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comprehensive examination

comprehensive examination

1 6.9
A major exam that tests a student's knowledge of a whole subject, often needed to finish a degree
  • noun
  • /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪv ˌɛɡzæmɪˈneɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : examen comprensivo
  • 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

exam
vscomprehensive examination
611 1.0

A formal test of what someone knows or can do

is used for the major qualifying test that determines degree progress
examination
vscomprehensive examination
115 2.3

A formal test that checks knowledge, usually with written questions

is the specific major required assessment rather than any formal test
comp
vscomprehensive examination
  • Jargon
11 9.9

A long, difficult exam that tests a student's knowledge in a subject

is the broader major test used to judge mastery across the whole subject
comprehensive
vscomprehensive examination
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A long exam that tests a student's knowledge of a whole subject

is the major required test that confirms mastery before candidacy or degree completion

Antonyms

94 5.6

Not thorough and only about what is obvious, not deep

How Comprehensive

comprehensive examination
  • Specialized
1 6.9
final exam
25 2.7
exam
611 1.0
to test
469 1.0
quiz
128 1.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

comprehensive + examination

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.