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oral

oral

6 4.4
A spoken exam where you must answer aloud
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrəl/
translation icon : examen oral
  • I don't know how she did on her written, but I'm sure she got an "a" plus on her oral.
  • written and oral

And so I'm reading this case and I'll never forget like I got the highest mark for an oral in the history of the school.

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Examples

  • During the oral, each candidate presented their ideas and answered questions from the panel.

  • They want me to take orals in all subjects.

  • It's time for your oral.

  • Honestly, if it were not for the oral, I would not be worried at all...

    Blog text (17)
  • And so I'm reading this case and I'll never forget like I got the highest mark for an oral in the history of the school.

  • Well, the oral exam is for Ricky only because he was bad.

  • If you pass your orals, you'll get a terminal MA.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The five years of graduate school had been a blur of fatigue: classes and exams and orals, research, and writing her dissertation.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The professor scheduled an oral exam for the students to assess their speaking skills.

  • She spent hours preparing for her oral presentation to ensure she was well-prepared.

Synonyms

examination
vsoral
115 2.3

A formal test that checks knowledge, usually with written questions

focuses specifically on the spoken question and answer format
oral exam
vsoral
4 3.5

A test where students answer questions by speaking

is the informal shortened way to name that spoken assessment
1 3.7

An exam where you answer spoken questions to show what you know

is the short single-word label used for the spoken format
viva
vsoral
  • UK
1 8.4

An oral exam at the end of a PhD to test your research

is broader applying to spoken checks outside qualification contexts
viva voce
vsoral
  • UK
9.1

An exam taken by speaking at school or university

is a general term for any spoken testing situation

Compounds

oral sex
  • Offensive
50 6.0

Using the mouth, lips, or tongue to touch someone's private parts

4 3.5

A test where students answer questions by speaking

oral contraceptive
  • Specialized
4 3.6

A pill women take to prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg

A talk given to a group, often at school or work

3 3.3

Keeping the mouth, teeth, and gums clean prevents tooth problems

oral contract
  • Specialized
2 4.2

An agreement spoken rather than written that is legally binding

oral cancer
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A disease in the mouth when harmful cells grow and form a lump often on the lips or tongue

oral cavity
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A space inside your mouth where you put food and make speech sounds

To talk to share ideas or information with others

An exam where you answer spoken questions to show what you know

oral contraception
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A way to prevent pregnancy by taking pills by mouth

1 3.7

A pill taken by mouth that prevents a woman from becoming pregnant

oral fissure
  • Specialized
7.2

The opening of the mouth that lets you eat and speak

oral consonant
  • Specialized
6.3

A speech sound made when air leaves only through the mouth, not the nose

oral herpes
  • Specialized
5.1

A contagious infection that causes painful cold sores on or around the lips

9.5

A personality type that comes from early feeding problems and shows strong need for others or selfish, aggressive behavior

oral phase
  • Specialized
8.6

First stage of a baby's development when they feel pleasure from sucking and biting

4.3

A medicine people take by mouth that contains weakened polio virus to protect them from polio

oral smear
  • Specialized
6.3

A sample of mouth cells spread on a slide to look at under a microscope

oral stage
  • Specialized
7.9

The first stage of baby development when babies get pleasure from sucking or chewing

oral vowel
  • Specialized
7.7

A vowel made with air only through the mouth, not the nose

A medicine taken by mouth that contains three weakened live polio viruses to protect against polio

How Formal

viva voce
  • UK
9.1
oral
6 4.4

Surface Forms

oral singular
orals plural

Etymology

Oral for an exam uses the Latin oris 'mouth', because in an oral you give spoken answers with your mouth rather than writing them down.