Test vs. Examination — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
A test is generally a shorter, more specific form of assessment, while an examination is usually a more comprehensive and formal evaluation. Both are used to measure skills, knowledge, or physical conditions.
Difference Between Test and Examination
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A test is typically a brief assessment that focuses on specific aspects of a subject or skill. It can be both formal or informal, depending on the context. An examination, however, is a more comprehensive assessment that usually covers a broader range of topics and is often formal in nature.
In educational settings, tests often serve as smaller milestones within a course, used to assess understanding of recent material. Examinations, on the other hand, are more likely to be cumulative evaluations that measure understanding of an entire course or a larger body of knowledge.
Tests are often administered in a variety of settings, not just in schools but also in healthcare, workplaces, and other areas. Examinations are generally more specialized and may require more rigorous preparation, including study guides or pre-examination requirements.
Both tests and examinations can be either written or oral, though the latter is more common with examinations. While tests are often shorter and can even be casual quizzes, examinations are longer, more formal, and usually have a greater impact on one's academic or professional standing.
Comparison Chart
Duration
Shorter
Longer
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Scope
Specific
Comprehensive
Formality
Can be informal
Usually formal
Settings
Various
More specialized
Types
Written, oral, practical
Often written or oral
Compare with Definitions
Test
A brief evaluation of skills or knowledge.
I took a spelling test in school today.
Examination
A formal evaluation of an individual's knowledge or skills.
He studied for weeks for the final examination.
Test
A procedure to ascertain quality or reliability.
They conducted a test on the new software.
Examination
A systematic inquiry into a subject or problem.
The examination of the evidence took several days.
Test
An event or situation that reveals the character or abilities of someone.
Surviving the wilderness was a real test of his skills.
Examination
An inspection or analysis of an object, data, or situation.
The examination of the crime scene was thorough.
Test
An examination of a physical sample.
She had a blood test to check for anemia.
Examination
A process of asking questions to obtain information.
The police held an examination of the witness.
Test
A procedure for critical evaluation; a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something; a trial
A test of one's eyesight.
Subjecting a hypothesis to a test.
A test of an athlete's endurance.
Examination
The act of examining or the state of being examined
The examination of the evidence.
Test
A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.
Examination
A set of questions or exercises testing knowledge or skill.
Test
A basis for evaluation or judgment
"A test of democratic government is how Congress and the president work together" (Haynes Johnson).
Examination
A formal interrogation
Examination of the witness.
Test
(Chemistry) A physical or chemical change by which a substance may be detected or its properties ascertained.
Examination
The act of examining.
Test
A cupel.
Examination
Particularly, an inspection by a medical professional to establish the extent and nature of any sickness or injury.
Test
A hard external covering, as that of certain amoebas, dinoflagellates, and sea urchins.
Examination
(education) A formal test involving answering written or oral questions under a time constraint and usually without access to textbooks; typically, a large, written test administered to high school and college students covering course material studied in a semester.
Test
To subject to a test; try
Tested the pen by scribbling on scrap paper.
Testing job applicants.
Examination
Interrogation, particularly by a lawyer in court or during discovery.
Test
To reveal the degree of (a given quality) in someone or something by or as if by means of a test
The experiment tested the rats' ability to solve spatial problems. The long war tested the country's resolve.
Examination
The act of examining, or state of being examined; a careful search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by study or experiment.
Test
To identify the presence or amount of one or more substances in
Tested the water for lead.
Examination
A process prescribed or assigned for testing qualification; as, the examination of a student, or of a candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry.
He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the examinations.
Test
To identify the amount of (a substance) in something
Tested the nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil.
Examination
The act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
Test
To ascertain the properties of
Tested the steel for hardness and tensile strength.
Examination
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
Test
To assay (metal) in a cupel.
Examination
Formal systematic questioning
Test
To undergo a test.
Examination
Examination of conscience (as done daily by Jesuits)
Test
To administer a test
Test for acid content.
Test for the presence of an antibody.
Examination
The act of giving students or candidates a test (as by questions) to determine what they know or have learned
Test
To achieve a score or rating on tests
Tested high on the entrance exams.
Examination
A medical procedure to assess health or diagnose illness.
She had a medical examination before starting her new job.
Test
To exhibit a given characteristic when subjected to a test
Test positive for the tubercle bacillus.
Test
A challenge, trial.
Test
A cupel or cupelling hearth in which precious metals are melted for trial and refinement.
Test
(academia) An examination, given often during the academic term.
Test
A session in which a product, piece of equipment, or system is examined under everyday or extreme conditions to evaluate its durability, etc.
Test
A Test match.
Test
(marine biology) The external calciferous shell, or endoskeleton, of an echinoderm, e.g. sand dollars and sea urchins.
Test
(botany) Testa; seed coat.
Test
(obsolete) Judgment; distinction; discrimination.
Test
(obsolete) A witness.
Test
Testosterone
Test
To challenge.
Climbing the mountain tested our stamina.
