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school exam — test

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

A formal test that students take at school to check their knowledge or skills in a subject.

Say it like a native

Textbook The pupils will undergo a formal scholastic assessment.

Native The students have a school exam next week.

'Undergo a formal scholastic assessment' is jargon; 'have an exam' is normal.

Pattern: school exam (noun phrase); take/sit/pass/fail a school exam

In use

  • I have a school exam in maths next week, so I need to study hard.education
  • In my country, students usually have to take several school exams at the end of each term to show what they have learned.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ I will do an exam tomorrow.

✓ I'll take an exam tomorrow.

You TAKE/sit an exam (BrE 'sit'), not 'do' one.

Common collocations

  • a school exam — take an exam, sit an exam, pass an exam, fail an exam

Don't confuse it

A 'school exam' is usually given by your school, not a national or international test like IELTS.

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