exam and test

English translation: exam and test

10:27 Jul 22, 2005

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Education / Pedagogy

English term or phrase: exam and test

Hi, can anybody tell me the differences between exam and test in college education system?

elearner

Selected answer:exam and test

Explanation:
exam: spoken or written test of knowledge, especially an important one

test: a set of questions, exercises or practical activities to measure someones skill, ability or knowledge

(exam is more important, like a final exam)

Selected response from:

Scout2003 (X)
Local time: 14:58

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +4

exam and test

Scout2003 (X)

4 +3

exam and test

Johan Venter

4 +2

'test' may be equivalent to a quiz

Parrot

5 +1

exam has wider coverage, test is narrower

Lubosh Hanuska

4 +1

exam / test [UK]

Tony M

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

exam and test

Scout2003 (X)
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of:

German,

English

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

13 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

exam / test [UK]

Explanation:
Very often, an exam leads to some kind of qualification or certificate, sometimes administered by an external body. An exame often takes place at the end of a course, or at the end of (say) each year of a course (probably to ensure qualification to move onto the next stage...)

A test is almost always internal (except for things like schools' national curriculum testing in the UK), and often is a way of checking that knowledge has been acquired. Often intermediate, held at various stages throughout a course. Certain special uses like 'Driving Test' (held by an examiner!). It is comparatively rare that a test would be used to qualify, or not, a candidate to move on to a next stage, etc.

I would not really regard these two words as directly synonymous, or at any rate, rarely interchangeable.

Tony M
France
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

'test' may be equivalent to a quiz

Explanation:
As our colleagues have said, a teacher may give a test to measure performance or comprehension as regards a certain part of course contents (chapter, unit, module). This may or may not affect final grades, but in essence would only reflect a partial result. An exam is comprehensive of the course, is usually given at the end, or at mid-terms and during finals, and will definitely account for a good part of the student's final grade. Some teachers may prefer a 50-50 balance between tests and exams, but this is generally left to the teachers' discretion. I have known teachers to exempt students from exams based on consistently high and complete test performance.

Parrot
Spain
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of: English

7 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

exam and test

Explanation:
Exam and test is a little like a battle and a war. They are synonyms, but context can change the meaning somewhat.

Exam(ination) is usually a process of evaluation of students' knowledge at the end of a semester to appraise their knowledge through a series of tests.

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Note added at 17 mins (2005-07-22 10:45:20 GMT)
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This is what dictionary.com has to say about the two words:

Test: A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.

Exam: a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge; \"when the test was stolen the professor had to make a new set of questions\"

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Note added at 19 mins (2005-07-22 10:46:55 GMT)
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My Babylon-Pro Dictionary says the following about these two words:

Exam: n. test, quiz, examination, series of questions designed to gauge a person\'s knowledge of a particular subject (especially in school)

Test: n. examination, series of questions designed to gauge a person\'s knowledge of a particular subject (especially in school); experiment, trial run

Johan Venter
Czech Republic
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of: English

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

exam has wider coverage, test is narrower

Explanation:
It DOES depend on the context, and you have not provided any. However, I can hopefully speak from some experience as someone who examines and test students :-) In general terms an exam has wider coverage of a subject or qualification. An examination by a panel of experts also sometimes leads to a professional certification or as an admission step to professional body. The term "test" refers to a shorter and more narrow assessment of one's skills and knowledge (often a multiple question and/or simple practical demonstration). For example to obtain a driving licence one has to pass a test.

Lubosh Hanuska
Australia
Local time: 22:58
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Slovak

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