Test
To refine (gold, silver, etc.) in a test or cupel; to subject to cupellation.
Test
To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try.
To test the soundness of a principle
To test the validity of an argument
Test
(academics) To administer or assign an examination, often given during the academic term, to (somebody).
Test
To place a product or piece of equipment under everyday and/or extreme conditions and examine it for its durability, etc.
Test
(copulative) To be shown to be by test.
He tested positive for cancer.
Test
(chemistry) To examine or try, as by the use of some reagent.
To test a solution by litmus paper
Test
To attest (a document) legally, and date it.
Test
To make a testament, or will.
Test
A cupel or cupelling hearth in which precious metals are melted for trial and refinement.
Our ingots, tests, and many mo.
Test
Examination or trial by the cupel; hence, any critical examination or decisive trial; as, to put a man's assertions to a test.
Test
Means of trial; as, absence is a test of love.
Each test every light her muse will bear.
Test
That with which anything is compared for proof of its genuineness; a touchstone; a standard.
Life, force, and beauty must to all impart,At once the source, and end, and test of art.
Test
Discriminative characteristic; standard of judgment; ground of admission or exclusion.
Our test excludes your tribe from benefit.
Test
Judgment; distinction; discrimination.
Who would excel, when few can make a testBetwixt indifferent writing and the best?
Test
A reaction employed to recognize or distinguish any particular substance or constituent of a compound, as the production of some characteristic precipitate; also, the reagent employed to produce such reaction; thus, the ordinary test for sulphuric acid is the production of a white insoluble precipitate of barium sulphate by means of some soluble barium salt.
Test
A set of questions to be answered or problems to be solved, used as a means to measure a person's knowledge, aptitude, skill, intelligence, etc.; in school settings, synonymous with examination or exam; as, an intelligence test. Also used attributively; as a test score, test results.
I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commediation.
Thy virtue, prince, has stood the test of fortune,Like purest gold, that tortured in the furnace,Comes out more bright, and brings forth all its weight.
Test
A witness.
Prelates and great lords of England, who were for the more surety tests of that deed.
Test
The external hard or firm covering of many invertebrate animals.
Test
The outer integument of a seed; the episperm, or spermoderm.
Test
To refine, as gold or silver, in a test, or cupel; to subject to cupellation.
Test
To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try; as, to test the soundness of a principle; to test the validity of an argument.
Experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution.
Test
To examine or try, as by the use of some reagent; as, to test a solution by litmus paper.
Test
To administer a test to (someone) for the purpose of ascertaining a person's knowledge or skill; especially, in academic settings, to determine how well a student has learned the subject matter of a course of instruction.
Test
To make a testament, or will.
Test
Any standardized procedure for measuring sensitivity or memory or intelligence or aptitude or personality etc;
The test was standardized on a large sample of students
Test
The act of testing something;
In the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately
He called each flip of the coin a new trial
Test
The act of undergoing testing;
He survived the great test of battle
Candidates must compete in a trial of skill
Test
Trying something to find out about it;
A sample for ten days free trial
A trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain
Test
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
Test
A hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchins
Test
Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to;
This approach has been tried with good results
Test this recipe
Test
Test or examine for the presence of disease or infection;
Screen the blood for the HIV virus
Test
Examine someone's knowledge of something;
The teacher tests us every week
We got quizzed on French irregular verbs
Test
Show a certain characteristic when tested;
He tested positive for HIV
Test
Achieve a certain score or rating on a test;
She tested high on the LSAT and was admitted to all the good law schools
Test
Determine the presence or properties of (a substance)
Test
Undergo a test;
She doesn't test well
Test
A measure of a specific attribute or ability.
The test for endurance was grueling.
Common Curiosities
What does Examination mean?
Examination is a comprehensive evaluation of a person's skills or knowledge.
What does Test mean?
Test refers to a brief assessment of specific skills or knowledge.
Is an Examination always formal?
Examinations are usually formal and comprehensive.
Can a Test be oral?
Yes, tests can be written, oral, or even practical tasks.
Is an Examination mostly written?
Examinations can be written or oral but are often more formal.
Is a Test always shorter than an Examination?
Generally, tests are shorter and focus on specific aspects.
Where are Tests commonly administered?
Tests can be in educational settings, workplaces, healthcare, etc.
Where are Examinations commonly administered?
Examinations are usually in educational or specialized settings.
Can Tests be informal?
Yes, tests can range from formal assessments to informal quizzes.
Is preparation necessary for a Test?
Preparation varies, depending on the nature and scope of the test.
Does a Test cover a broad range of topics?
Usually, a test focuses on specific topics or skills.
Does an Examination cover a broad range of topics?
Generally, an examination is comprehensive and covers a broader scope.
Is preparation necessary for an Examination?
Preparation is generally more rigorous for examinations.
Can Examinations be for non-academic purposes?
While more common in academic settings, examinations can also be medical or professional.
Can Tests be for non-academic purposes?
Yes, tests can be used in various contexts like healthcare and job screenings.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
