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Glite Dictionary
midterm exam

midterm exam

2 2.9
An exam in the middle of a school term to check students' progress
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪdˌtɜrm ɪɡˈzæm/
  • US
translation icon : examen de mitad de período
  • In his first semester at college, he fails a couple of midterm exams and finds himself too embarrassed to lean on his support network from home.

So I am, I was just going over the midterm exam that we just had.

Examples

  • And then the next Wednesday we are going to have the midterm exam on what we had covered so far in the course.

  • And again, the midterm exam is Monday.

  • So I am, I was just going over the midterm exam that we just had.

    MIT OpenCourseWare

  • My son has recently completed his second year exams, midterm exams at Holy University.

  • There is a midterm exam and there is a final exam.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I was trying to study for my midterm exams in quantum mechanics.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The students are breathless, awaiting the return of the midterm exam.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Both exams (the midterm exam and the final exam) are closed book.

    Blog text (26)

  • We were reviewing for our evolution midterm exam in GS 120.

    Blog text (15)

  • Students need to prepare well before the midterm exam to ensure they understand the material.

Synonyms

midterm
vsmidterm exam
  • US
128 3.3

A test in the middle of a school or college term to check progress

is the fuller phrase that explicitly states the specific kind of assessment
midterm examination
vsmidterm exam
  • US
1 2.9

An exam teachers give in the middle of a school term to check students' progress

is the specific scheduled form rather than something that usually happens

How Important

final exam
25 2.7
midterm exam
  • US
2 2.9
test
∞ 1.0
quiz
128 1.3
pop quiz
19 3.4

Surface Forms

midterm exam singular
midterm exams plural

Morphology

midterm + exam

The phrase 'midterm exam' is directly compositional: 'midterm' identifies the timing (middle of the term) and 'exam' names the assessment, so the combined meaning 'an exam in the middle of the term' is immediately derivable from the parts. This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common academic compound and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Midterm exam comes from the parts midterm meaning the middle of the school term and exam meaning a test. Imagine a teacher checking students at the halfway point to see what they know, so it means 'a test given in the middle of a term to see how students are doing'.