comprehensive examination
- noun
- /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪv ˌɛɡzæmɪˈneɪʃən/
- Specialized
- For example, more than 50 percent of the schools in the study demanded a thesis or comprehensive examination as a requirement for a baccalaureate degree between 1939 and 1964.
- comprehensive examination for graduation
- written comprehensive examination
- provide a comprehensive examination
Examples
-
With these factors in mind, a comprehensive examination of the 1900 manuscript population census for several southwest Louisiana locales was conducted.
Academic text (2000) -
At the end of the nine-week unit, subjects in both groups took the same comprehensive examination over the material they had been assigned.
Academic text (1990) -
All 27 respondents had completed a written comprehensive examination for a prior master's degree.
Academic text (1999) -
The subjects in the high-involvement conditions were told that the comprehensive examination would be adopted at their university by the end of the academic year.
Academic text (1993) -
The subjects believed that their responses would be considered in the decision of whether to assign a comprehensive examination upon graduation.
Academic text (1993) -
CTA's comprehensive examination of ACP export performance failed to find any evidence of preference erosion.
Academic text (1994) -
Finally, future investigations should include a more comprehensive examination of parental influences on contributors to subjective task value and expectations of success.
Academic text (2005) -
In addition, completion of the portfolio fulfills the state and university requirements that students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination prior to applying for administrative certification.
Academic text (1999) -
Students must prepare thoroughly for their comprehensive examination to demonstrate their understanding of the subject.
-
After six months of study, Maria successfully passed her comprehensive examination and was one step closer to her degree.
Synonyms
A formal test of what someone knows or can do
A formal test that checks knowledge, usually with written questions
A long, difficult exam that tests a student's knowledge in a subject
A long exam that tests a student's knowledge of a whole subject
Antonyms
How Comprehensive
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a major/thorough test of knowledge' is directly and compositionally derived from 'comprehensive' (thorough, covering all aspects) + 'examination' (formal test). This is a regular noun phrase with transparent modification and is cross-linguistically common in academic contexts, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Comprehensive examination comes from the idea of comprehensive meaning 'covering everything' and examination meaning 'a test'. Imagine a big net that catches all parts of a subject. The exam checks the whole area, not just one topic, so it means a major test of everything a student knows.