An exam (short for examination) is a formal test that measures what you know or can do. Teachers give exams to see if students have learned the material, whether it's multiplication tables, the causes of the Revolutionary War, or how to write a persuasive essay. Exams are usually more important and cover more material than regular quizzes.

The word can also mean a careful inspection of something. A doctor performs a physical exam to check your health. A mechanic might examine your car's engine to figure out why it's making a strange noise. When you examine something closely, you look at it carefully to understand it better or find problems.

Exams can feel stressful because they matter, but they're also opportunities to show what you've learned. The phrase pass with flying colors means to do exceptionally well on an exam. If you ace an exam, you get a perfect or near-perfect score.