How to say pass, fail, cheat... in English

Colors don't usually fly, but "with flying colors" is a nice idiom for passing an exam with flying colors.

There are many types of exams. The most common types are written tests, oral tests, and practical tests.

A practice test is called a "mock test".

The entrance exam is "entrance exam": All activities in the school were temporarily stopped to prepare for the national university entrance exam.

To take an exam in English is "take an exam" or "do an exam". The British also use another word, "sit": He had to sit the exam twice because he didn't do well the first time.

If a person passes an exam with very high marks, the idiom "with flying colors" is often used: The young girl passed all her final exams with flying colors.

This idiom originated from the colorful flags that ships in the age of exploration often flew upon their successful return.

If the person just barely passed, we use the word "scrape": Their grades weren't great, but they managed to scrape into high school.

Candidates taking the 2023 high school graduation exam at Trung Vuong High School, District 1. Photo: Quynh Tran — Candidates taking the 2023 high school graduation exam at Trung Vuong High School, District 1. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

Conversely, "fail" is to slip.

If the exam result is not satisfactory, the candidate will have to resit or retake an exam: I overslept my Chinese exam last term. Now I have to resit the exam to graduate.

The examiner in an exam is the "examiner", and the person taking the exam is the "examinee". The supervisor in the exam room is called the "proctor" or "invigilator".

Cheating in an exam is called "cheat". A cheat sheet is called a "cheat sheet" in American English or a "crib sheet" in British English.

Example: Some examinees were caught cheating by the invigilator. They were hiding cheat sheets in their pockets.

Before the exam day, candidates must review their lessons, meaning they "revise" or "review" their knowledge. If the amount of knowledge is large, candidates must cram, we use the words "cram" or "swot up".

A common idiom for having to study or work late into the night is "burn the midnight oil": High school seniors usually burn the midnight oil to cram for the graduation exam. This idiom comes from ancient times, when people had to use oil lamps to work late into the night.

Choose the best answer to complete the following sentences:

Khanh Linh

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