baghdad in a room where windows and doors had been blown out.

Independent

Coe said it could be that exam performance had improved; there was more focus on preparation and schools were being more selective about who sits exams.

The Guardian

Almost all of the North Korean students are stellar academics, and only one had to re-sit exams, the French classmates said.

Vice

30 32 36 38 40 Ricketts et al included only students who progressed normally throughout the course, excluding those who re-sat exams or dropped out.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sit exams" when referring to the act of taking exams, especially in contexts where British English is preferred.

Common error

Avoid using "sit" in contexts where it might be misinterpreted as simply being present in a location. Ensure the context clearly indicates the act of taking an exam.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sit exams" functions as a verb phrase where "sit" acts as a verb meaning to take or participate in, and "exams" is the noun representing the examinations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sit exams" is a common and grammatically correct expression, particularly in British English, referring to the act of taking examinations. Ludwig AI validates this usage. While it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications, alternative phrases like "take examinations" or "appear for exams" can be used for broader clarity. The phrase appears frequently in reliable sources such as The Guardian and BBC, indicating its widespread acceptance. When using "sit exams", ensure the context clearly indicates participation in an exam to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take examinations

Replaces the verb "sit" with "take", a more general term for participating in an exam.

appear for exams

Uses "appear for" to emphasize the act of showing up to take the exams.

participate in examinations

Emphasizes the involvement and engagement in the examination process.

undergo assessment

Focuses on the evaluation aspect rather than the physical act of taking an exam.

complete assessments

Highlights the completion of the assessment process.

attend for examination

Uses "attend" to specify presence for the exam.

undertake examination

Formal way of describing the act of taking an exam.

be examined

Passive voice focusing on the student being the subject of examination.

face exams

Highlights the challenging aspect of taking exams.

tackle exams

Emphasizes actively dealing with the exams.

FAQs

What does "sit exams" mean?

The phrase "sit exams" means to take or participate in examinations. It's commonly used in British English.

What can I say instead of "sit exams"?

You can use alternatives like "take examinations", "appear for exams", or "undergo assessment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "sit for exams"?

While "sit exams" is more common, "sit for exams" is also acceptable, though slightly less frequent.

Is "sit exams" formal or informal?

"Sit exams" is generally neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it is more frequently used in British English.