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Test, exam, or quiz
A test is a check of knowledge in general, an exam is formal and important, and a quiz is short and informal, or a question game.
Quick rule
Short and minor? Quiz. A normal check, also medical or driving? Test. Formal and important? Exam. You take it, not make it.
A check of what you know or can do. It is used at school, at the doctor, for driving, and at work.
A formal, important check of what you know: end of term, entrance, or professional. Also a doctor's check of your body.
A short, informal check with a few questions that counts for little. Also a game of questions and answers.
How to choose
| Question | test | exam | quiz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is it short and informal, with few questions? | SometimesSometimes | No | Yes |
| Is it formal and important, with a date and a big grade? | SometimesSometimes | Yes | No |
| Is it also used outside school, at the doctor or for driving? | Yes | SometimesSometimes | SometimesSometimes |
Why it trips people up
English splits what Spanish calls examen. A quiz is short, a test is the general check, and an exam is the formal, important one. The same word can also sound different on each side of the Atlantic, because British speakers use exam more.
How each one works
Test
A normal school check
We have a spelling test every Friday.
A medical check
The nurse took a sample for my allergy test.
A check to get a license
She passed her driving test on the first try.
Exam
A big exam at the end
The history exam is on June 12, and it covers the whole year.
An exam to get into a place
He failed the entrance exam, so he took it again.
A doctor's check
The doctor gave me a full physical exam.
Quiz
A brief check in class
Our teacher gave us a short quiz on Monday.
Only a few questions
It was a ten-question quiz, so it took five minutes.
A question game
We play a trivia quiz at the bar every Tuesday.
What comes next
take or pass a test
He took the test twice before he passed.
a test on plus topic
We have a test on fractions tomorrow.
an exam in plus subject
She has an exam in biology on Thursday.
take, pass, or fail an exam
Most of the class passed the exam.
a quiz on plus topic
There is a quiz on chapter three today.
Set phrases
Test
- driving test
- a check you must pass to get a driver's license
- test results
- the information you get after a check
Exam
- entrance exam
- an exam you must pass to get into a school
- exam room
- the room where people take an exam
Quiz
- quiz show
- a TV show where people answer questions to win prizes
Almost the same
We have a quiz.
Short and worth little.
We have a test.
A normal check on one unit.
We have an exam.
Formal and big, worth a lot.
The doctor gave me a blood test.
A sample checked in a lab.
The doctor gave me a physical exam.
He checks your body in person.
In a conversation
- A:
Are you ready for the chemistry exam on Friday?
- B:
Not really. We had a quiz yesterday, and I got half of it wrong.
- A:
Don't worry. A quiz doesn't count much.
- B:
True. But last month's unit test was hard too.
- A:
Then let's study together tonight.
- B:
Deal. Bring your notes.
Common mistakes
Wrong: She is studying for the end-of-year quiz.
Right: She is studying for the end-of-year exam.
A quiz is short and counts for little. The big check at the end of the year is an exam.
Wrong: She took a pregnancy exam at home.
Right: She took a pregnancy test at home.
A check with a sample or a kit is a test. An exam is formal or a doctor looking at your body.
Memory trick
Think of size. A quiz fits in five minutes. A test is the normal one in class or at the doctor. An exam is the big one, with a date and nerves.
It depends
- Test and exam at school
- In the US, many teachers say test for most checks and keep exam for the big ones. A midterm can be called either.
- Quiz as a game
- Quiz is also a question game at a bar or on TV: quiz night. It is not a school check.
FAQ
Is it test or exam?
An exam is formal and important, like a final at the end of a course. A test is the general word and can be small or big.
What is a quiz in school?
A quiz is a short check, often five or ten questions, that counts for few points.
Do you take or make a test?
You take a test. The person who writes the questions makes the test, but the student takes it.