Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the act of taking a test and the result. Use passer un examen to mean the process of taking the test, but use réussir un examen to say that you actually passed it with a passing grade. If you want to express that someone failed an exam, use échouer à un examen or rater un examen.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can replace the indefinite article un in passer un examen with the definite article l' to say passer l'examen if the specific exam has already been mentioned in your conversation.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use passer un examen to mean 'to pass an exam successfully'. In French, passer un examen only means to undergo the exam, regardless of whether the result is a success or a failure. To say you passed successfully, use réussir un examen.
Did you know?
- The word examen is a linguistic doublet of the word essaim, which means 'swarm' of bees. Both words come from the Latin root for a needle or a sieve used to separate things.
- In France, some high-stakes exams are described as concours. Unlike a standard examen where you only need a passing grade, a concours is a competitive ranking where only a fixed number of top candidates are admitted.
- While passer un examen refers to the test, the French use the word épreuve to describe the individual sections or papers of that exam. This word also means 'ordeal' or 'trial' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- Je dois passer un examen de mathématiques demain.I have to take a math exam tomorrow.
- Elle a passé son examen de français avec succès.She passed her French exam successfully.
- On doit passer un contrôle surprise en français.We have to take a surprise test in French.
- Je dois subir un examen de chimie demain.I have to undergo a chemistry exam tomorrow.
- Nous avons subi notre dernier examen aujourd'hui.We underwent our final exam today.
- J'ai passé un test de français hier.I took a French exam yesterday.
- Je dois passer un examen demain.I have to take an exam tomorrow.
- Elle veut passer un examen de français.She wants to take a French exam.
- Est-ce que tu vas passer un examen bientôt ?Are you going to take an exam soon?
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the library.
- ManonTu es prêt pour passer un examen demain ?Are you ready to take an exam tomorrow?
- HugoNon, je n'ai pas assez révisé.No, I haven't studied enough.
- ManonMoi aussi, c'est très stressant.Me too, it's very stressful.
- HugoBonne chance pour passer un examen, Manon !Good luck taking the exam, Manon!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries examen, passer, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
